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The Great Lawgiver
In an age in which so many things are placed under the microscope of empiricism, and evaluated based on their credibility and applicability; in this postmodern era where that which seems irrelevant is marginalized, ignored, or sidelined, it is reassuring to know that there are some things that are a constant and bear relevance in all ages. The Constitution of the United States is one such thing. Although many in the legal field are concerned about the erosion of our constitutional rights in this post-9/11 atmosphere, we are still blessed to have had the framers of this document, broad-minded men who were given the insight by God to cover such an expansive scope of thought, so that the Constitution is still the central document referenced in almost all significant legal cases. It is a standard by which all other laws are judged or measured, and whenever any local, state, or national laws are adjusted, suggested, voted, added, or enacted by any governing body, the constitutionality of that law is usually in debate. What a timeless, inclusive, and well-thought-out document!
But more impressive than the Constitution of the United States is the law of God. While our Constitution is a little more than 200 years old, the law of God is thousands of years old but still speaks in every context, in every culture, in every country on every planet. It is timeless because the Author is timeless.
God’s Law Reflects His Character
It was David who declared that “the law of the Lord is perfect.” It is so because it came from a perfect God. His excellence is extolled throughout the Scriptures. As far as the heavens are above the earth, so are His ways higher than our ways, and His thoughts higher than ours (Isaiah 55:9). The human mind, with all of its creativity and superlative brilliance, is nothing compared to the mind of a great omniscient God whose foresight and insight provided for every possible environmental and climatic condition for man’s successful initiation and integration into the Garden of Eden at Creation’s dawn. When we think of the great ancient legal systems, the Egyptians, Greeks, and Romans come to mind. But the laws of God overshadow them all. Ellen White states that “the laws God gave His ancient people were wiser, better, and more humane than those of the most civilized nations of the earth. The laws of the nations bear marks of the infirmities and passions of the un-renewed heart; but God’s law bears the stamp of the divine” (Sons and Daughters of God, p. 39). The character of God unsullied by selfishness, untainted by sin, unencumbered by infirmities, is the fountain out of which the eternal law flows. Therefore no law can compare with His because no human can compare with Him. His law perfectly balances the requirements of justice and mercy. While the laws of man measure human actions, Jesus reminds us in Matthew 5 that the law of God addresses the issues of the heart and the motives.
The beauty of the law, Ellen White says, is that “the law of God is simple, and easily understood. If the children of men would, to the best of their ability, obey this law, they would gain strength of mind and power of discernment to comprehend still more of God’s purposes and plans” (ibid.). The perfection of God suggests that He cannot be improved upon. Even so the law of God, the transcript of His character, that which reveals the essence of His divine governance of the universe, cannot be improved upon.
God’s Law Is Unchangeable
The timelessness of the law of God reminds us that God is eternal. He is not limited by time or space, nor is He shackled to cultural manipulation or machination. He says, “I am the Lord, I change not.” The nature of God does not change, although His methods might change. Because God is immutable His law is immutable. No matter the time or place in history, the law of God still applies. Adultery is still adultery no matter where in the world you might find yourself. It may be camouflaged, renamed, reinvented in whatever ways carnal man may choose, but it is still adultery or sexual immorality in the eyes of God.
Our world is out of harmony with the law, and many of the churches today that are calling for a reinstatement of the Ten Commandments are actually in the business of undermining the Ten Commandments by revising them to incorporate their own doctrinal interpretation. How can one revise that which the Bible declares is perfect?
Unfortunately, these would-be commandment keepers are commandment breakers, and as such Jesus states they “will be called least in the kingdom of heaven” inasmuch as they not only break the law themselves but teach others to do so (Matt. 5:19). Much of societal woes today are a result of churches selecting which of the Ten Commandments they will teach, and which they will abandon. The truth is, if the church believes that it can alter any of God’s laws, it then gives permission to the world to do the same. Thus by precept and example, the church is culpable in the subordinating and outright abandonment of the Ten Commandments in our world today. Any church that says it is permissible to bow before a statue is in violation of the Ten Commandments. Any church that teaches that the Sabbath is done away with is in violation of the Ten Commandments. The fact is, if we can keep another day holy, then maybe stealing is not so bad if you are hungry, and multiple marriage partners is not so egregious if all parties agree up front. What they have done by rationalizing away the Sabbath is that they have opened the door to rationalize away many of the other commandments. Maybe taking God’s name in vain is not such a big deal anymore because the Sabbath is not a big deal anymore. As James 2:10 asserts: “To offend in one point is to be guilty of all.” Because we create a breach in the wall that will bring the whole wall down, we drill a hole in the dyke that will get bigger and bigger with erosion, eventually bringing in the floodwaters of destruction. Could this be where we are in society? Could churches be responsible for opening up Pandora’s Box? Moral relativism and situational ethics have been sanctuary in the church that has marginalized divine absolutes, and in the process has empowered the world to set a course contrary to the commandments of God.
Love is the basis of God’s Law
Why did God give us laws in the first place? Why do we have the Ten Commandments? The law, which is an outgrowth of God’s character, is based on the foundation of His divine nature, which is predicated on love. Everything God does is done out of love. Just think of what our world would be like without the law of God to protect and preserve the creatures that He loves. If murder was acceptable to God, what would that say about Him? If there was no divine regulation regarding stealing, where would that leave us? Even with the Ten Commandments in place we are still bombarded by shysters in every walk of life—from the boardroom to the classroom, from Wall Street to 14th Street—all with one agenda: to find a way to separate the unsuspecting and naive from their financial resources.
Thank God for the Ten Commandments, because they establish parameters for fair and equitable human relationships. They provide us with boundaries within which we should function. These succinct absolutes are clear and timeless, unfettered by the fickleness of changing culture. While some see them as restrictions, we must be clear that they are for our preservation. The psalmist says in Psalm 119:97-101, 104: “Oh, how I love Your law! It is my meditation all the day. You, through Your commandments, make me wiser than my enemies; for they are ever with me. I have more understanding than all my teachers, for Your testimonies are my meditation. I understand more than the ancients, because I keep Your precepts. I have restrained my feet from every evil way, that I may keep Your word.” “Through Your precepts I get understanding” (NKJV).* The law still makes us wiser, it still increases understanding, and it still restrains our feet from evil. How many today would be preserved from STDS, unwanted pregnancies, and the posttraumatic stress associated with abortions, if they heeded the commandments? How many would be preserved from prison if they heeded the commandments concerning stealing, bearing false witness, and killing?
Jesus makes it clear that all the commandments are summed up in the principle of love to God and to our fellow man. They were given to us because God loves us. Our keeping of them is an indication of our love for God and our fellowman. Jesus said, “If you love me keep my commandments” (John 14:15).
ERROL T. STODDART, D.Min., has been a pastor in the Allegheny East Conference of Seventh-day Adventists for 20 years, and currently pastors the Ephesus Seventh-day Adventist Church in Richmond, Virginia. He has been married to his wife, Vernee, for 22 years.
*The New King James Version. Copyright © 1979, 1980, 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. |
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