https://odb.org/MY/2023/06/12/freeing-obedience
Most of us go through stages in life. We were obedient when younger, but as we became teenagers, we may somewhat be a tad rebellious. We will likely go through a phase of self-discovery and, in the process, may want to be a little independent from our parents. We may start to develop our own points of view and preferences and may want to break free from our parents in terms of their rules like sleeping later and, on weekends, wake up later or play computer games or watch TV longer.
With a rebellious streak, we may want to just go against rules imposed on us, sometimes, with disastrous consequences. For example, our parents may have warned us against swimming in a waterfall during the rainy season. Or we go against our parents by racing on public roads on motorcycles. Youths have been killed in both instances. Or some may dabble in alcohol, cigarettes, gambling, or even drugs in the youth and got hooked in one or two of those vices into adulthood to devastating outcomes.
Even in our spiritual life, we may have rebellious streaks, wanting to break free from the rules imposed by God. When the church teaches that we shouldn’t do certain things, we question why not? Is God really so restrictive? Why must we give tithes and offerings? Why must we help the needy and poor? Is sex before marriage, abortion or divorce such a bad thing? Surely, dabbling a little in spiritualism will not harm our faith or compromise our salvation? Why can’t we apply some Feng Shui principles in our lives?
Adam and Eve faced a somewhat similar situation in the Garden of Eden. As God had made Adam and gave him dominion over the animals He created, God realised that none was a suitable helper to Adam. So, from Adam, God created Eve, and she was made like a partner to Adam, not inferior – the word used for helper means the strength of God that comes to us. Adam and Eve had complete dominion in the Garden of Eden – every animal was named by Adam and were subservient to him. There was only one rule: Adam and Eve could eat from any tree except one. When the devil, in the form of the serpent, came and enticed them, they fell into the trap and ended up breaking that one and only rule they were to obey. The consequences were, to say, the least devastating! Humankind had sinned against God because of the disobedience of Adam and Eve and was banished out of Eden, separated from God only to be reconciled by the death and resurrection of Christ many, many years down the road. As believers, one day, we will live in Eden recreated, for all eternity with God dwelling among His people and Satan banished to the lake of fire.
There is freedom in Christ as we have been set free from the bondage of sin, and yet there are rules that we need to live by. We are to love the LORD our God with all our heart, all our soul, and all of our mind. We are to love our neighbour as ourselves. We are to forgive those who trespass against us, even our enemies. Even though salvation is a free gift from God, we are to work out our salvation with fear and trembling. In short, the rules are there to protect us on our way to eternity so that we do not stray, get distracted or like Adam and Eve, deceived by the devil! Let’s be obedient servants of Christ! Amen!
Ronnie's Thoughts 