Unseen Spiritual Law: God's Law of Life

Unseen Spiritual Law: God's Law of Life Our lives are governed by hidden rules that originate from God. They affect every individual and cannot be ignored. They even determine political elections and the destiny of nations Law affects each one of us, be it civil, moral, scientific - or spiritual! Heavenly justice We all live under 'law'. From a secular point of view, 'law' is a system of rules usually enforced through a set of institutions. For example, Criminal Law pertains to crimes and punishment (acts of intentional harm to individuals or the wider community), Civil Law (based on Roman Law and Corpus Juris) deals with the private relations between members of a community, and Common Law (as in England and America) is the legal system where decisions by judges in courts are explicitly acknowledged to be legal sources. Then we have the scientific laws of mathematics, physics and chemistry which determine the functioning of everything from the atom to galaxies! Lastly, we have the concept of 'moral law' which might be defined as a set of rules of behaviour that an individual or a group may follow out of personal conscience, and usually to the benefit of society. Sadly, such rules are not necessarily part of legislated law and so are not legally enforceable. So for example, the biblical indictment against adultery is often ignored by western media and by society in general. So our lives are governed by sets of rules, most of which are unseen until we 'rub up against them'. 1. The Effect of Law When we naturally obey a law (be it criminal, civil, common, scientific or moral), then we are largely unaware of the law. But when we deliberately or inadvertently break a law there are serious consequences: Stealing can put us in prison (Criminal Law) Wrong dismissal of an employee may lead to a lawsuit (Civil Law) Jumping from a tall building will probably kill us (Scientific Law) Having an affair will give us a bad conscience (Moral Law) So the operation of a law for an individual or nation might be stated as follows: If you do action A then action B will follow If action 'A' conflicts with the law then action 'B' will be some form of reprimand. Conversely, if action 'A' is good, then action 'B' will also be good. For example, if we keep our car speed well below the legal limit, then there will be a significant saving in fuel. 2. The Origin of Law Christians argue that the concept of law (as in rules or statutes) originates from the God of the Bible. For instance, God gave man basic criminal law (as in stealing, Exod 22.1), and He gave man basic civil law (as in the release of debt, Deut 15.1). He created scientific laws (as in circulating air currents, Eccl 1.6, and in Job 38), and He set out basic rules governing right and wrong in the Ten Commandments (moral law). Clearly, things have developed and OT criminal, civil and ceremonial laws must be seen in their historic context. Also, neat divisions between different forms of law should be avoided. Today, we are called to keep the modern-day equivalents of such law, including God's moral Law. Jesus said; "I did not come to destroy the Law ... but to fulfil" (Mat 5.17) and He told us how we can keep the Law by defining it in generic form: "You shall love the Lord your God ... and your neighbour ... on these two commandments hang all the Law ..." (Mat 22.37-40) Sadly, today's society largely ignores such biblical injunction and so is breaking this crucial generic law. In fact, as shown below, this law spans all aspects of our lives: how we talk, how we live, how we work, how we treat others, how we treat the environment, and how we relate to God. It also applies to nations. It could be called 'God's Hidden Spiritual Law'. 3. God's Hidden Spiritual Law As discussed, it can be argued that the well-known forms of law (criminal, civil, common, scientific and moral) all stem from one parent, universal law, namely God's Spiritual Law. This is described as 'the law of the LORD' (Ps 119.1), or God's precepts (Heb piqud), statutes, mandates and commandments (Ps 119.15). It was underscored by Jesus (Mat 5.17) and so is not to be ignored. Like other laws God's Law is usually hidden until we 'rub up against it'. Spiritual Law is tightly linked to God's Will and to truth. For example, Jesus claimed that He spoke the truth when He said 'there is only one way to God' (Jn 14.6). This is an important example of God's Law, statute or decree: through Christ's sacrifice on the cross, there is now only one way to God. God has decreed it that way; it is the truth. Likewise, God has decreed that the earth will one day be 'burned up' (2 Pet 3.10) - a scientific law - and the truth behind this biblical statement is endorsed by NASA scientists. See video: A Red Giant Sun and a Fried Earth Spiritual law is the mysterious or hidden law of the Kingdom of Heaven and stems from the only source of truth, Jesus Christ. Jesus said to His disciples: "It has been given to you to know the mysteries (hidden truths) of the kingdom of heaven, but to them (unbelievers) it has not been given." (Mat 13.11) Here, Jesus is saying that, since truth is spiritually revealed (Jn 16.13,14), then God's Spiritual Law is unlikely to be fully appreciated and understood by unbelievers. Nevertheless, whether believer or not, God's Law is written on man's heart and he knows when he has violated it through his conscience: "When Gentiles, who do not have the Law, by nature do the things in the Law ... show the work of the Law written in their hearts ... their conscience ... accusing or else excusing them ..." (Rom 2.14,15) But even Christians are unaware of many aspects of God's Law. It affects everyone and every nation and is inescapable. Let's illustrate two complementary aspects of this law, bearing in mind the logic concept 'if A, then B': The Spiritual Law of Bad Actions: Reject God's Law - and our environment (land) will suffer (Isa 24.5)(Deut 28.18) Nations or individuals that curse Israel - will be cursed (Gen 12.3) National disobedience - brings disgrace and curses upon a nation (Deut 11.26,28; 28.15)(Prov 14.34) Persistent national unfaithfulness - brings famine upon the land (Ezek 14.13) Rebellious cities - will be judged by God (Lk 10.12-16) Injustice - angers God and brings judgement (Amos 5) A divided nation, city or house - will not stand or prosper (Mat 12.25)(Mk 3.24,25) If we have unforgiveness in our heart, - God will not forgive us (Mk 11.25,26) Commit sin (transgression of law) - and it will find us out (Num 32.23) God is not mocked: sow the wind - and reap the whirlwind (Gal 6.7)(Hos 8.7) Grief and a broken spirit - have a detrimental effect upon our health (Ps 31. 9,10)(Prov 17.22) Speak idle (useless, unhelpful) words - and we will have to account for them (Mat 12.36,37) Draw children away from God and His Law - and we will be judged for doing so (Mat 18.6) Blaspheme against the Holy Spirit - and we will not be forgiven (Lk 12.10) Deny Christ before men - and we will be denied before the angels of heaven (Lk 12.9) Whoever exalts himself - will be humbled (Lk 14.11) Live a self-centred life - and we will lose real life (Mat 16.25) Reject Christ's offer of reconciliation to God - and we are condemned already (Jn 3.18) The Spiritual Law of Good Actions: Obey God's Law - and the environment (land) around us will be blessed (Deut 28.4,8) Nations or individuals that bless Israel - will be blessed (Gen 12.3) National obedience to God - brings His blessing to that nation (Deut 11.26,27; 28.2)(Ps 33.12)(Prov 14.34) National repentance - can stay God's hand of judgement (Jer 18.8)(2 Chron 7.14) Obedient cities - will be blessed by God (Deut 28.3) Fight for justice - and we will be blessed (Ps 106.3)(Isa 61.8) Confess our sin - and God will forgive us (1 Jn 1.9) If we are merciful - we will receive mercy (Mat 5.7) Have faith - and we can move mountains (Mat 17.20) Follow Christ and seek God's kingdom - and God will supply our need (Lk 12.31)(Phil 4.19)(Mat 6.33) Follow Christ - and all things in our life will work together for our good (Rom 8.28) Do good and lend to others - and our reward will be great (Lk 6.35) Give - and it will be given back to us in good measure (Lk 6.38) Give up things or relationships for Christ's sake - and receive a hundred-fold in return (Mat 20.29) Do a charitable deed in secret - and we will be rewarded openly (Mat 6.4) A good spirit, wisdom and a merry heart - is like medicine to our body (Prov 17.22, 18.14)(Prov 4.22) Trusting in God - renews our bodily strength and energy (Isa 40.31) Get wisdom - and wisdom will promote us and bring us honour (Prov 4.5-9) Be diligent, work hard and give to the poor - and we will have blessings and plenty (Prov 21.5, 28.27) Trust totally in God at all times - and He will keep us in perfect peace (Isa 26.3) Tell God our plans and trust Him - and He will bring them to pass (Ps 37.5) Make God our refuge - and His angels will protect and guide us (Ps 92.9-13) Live a Christ-centred life - and we will find real and abundant life (Mat 16.25)(Jn 10.10) Believe and trust in Christ - and we are not condemned before God (Jn 3.18) 4. God's Law determines the prosperity of nations Will your vote make a difference? Where there is democracy, most voters believe that an election and change of government can improve their lives and the general state of the nation. The majority of voters do not bring God into the process. It doesn't matter to them if they are voting for a government which is in open rebellion against God's Law in the sense that its ethos conflicts with biblical teaching. The majority are not concerned about voting for a government that condones abortion and homosexuality for example on the basis of 'choice' and 'equality', and they are not concerned when Christians are made redundant for simply exercising free-speech and expressing their faith in God. So can a government that ignores and sometimes even defies God's Law (e.g. by promoting gay marriage) really determine a country's well-being? Does it really have overall authority and power over a nation's prosperity? Doesn't God's Law override all the economic and political plans of such a government? Consider: "If that nation against whom I have spoken turns from evil, I will relent of the disaster that I thought to bring upon it." (Jer 18.8) "... the rulers take council together, against the Lord ... (but) the Lord shall hold them in derision ..." (Ps 2.2-4) "There is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God." (Rom 13.1) Clearly, according to the Bible, it is God, not government who has overall authority and power. He can either bless a nation (Isa 19.19-25), or judge it (Isa 21, Isa 60.12 and Zech 14.16-19), and He might use man's democracy in the process. God's Judgement on a Nation As the OT prophets stressed, God may allow corrupt government to rule for a time in order to punish the people or refine believers, but eventually such governments fall. Pagan Rome persecuted the early church, but then fell. If you are in a western-style democracy, ask yourself if your nation is angering God and in danger of falling: Has it abandoned the God of the Bible and embraced other gods? (Exod 20.3, Judges 2.18,19) Has it abandoned the biblical concept of absolute truth, of right and wrong (particularly in the case of sexual morality) and replaced it with 'equality'? (Isa 59.14) Has it abandoned 'the Sabbath'? (Exod 20.8) Has it mislead the young in terms of immoral education? (Mat 18.6) Has it legalised the killing of unborn people? (Jer 1.5) Has it legalised sodomy? (Lev 18.22) Has it persecuted believers in Christ? Has it made a coalition with an openly godless nation or federation e.g. with the EU? Has it got godless leaders, in both State and Church? If the answers are essentially 'yes', then how should we pray for your nation? Daniel prayed for his nation (Israel) which was in a similar situation to that of 21st century democracies, so this is a good model. Note that it is a plea for God's mercy and not for repentance: we cannot repent on behalf a nation; it is up to individuals to repent. Here are a few prayer suggestions: We can acknowledge all our wrong actions, individually and nationally, and plea for God's mercy (Dan 9.5,10,13-19) We can pray for righteous, Godly leaders in both State and church (Judges 2.16-19) We can appeal to our past service to God. For example, Britain translated the Bible and spread it worldwide God's Blessing on a Nation On a more positive note, how can a nation receive true well-being and prosperity? How can it receive God's blessing? Consider: Prov 11.11, 14.34 (it must be 'upright' and 'righteous' in the sight of a holy God) Jer 18.7-10, 26.3 (it must recognise and deal with evil - national repentance) Ezek 14.13 (it must avoid unfaithfulness) Deut 11.26-28 (it must obey God's commandments - God's Law) Voting in a Democracy: So in the light of God's Spiritual Law, will our election vote make any positive difference to the well-being of the nation if the choice is between openly rebellious political parties that ignore and even defy God's law? Probably not, in which case the only way forward is to pray, bearing in mind that prophecy suggests that all nations will eventually become spiritually dark (Isa 60.2). But if you value democracy then voting is important (and sometimes mandatory). So how should we vote? Can we really vote for a leader who openly supports abortion, gay marriage and homosexual behaviour? Instead we might consider: Voting for a Christian candidate or party with a with a Christian ethos, even though they have little chance of success In the case of an EU country, voting for a candidate who wants to remove the nation from the spiritual darkness of the EU God's Dealing with Rebellious Nations - Possible Scenarios: God's dealing with nations Remember: "Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD" (Ps 33.12) Bible quotations are from the New American Standard Bible Related topics: Britain under judgement ; Seeking God ; Truth ; Morality ; Reality Home