THE PURPOSE OF GOD'S LAWS

BY IRMA F. MATRAI

The Ten Commandments

1. "I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. You shall have no other gods before' me.
2. You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below.
3. You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing love to a thousand generations, of those who love me and keep my commandments. You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God, for the Lord will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name.
4. Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath tothe Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your manservant or maidservant, nor your animals, nor the alien within your gates. For in six days the Lord made, the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.
5. Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you.
6. You shall not murder.
7. You shall not commit adultery.
8. You shall not steal.
9. You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor.
10. You shall not covet your neighbor's house. You shall not covet your neighbor's wife, or his servant or maidservant, his ox donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor."
(Exodus 20:2-17)



Recently I was teaching a 32 member coed group in a nearby college. As it turned out, one third of the class was living with their girl or boyfriend. One day someone raised the question: "Why didn't you all get married before you moved in together?" Some said: "Because we didn't have enough money for a wedding." Others replied: "Because we wanted to learn to know each other better, before we tie the knot." Even others excused their decision by saying: "why should we get married, when we can enjoy all the benefits of a married life this way?" Finally, a young man responded: "Because these days that's the custom."
Yet, a couple of these were already complaining about having contracted an std (sexually transmitted disease) from their partner. Another had a child from her former live-in boyfriend who left, after the delivery. Several had serious problems. While only a few were still satisfied and planning to get married one day.



Then, there were a couple of young people in the whole group, who didn't get that involved with the opposite sex, but experimented with drugs, and eventually became drug addicts. These ended up cheating, lying and stealing till the law caught up with them and locked them up for a while. There they learned their lesson the hard way, and - as soon as they got out - they tried to start a new life free from drugs and crime Granted, it was almost impossible for them to find a job, or get into a school. But finally, they succeeded and - at that time - were trying hard to stay on the straight and narrow path.




However, in the same 32 member group there were two young men and one young lady, who testified that - all their life, they were taken to church, and in their early teens, they even invited Jesus into their heart. As a result, they never got involved with drugs, or crimes. Then, when it was time to look for a mate, they asked God to lead them to the person he wanted them to marry. He did. They found their mates in church, and kept their virginity till the wedding. Thus, they now have a happy marriage, family, and a peaceful life.


Mt. SINAI
Follow God's laws!

What do these examples suggest? They seem to suggest that without the knowledge of God's laws, people are making dangerous decisions. With them, however, they can be happy and successful. Evidently, the Lord provided his laws for us to teach us what is right and what is wrong; what is moral and what is immoral; what is dangerous, and what is safe; what is advantageous, and what is disadvantageous; what should be followed and what should be shunned. In other words, to teach us how to conduct ourselves in a safe and upright manner.


They were not meant to cramp our style. Rather to protect us from harm. Therefore, anyone who doesn't know and/or doesn't keep them, will face many problems and difficulties. While those who live according to their instructions will be blessed and happy.



That doesn't mean that people who try to follow God's laws will have no problems and trials. Only that - as a result of leading a morally upright life - they will avoid many of the hardships a sinful life leads to, and therefore will be happy even in the midst of, or in spite of their trials; for their conscience will be clear.



However, the few, who study and try to follow God's laws are happy. These are the ones that came to believe in, and to invite Jesus into their heart; thereby making both main purposes of the laws working for them. Namely, using them as their guidelines for proper living and as their teacher that lead them to Jesus.



Which leads us to the question: Which group do you, or do I belong to? The group that doesn't know and/or doesn't try to follow God's guidelines? Or the one which studied them and eventually came to Jesus for help? Our present and future life depends on the answer to these questions! What is your reply?
Nor does it mean that such people are perfect. It's sad, but they will sin also. Although not willingly. Yet, Satan will trick them - every now and then - into sinning, when they are not watching. Still, when they come to their senses realizing what they have done, they will honestly repent, confess their sin to God and ask for his forgiveness and strength, not to fall into the same trap ever again.
Thereby, becoming gradually cleaner and freer.
Hence, we may deduce that the purpose of God's laws - on one hand - is to provide us with some important moral guidelines, whereby we can live a blessed life. On the other hand, they are also meant to lead us to the Savior by - like a mirror - showing us our sinful self and inability to change. Thereby leading us to the conclusion that we need help. We need a Savior, who has the power to forgive when we fail, and to help us - through his Spirit - to change. Then, if we confess our sins to him, ask him to forgive us, and invite him into our heart; it served it's next purpose. For, he will immediately forgive us; move into our heart through his own Spirit; and help us from inside to live a more and more sanctified life. In addition, he will even grant us a place in heaven.

Afterwards, we may thankfully cry out with Paul saying:

"I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good."
(Romans 7:15-16)

"So I find this law at work: When I want to do good, evil is right there with me. For in my inner being I delight in God's law; but I see another law at work in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within my members. What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death?

Thanks be to God - through Jesus Christ our Lord." (Romans 7:21-25)



The example of my 32 member coed group, indicates that most of our young people do not know God's laws these days. They don't know what is right and what is wrong; what is moral and what is immoral; what is safe and what is dangerous; what is advantageous and what is disadvantageous; what should be followed and what should be shunned. Therefore they get involved in all kinds of sin and don't even realize that they are on the wrong path. Instead, they even rebel if - due to their lifestyle - they contract a disease, get into trouble, suffer; or when someone tells them that what they are doing is wrong.



However, the few, who study and try to follow God's laws are happy. These are the ones that came to believe in, and to invite Jesus into their heart; thereby making both main purposes of the laws working for them. Namely, using them as their guidelines for proper living and as their teacher that lead them to Jesus.



Which leads us to the question: Which group do you, or do I belong to? The group that doesn't know and/or doesn't try to follow God's guidelines? Or the one which studied them and eventually came to Jesus for help? Our present and future life depends on the answer to these questions! What is your reply?


The Great Commandments

"Which commandment is the mostimportant of all? Jesus replied, The most important one is this: Listen, Israel! The Lord our God is the ly Lord. Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength. The second most important commandment is this: Love your neighbor as you love yorself. There is no other commanment more important than these two."
(Mark 12: 28b-31)

 "This is what the Lord says: Mantain justice and do what is right, for my salvation is close at hand and my righteousness will soon be revealed. Blessed is the man who does this, the man who holds it fast, who keeps the Sabbath without desecrating it, and keeps his hand from doing any evil."
"And foreigners who bind themselves to the Lord to serve him, to love the name of the Lord, and to worship him, all who keep the Sabbath without desecrating it and who hold fast to my covenant - these I will bring to my holy mountain and give them joy in my house of prayer. Their burnt offerings and sacrifices will be accepted on my altar;
for my house will be called a hause of prayer for all nations." (Isaiah 56:1-2, 6-7)