"In the beginning God created the
heaven and the earth." Genesis 1: 1. Not only did God create the heaven
and the earth, God also, "created man in his own image, in the image of
God created he him, male and female created he them". Genesis 1: 27.
Every
person of the whole human race is loved mightily and tenderly by God
our Creator. Whatever God has ever done for the human race, he has done
out of genuine love, and with an intense desire to see man happy. In the
Book, the Bible, our loving heavenly Father and beneficent Creator has
revealed
unto the human race His divine will.
Everything
God has ever said to us in His Holy Book has been said for our own
good, and is conducive to our happiness here in this life, and in the
life that is to come. Our obedience, therefore, to God's holy will as
revealed in the Bible, is for our own personal happiness and eternal
welfare.
A study of the Bible and of human history
reveals that man's obedience to God's will has always brought man
happiness, and disobedience has always brought unhappiness. For this
reason we have in the Bible an emphasis on obedience. God said, "The
things I command you, observe to do". Deuteronomy 12: 32. Again, "If you
be willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land". Isaiah 1:
19.
Christ himself set the example of obedience to
the Father's will. "Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by
the things which he suffered; and being made perfect, he became the
author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him". Hebrews 5:
8,9. Christ said, "I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but
the will of him that sent me" John 6: 38. Again Christ said, "Not every
one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of
heaven; but he that doeth the will of my father which is in heaven"
Matthew 7: 21. The inspired Apostle John said, "He that doeth the will
of God abideth forever" I John 2: 17.
Man must come to
know God and his Son, Jesus Christ. Jesus said, "This is life eternal,
that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom thou
has sent" John 17:3. Eternal life thus depends on our knowing God. But
how do we know that we know God? "Hereby we know that we know him, if we
keep his commandments" I John 2: 3. We cannot claim scripturally to
know God, if we refuse to keep his commandments. Obedience shows we know
God.
Man needs friendship with God and his Son. Jesus
said, "Ye are my friends, if you do whatsoever I command you" John
15:14. Obedience is an expression of our friendship with Jesus. What a
marvelous friend we have in him! Every human being needs this close
friendship with our blessed Lord. Obedience shows our friendship. Faith
in Jesus Christ as God's Son is essential to our salvation from sin.
"Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved" Acts 16: 31.
But our faith is not a saving faith unless it expresses itself in
obedience to God's will. The inspired James said, "For as the body
without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also" James
2:26. Saving faith expresses itself in obedience to God's will.
Certainly we know that love for God on our part is indispensable. But
love expresses itself in obedience. "If you love me, keep my
commandments", said Jesus in John 14: 15. Vocal claims of love for God
and His Son are empty sounds unless they come from the hearts of faith,
finding expression in willing, loving obedience to God's will. Faithful
obedience to God shows we love God.
May God bless you richly in your obedience to His will. AMEN