Blessed Man 4

It is not natural for the law of God to produce a sense of delight in the heart and mind of man. The natural or “carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. Bringing the natural man into subjection to God is like trying to saddle and bridle an unbroken colt. The subject will buck and kick in an effort to throw off his restraints and run away. The difference is that God will not force men to accept His rule. That day is coming, but it is not here yet.

David says of the blessed man, “ But his delight is in the law of the LORD...” What causes a man to abandon his natural inclination for rebellion and delight in submission to God? I believe it is a realization that he is more than an incidental arrangement of amino acids or a random firing of neurotransmitters. Man has instincts, but he is more than the sum of them. Man's intelligence has lifted him above the animals, but an honest man knows it does not lift him high enough.

We tell each other that nobody's perfect without admitting the explanation for our shortcomings makes no sense at all. If we are all as God made us, where's the imperfection? Are we not then exactly as designed? We know that we are not. We know there is more to us.

There is that “ought” we all should be. I tell the truth most of the time, but I ought to always tell the truth. I ought to think kindly of my neighbor even if he is a moron, but the truth is, I don't. Without God, man is forever less that he ought to be for man ought to be like God. We are made in God's likeness and image. We are made to the specification--be ye holy as I am holy; be ye perfect as I am perfect.

The law of God reveals the truth that is already written in our heart and soul. Knowing the truth; that we have somehow gone wrong, allows us the opportunity to change course. The law offers direction back to God where we find what is lacking. Changing course from the bitterness of the natural life to the peace of God that passes all understanding is pure delight. It is not easy. It is not all rejoicing. But, the end of the course is all of that and more.