This is Part 3 of a series on what I understand might be the top 10 spiritual principles or laws that relate to many of the crises across our world today. Please see Parts 1 and 2.
Our modern version of The Gospel of Grace seems to have simply erased key aspects of God’s Word, character and nature. Our resulting, rather sterile version of Christianity includes a broad ‘no-fault escalpatory clause’ that effectively dismisses any personal responsibility for the consequences we experience. Yet even Jesus iterated and demonstrated on numerous occasions that life on earth is both enveloped within, and governed by a set of clear spiritual laws/principles, each with clear, identifiable positive and negative consequences. He also pulled back the covers on how these laws/principles are being implemented and enforced, and He gave us a set of relevant warnings.
Mind you, these laws universally apply to ALL human beings, irrespective of our religious, spiritual, or non-religious beliefs and backgrounds. Because we may not immediately perceive and identify the consequences of keeping or breaking these laws, and because of our ‘no fault’ religious ideas, we easily/readily dismiss all of the warnings, and rather embrace an approach to life that effectively relegates everything that happens as ‘God’s mysterious, unknowable will, none of which is my fault!’ This life view suggests we are mere movable pieces on life’s chessboard, subject to imperceptible dynamics that we are largely unable to influence. Nothing could be further from Truth.
God has established and gives us His spiritual laws/principles. He sends teachers to instruct us therein. The Bible affirms and demonstrates satan seeks to trap us into breaking these laws in order to accuse us in Heaven’s High Courtroom. Once he has a case against us, God allows us grace to repent (time and opportunity to change our thinking and ways). If/when we do, we escape being judged for having broken the relevant law(s). If we do not repent, but persist in our law breaking ways, God, as the ultimate just Judge, must pass judgment to be carried out/executed by angels or devils (fallen angels), as necessary and as assigned. Passing judgment allows executioner beings (both angels and devils) access to our lives, whose modus operandi is to carryout God’s judgment sentence. Such destruction is NOT necessarily related to the assured salvation of a sincere Christ believer. It does relate more to our daily walk through this life. Thus, God iteratively affirms, if there are calamities, crises and disasters, He, as The Lord over everything in His creation, is ultimately behind them. (Isaiah 45:7 and Amos 3:6)
So what are the priority spiritual laws; how are they being implemented and enforced; and how might they relate to crises you may have experienced or witnessed? Here is my take, based on considerable pondering of this very complex topic. Hopefully you will be inspired to do your own pondering and share your thoughts as well. (Please see Part 1 and Part 2)
#6. The Law of Resource Priorities. This requires us to honor God first with the resources we are blessed to receive. Everything in life works on a ‘stock and flow’ principle (blood stream, storage systems, water systems, money and banking systems, body functions, engine systems, supply systems, etc.). As we honor God first in our resource ‘flows’, He blesses us in our ‘stocks’ and in subsequent resource flows. Think well beyond just the financial realm.
Ever recall that financial planners always recommend, ‘Save a little (e.g., 10%) for yourself FIRST!’ ? In light of God’s law, ponder the likely demonic spiritual source of this often well-observed advice! Can you see just how deaf, dumb and blind to God’s ways our world has become?! Trust me, such advice is a remedy -- a set-up for eventual financial disaster and ruin. Hey, even Job recognized this lesson, as recorded in the first written book of The Bible:
If I have rejoiced because my wealth was great,
And because my hand had gained much…
So that my heart has been secretly enticed [with pride]
And my mouth has kissed my hand [in pride];
This also would be an iniquity [sin] deserving of judgment,
For I would have denied God who is above.
(Job 31:25, 27)
Lesson: This is an awesome, though un-heeded lesson! For all who are born-again, please repent for past errors, then commit to honor God first to help ensure the protection inferred in this spiritual law/principle.
#7. The Law of Spousal and Parental Honor/Respect. God ordained families as the building blocks of societies. These blocks ‘consist’ or hold together by mutual honor and respect, first between spouses, and secondly between parents and children. This is a lesson I learned the hard way. Though blessed with parents who stayed together for the long haul, as a product of the ‘Me’ generation, I did not follow their Godly example.
Across our world, we daily witness the tolls taken on families, societies and nations as a result of the deterioration of family life. Spiritually, it’s like a multi-story house whose foundation and construction materials have seriously crumbled.
Lesson: Repent for past errors, then commit to respect and honor familial structures.
Blessed pondering...
