This is part 3 of the Bible
question: As Christians, are we to keep the Law? Today we will discover the
purpose of God`s law.
My wife always wanted to visit the mountainous region
of Switzerland where the story of Heidi originated, so when we did arrive in
Maienfeld, in the Swiss canton of Graubünden, we found a cozy parking place,
right close to one of the many delightful water fountain (Fresh alpine water
sure tastes good!). As we took off for higher grounds, one of the locals made us
aware that we needed a special paper contraption on our dashboard indicating the
time of our arrival.
Not even remembering the German word for that piece of
paper, we discovered it was available in any gas station in the region, for a
price naturally. The problem was that there were no gas stations nearby.
We weren't sure what to do. We didn't have much time
before the sun set, and looking for a gas station wasn't really what my boys
considered "fun". We didn't want to get into trouble with the local law,
however, so we decided on a compromise which we hoped would work. On a blank
piece of paper, which we affixed on our dashboard, we wrote "Wir sind Ausländer.
Ankunft: 16h17. (We are foreigners. Arrival: 4:17 P.M.) We hoped that would do
the trick, and it did. There was no one with a nasty grin waiting for us when we
returned to the car, and there was no nasty yellow slip of paper shoved under
our windshield wipers. Thank You Lord!
We may not know all the local regulations of countries
we may be visiting, but for some reason, God's law is ingrained in us. Those who
kill someone, even if it is an accident, feel utter remorse. Those who steal for
the first time, even if it is on their tax return, feel guilt. Naturally we
could go deeper into such illustrations, but this is not the purpose of this
devotional.
This makes us wonder: Why do we have this ingrained in
us? What is the purpose of God's law?
Paul answered this in his letters to the Galatians:
"What, then, was the purpose of the law? It was added because of transgressions
until the Seed to whom the promise referred had come."(Gal 3:19 NIV)
Or in other words: "I would not have known what sin
was except through the law." (Rom 7:7 NIV)
God's law leaves us without doubt that we have indeed,
sinned! It's right on paper, clearly visible for anyone who can read.
But notice, the text in Galatians 3:19 also mentions:
"Until the Seed to whom the promise referred had come."
Doesn't this refer back to Gen 3:15, which speaks of
the coming Messiah and was fulfilled by Jesus Himself?
Indeed! "So the law was put in charge to lead us to
Christ that we might be justified by faith." (Gal 3:24 NIV)
The law was "to lead us to Christ" through whom we are
"justified by faith". Or, in other words, through whom our sins have been
forgiven and erased for good!
Without the law we never would have been aware that we
needed a Saviour! Without the law we never would have discovered how far we have
erred from what our full potential was meant to be!
What we lack in respect for the law has been covered
by Jesus' revolutionary love that He urges us to experience! That same love
drove a hated Samaritan to save the life of his enemy. That same love drove the
apostle Paul through unbelievable hardships so that others could hear about this
revolutionary love. That love motivated Jesus to die a horrible death on a
cross, so that anyone who believes in Him would be reconciled with God and would
experience real love for eternity!
"Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law." (Rom
13:10 NIV)
We either accept such love and start to be driven by
it or we go on our own way to oblivion, just like the Priest and Levite in the
parable of the Good Samaritan. The only way to share what Jesus did in our lives
is by living this kind of love that only comes from the one called the Messiah.
No parking cards will be necessary in heaven, but love
will certainly be a requirement!
"And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But
the greatest of these is love." (1 Cor 13:13 NIV)
"Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come,
you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared
for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me
something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a
stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick
and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me." (Matt
25:34-36 NIV)
Rob Chaffart
The Illustrator: This daily newsletter is dedicated to encouraging
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problems. It contains a daily inspirational story, a Bible verse and encouraging
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The Nugget: Published three times a week, this newsletter features inspirational devotionals and mini-sermons dedicated to drawing mankind closer to each other and to Christ.