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.
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