Exodus 19:5 Now therefore, if you will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then you shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine.
God does not desire or require anyone to serve and obey Him out of fear, but only from a loving, willing heart that cultivates an intelligent understanding of His character and goodness. Fear has torment, as is written in the book of first John 4, but perfect love casts out all fear.
Whenever you read in the Bible of “The fear of The Lord” it’s not usually referring to being afraid of God in the human sense of the word, because fear and trust are two things that are never compatible with each other, as far as a stable relationship goes.
Of course, it takes time for a person to appreciate the goodness of God, and therefore, throughout our experiences with Christ, obedience is a must. It is essential that while we are learning about God, that we obey Him, because your intelligence, and your understanding of God is only developed through obedience.
In other words, if you don’t obey you will never be able to understand, because the human intellect is enlightened about the character of God through the processes of obedience, and this is how many dark sentences in the Bible are made plain.
But if persons were to sit on the sidelines, hoping to come to a good understanding of the Bible without intending to obey, the word of God becomes even more strange and confusing, and the mind will go around in circles, and become enveloped in greater darkness.
In fact, a person’s ability to understand the scripture hinges directly on one’s intention and willingness to obey, and wherever this is not the case, the word of God becomes obscure and perplexing. Let’s read:
Daniel 12:10 Many shall be purified, and made white, and tried; but the wicked shall do wickedly: and none of the wicked shall understand; but the wise shall understand.
2nd Timothy 3:1 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.
2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
7 Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.
So, there are different stages of development in our understanding, and appreciation of God’s character, and every person who has joined the royal family, or might be thinking of joining, should be given ample opportunity to get to know The Lord.
And they must also be given time to understand the reason why God has given us commandments, and instructions to live by. The laws given to us by God have always been for our very best good, even if the reason why they are given is not clearly understood up front.
And thus, the mind of faith should not wait to obey God, until there is that perfect understanding of the reasons why, because, if persons were to go that route, they will certainly stumble in their walk with God. In obeying God, the path forward may not be always perfectly clear.
And there may not be given any logical reasons why God has commanded to do such and such. But faith will lay hold of the unseen, and will trust God, that He is giving us these laws and these instructions for our best good.
Thus, the best, and safest route to take in obeying God the right way is to obey first, and then ask your questions later, and if The Lord sees it fit to give an explanation, thank Him, and if God chooses not to give any reasons, praise Him anyway.
You will never go wrong with this type of obedience for it is tested, tried, and true, being exemplified in real time in the experiences of the faithful through the ages. Let’s read:
Hebrews 11:7 By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, and prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.
8 By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.
[Patriarchs & Prophets pp 290] The obstacles that hinder our progress will never disappear before a halting, doubting spirit. Those who defer obedience until every shadow of uncertainty disappears, and there remains no risk of failure or defeat, will never obey at all.
Unbelief whispers, “Let us wait till the obstructions are removed, and we can see our way clearly;” but faith courageously urges an advance, hoping all things, believing all things.
There will never come a point in the Christian’s life where we stop learning, for even in the earth made new, we will constantly be advancing in knowledge and understanding.
And therefore, the way we decide to obey God will be critically important, if we are to have that deep meaningful relationship with Him, one that will not buckle under pressure when the storms of life come and the winds of strife blow.
There is such a situation as a person doing the right thing the wrong way, and especially when it comes to obeying God, you want to do it the right way.
The reason for this is that when erroneous concepts perspectives, and practices pertaining to obedience are harbored they can greatly impede our walk with The Lord, and they can potentially put individuals at a very serious disadvantage, when it comes time to exercise a living faith during the difficult days ahead.
The Lord would have us understand that over a long period of many centuries very divergent approaches to obeying God have emerged, and because of this we must now delineate from the Bible, with surgical accuracy, what is the right way to obey God.
The following are some of the erroneous concepts on obedience and believing that have imperceptibly crept into Christianity, and which we must be wary of, for they may look and sound cute on the surface, but on the inside, they are ravening wolves.
[1] There is the scientific approach to obedience, in which a person would believe and obey, only when there is enough science to substantiate what God is saying.
This approach puts God’s word and commands to us on pause, while the scriptural utterances are tested in the lab, and if the science pans out, then persons will readily obey, and they would greatly rejoice at discovering the proof in the pudding. However, this is not the type of obedience God is looking for.
For instance, in the two following examples we have God and the U.S.D.A saying basically the same thing, but critically important information isn’t to be found in the Bible. However, it can be found on the U.S.D.A website. The question is why? Let’s read:
(USDA) U.S. Department of Agriculture
Eating foods such as fruits that are lower in calories per cup, instead of other higher calorie foods, may help lower overall calorie intake.
Eating a diet rich in fruits and vegetables as part of an overall healthy diet may reduce the risk for heart disease, including heart attack and stroke.
Eating a diet rich in fruits and vegetables as part of an overall healthy diet may protect against certain types of cancers.
Adding fruit can help increase the amount of fiber and potassium we eat. These are important nutrients that many people do not get enough of.
Then you have the scriptural version, but it doesn’t give any science to back up what God is saying. All it says is that the diet is very good. This situation often occurs in the Bible and therefore, the Christian must make a deliberate choice to believe, and obey God, whether or not the science can verify. Let’s read:
Genesis 1:29 And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat.
31 And God saw everything that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day.
God, in His word tells us plainly that man’s original diet of fruits, nuts, and grains, and later on herbs or vegetables, is very good, but He does not say why. He does not break down the benefits which would accrue, all He says to us is that it is very good.
The fact is that even though the science behind the diet is very important, and sheds great light on what God has already said, it’s actually irrelevant as far as obeying God the right way goes.
If the Christian were to wait for scientific data to be revealed, before obeying God, there will come times when the science behind His commands becomes so farfetched that the person in question will recoil in fear, because our knowledge of science is greatly inferior on every level, to the knowledge that is to be found in God.
When Jesus commanded Peter to walk on the water there is no known science that we know of that will support such a command, thus, to the many Peters out there, the right way to obey God is to obey first and ask your questions later, that is, if you have any questions.
In the word of God, the benefits of fruit, nuts, and grain becomes evident, even though God again does not spell out in any detail, why the giants who were living in Canaan were so huge. But, if persons were to examine the record closely, we will find evidence that is linked to what they were eating. Let’s read:
Numbers 13: 17 And Moses sent them to spy out the land of Canaan, and said unto them, get you up this way southward, and go up into the mountain:
18 And see the land, what it is, and the people that dwell therein, whether they be strong or weak, few or many;
22 And they ascended by the south, and came unto Hebron; where Ahiman, Sheshai, and Talmai, the children of Anak, were.
23 And they came unto the brook of Eshcol, and cut down from thence a branch with one cluster of grapes, and they bore it between two upon a staff; and they brought of the pomegranates, and of the figs.
26 And they went and came to Moses and to Aaron, and to all the congregation of the children of Israel… and brought back word unto them…..and shewed them the fruit of the land.
27 And they told him, and said, we came unto the land whither thou sent us, and surely it flows with milk and honey; and this is the fruit of it.
28 Nevertheless the people be strong that dwell in the land, and the cities are walled, and very great. and moreover, we saw the children of Anak there.
The problem with the scientific approach to obeying God is that when finite sciences, and the Scriptures collide as they often do, the persons in question will take a step back, and will often stumble if things do not add up.
Thus, we must declare unequivocally, that this is not the type of obedience, or belief system that God is looking for. For instance, there has not been found any material evidence that the children of Israel had wandered forty years in the wilderness, as the Bible clearly states.
There have been no residues, remnants, or vestiges of their pilgrimage found along the way, and for this reason, the scientific approach could stumble over the Biblical account.
Here it is again as the scientific approach, waits for lab tests and results, before believing, and obeying. All the while, serious collateral damage is occurring, in the human family as persons await confirmation from science.
In the Bible, God does not always give us many fine details of what adverse events would take place, nor does He always say exactly how they would unfold if we were to ignore His revealed will. Let’s read:
Leviticus 11: 4 Nevertheless these shall ye not eat of them that chew the cud, or of them that divide the hoof: as the camel, because he chews the cud, but divides not the hoof; he is unclean unto you.
5 And the coney, because he chews the cud, but divides not the hoof; he is unclean unto you.
7 And the swine, though he divides the hoof, and be
cloven-footed, yet he chews not the cud; he is unclean to you.
8 Of their flesh shall ye not eat, and their carcasses shall ye not touch; they are unclean to you.
10 And all that have not fins and scales in the seas, and in the rivers, of all that move in the waters, and of any living thing which is in the waters, they shall be an abomination unto you.
46 This is the law of the beasts, and of the fowl, and of every living creature that moves in the waters, and of every creature that creeps upon the earth.
47 To make a difference between the unclean and the clean, and between the beast that may be eaten and the beast that may not be eaten.
Note well the command: “Do not eat them” and the brief commentary by God: “He is unclean unto you” It certainly does not give much science to hang your obedience upon, nor does it say what makes them unclean.
Several important pieces of information are missing from the passages, and it is imperative that we now understand the reasons why. All the Lord says is that they are unclean, and that those items should never ever be eaten.
Jesus does not reveal the gory details; He does not mention in clear terms what diseases will accrue, or how these forbidden items would affect the nervous system of the human body in adverse ways, and He does not make mention of any medicines that could counter the deleterious effects.
All God says is that we should never eat them, and that they are unclean, and entirely unfit for human consumption. The question to be settled is whether we will take Him at His word and obey Him up front, or whether we will wait for science to confirm the facts in the case, before we believe.
Just for the record, here is a list of the diseases that come about as a result of eating forbidden foods. It is the scientific discovery behind God’s commands, but not necessary for obeying God up front. Let’s read:
African swine fever is a contagious and deadly viral swine disease affecting domestic and feral swine of all ages. Pseudorabies is a contagious disease that primarily affects swine but it can also affect cattle, sheep, cats goats, and dogs. It is particularly devastating to breeding sows and piglets.
In adult pigs, the disease causes abortion and stillbirths, respiratory problems, and occasionally death. In newborn pigs, it attacks the respiratory and central nervous systems causing incoordination, sneezing, coughing, and death.
Foot and mouth disease virus, Pseudorabies virus, Influenza A virus, Nipah virus, Ebola-Restin, Porcine epidemic diarrhea virus, PRRS virus (Chinese high path), PRRS virus, Porcine Tescho-virus, (Teschen/PTV1), Japanese encephalitis virus, Getah virus.
Transmissible gastroenteritis virus, Menangle virus, Porcine Sapelo-virus, Porcine circovirus, Circovirus 3 Porcine rotavirus, Swine vesicular disease virus, Vesicular exanthema of swine virus, Porcine rubulavirus, Seneca-virus A, Porcine parvovirus, Porcine delta-coronavirus, Porcine para-influenza 1 virus.
Atypical swine pesti-virus, Influenza C virus, Porcine respiratory coronavirus, Hemagglutinating encephalomyelitis virus, Encephalomyocarditis virus Hepatitis E virus, Porcine adenovirus, Porcine kobuvirus, Orthoreovirus, Sendai virus, Porcine cytomegalovirus. Porcine Sapo-virus, Vesicular stomatitis virus, Chikungunya virus, Rabies virus, Porcine bocavirus, Porcine astrovirus, Swine pox virus, Porcine toro-virus, Swine papillomavirus.
Compare or contrast all of the vast information we just discovered, with the simple command and the statement coming from God to us: Do not eat them, they are unclean unto you.
If we cultivate the scientific approach to obedience God will have us understand that persons would be obeying the scientists and not God, for we withheld obedience until the lab results verified His word.
And therefore, for all intents and purposes, this will not be the type of obedience that God is looking for. The haunting question which would certainly bother the mind that has embraced the scientific approach to obedience, is why are these items deemed to be unclean?
And until science corroborates the facts, the person in question will in most cases freely partake of the forbidden foods. The real issue is not what diseases and cancers from these forbidden items might, or may not accrue, for that is actually beside the point. If we were to obey God, because of the known adverse side effects we would be obeying God from fear, and not from love.
The same scenario is what took place at the flood as Noah warned of a deluge, the likes of which mortals had never seen. In fact, up until that time, rain had never fallen, so for the antediluvians to go into the ark would be a stretch, especially when there wasn’t any science to back up what Noah was saying.
In the following excerpts, pay close attention to the mode of thought especially as they turn to scientists and philosophers to explain to them what Noah was saying. They will never obey The Lord, until they got an explanation, and sadly, they never did. Let’s read:
[Patriarchs & Prophets pp 97] The ark was finished in every part as the Lord had directed, and was stored with food for man and beast. And now the servant of God made his last solemn appeal to the people. With an agony of desire that words cannot express, he entreated them to seek a refuge while it might be found. Again, they rejected his words. Suddenly a silence fell upon the mocking throng.
Beasts of every description, the fiercest as well as the most-gentle, were seen coming from mountain and forest and quietly making their way toward the ark. A noise as of a rushing wind was heard, and lo, birds were flocking from all directions, their numbers darkening the heavens, and in perfect order they passed to the ark. Animals obeyed the command of God, while men were disobedient.
Philosophers were called upon to account for the singular occurrence, but in vain. It was a mystery which they could not fathom.
If we are not willing to obey God in times of peace, we won’t obey Him in times of grave peril, because the mind that has become immersed in obedience based on science, will stumble when there isn’t any material evidence, or proof to confirm God’s word.
It’s funny, because the very same people were later apparently willing to obey, as they saw new science, truth, and facts converge, in the deadly storm that covered the earth, but sadly, the willingness to obey came a bit too late.
This is what science-based obedience could do to every person who chooses to go that route, for the obedience God is looking for is not to be based on any verifiable research, or facts. God is looking for persons who will believe Him, and take Him at His word, regardless of what our sciences may, or may not reveal. Let’s read:
[Patriarchs & Prophets pp 99] Above the roar of the tempest was heard the wailing of a people that had despised the authority of God. Others were frantic with fear, stretching their hands toward the ark and pleading for admittance. They called upon Him earnestly, but His ear was not open to their cry.
This leads us to the second erroneous concept on obedience that has crept into Christianity, and one that has soured the relationship between God and many Christians. Here it is:
[2] The prohibitory perspective to obeying God in which His laws, and instructions are viewed as a restriction to a person’s liberty rather than beneficial to your overall well-being, but you will obey anyway, because you are scared of the consequences.
This particular perspective has wreaked havoc on so many people that it must now be disclosed for what it really is. God does not desire anyone to obey Him because of a fear of consequences. Whenever this is the case, the Christian experience will become one of gloom, instead of joy, and gladness.
This particular perspective took very deep root in the hearts and minds of many persons in ages past and today the dirty work still continues. Just for the record, there are two confirmed results to obeying God.
[1] If obeying God is done the wrong way, your focus will always be on the darker side of things, and you would have great difficulty praising God in times of adversity. In addition, it would almost be impossible to recognize the good purposes of God when He may allow trials to come. Let’s read:
Malachi 3:13 Your words have been stout against me saith the Lord, yet you say what have we spoken so much against thee?
14 You have said, it is vain to serve God: and what profit is it that we have kept his ordinance, and that we have walked mournfully before the Lord of hosts?
[2] If one were to obey God the right way, there will be a deep-down joy and peace that cannot be easily disturbed by external circumstances. Persons in this second scenario look on the brighter side of life and they tend to praise God in good times and bad. Let’s read:
Psalms 100:1 Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands.
2 Serve the Lord with gladness: come before his presence with singing.
4 Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.
5 For the Lord is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endures to all generations.
In the first scenario we have persons who obey God, but they are not happy doing so, because they view His requirements and laws from the prohibitory side yet they will obey, because it is the right thing to do.
There is no real joy, or pleasure to such persons in obedience, for their view is that God’s instructions are an encroachment upon them, but, because of a fear of consequences, they will comply. In this way, one’s service to God descends into a cold formality that becomes devoid of delight.
But, in the second scenario, the person in question views God’s laws from a beneficiary perspective, in that they stand to gain greatly by obedience, and for this reason, they are eager to obey, and serve God with joy, having an intelligent understanding of His goodness, made manifest in His character.
It is worthy of note that the persons being referred to in Malachi chapter three, view their walk with God as being a great disadvantage, and as they look out of their windows at the ungodly, they conclude that the disobedient are better off than those who obey, and this view sours their relationship with The Lord. Let’s read:
Malachi 3:15 And now we call the proud happy; yea, they that work wickedness are set up; yea, they that tempt God are even delivered.
So, here’s a question for you, is it true that serving and obeying God puts you at a disadvantage to the ungodly? And if so, are we obeying Him just because of a fear of negative consequences? Or do we truly enjoy obeying The Lord, because of an intelligent appreciation of His goodness?
Let’s break it down, and bring the matter closer to home in the most literal sense. If men, women and tweenagers were to refrain from adultery, as the seventh commandment states, merely because they are afraid of contracting STDs and HIV-aids, this will constitute obedience from fear.
In this scenario, persons might be chomping at the bits, and drooling over the prospect of sex outside of marriage, but the fear of STDs keeps them in the obedience lane. Again friends, this is not the type of obedience God is looking for.
Here’s a question for you: If persons were to have guarantees that the adulterer would never contract any sexually transmitted disease, would persons still obey God? And would folks be happy doing so? In other words, without the threat of STD’s, will we still view His law on marriage as being good, or as being too restrictive?
Whenever when the Ten commandments are being presented, the focus should not be heavily weighted to the prohibitory side, with heavy emphasis placed on the negative, and adverse consequences, for in this way some of the hearers might be scared into obedience, which, in some instances, does not last.
It is the goodness of God that brings individuals to repentance, and even though in our day we have to emphasize all the laws of God, because of the false doctrines, teaching that they were abolished at the cross, yet, Calvary should not get lost in the mix.
In fact, it would be well to follow the model given to us, as when Moses asked to see God’s glory. At that time, the people had sinned greatly, by worshipping the golden calf, and 3000 lay dead as the result. So, what they needed was emphasis on the goodness of God, not primarily adverse results. Let’s read:
Exodus 34: 6 And the Lord passed by before him, and proclaimed, The Lord, The Lord God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth.
7 Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty; visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, and upon the children's children, unto the third and to the fourth generation.
Even though the adverse consequences are to be mentioned to bring about a balance to the equation we should endeavor to dwell at length on the bright side, with the positives being given much attention, for in this way, persons would be drawn to God for His goodness, and not because of negative results.
Hence the reason why, in this presentation we let the simplicity and the goodness of Gods commands have the preeminence, so that persons would learn to trust Him at his word. Let’s read:
Romans7: 12 Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good.
Psalms 119:1 Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the Lord.
2 Blessed are they that keep his testimonies, and that seek him with the whole heart.
Deuteronomy 4:5 Behold I have taught you statues and judgments even as the Lord God commanded me, that ye should do so in the land whither ye go to possess it.
6 Keep therefore and do them, for this is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the nations, which shall hear all these statutes, and say, surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.
Joshua 1: 8 This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.
[O.H.C. pp 137] The law of ten commandments is not to be looked upon as much from the prohibitory side, as from the mercy side. Its prohibitions are the sure guarantee of happiness in obedience. As received in Christ, it works in us the purity of character that will bring joy to us through eternal ages. To the obedient it is a wall of protection. We behold in it the goodness of God, who by revealing to men the immutable principles of righteousness, seeks to shield them from the evils that result from transgression.
In closing, the right approach to obeying God could be encapsulated in the following statement: “God says it, I believe that it is good, and that settles it.” Yes, there may be adverse consequences associated with disobedience, but let us focus on the wisdom, and the many benefits, the law of God brings.
Science might agree or disagree, and lab tests might confirm or debunk we couldn’t care less. We do not need any science to confirm God’s goodness, before we believe and obey. If God says it, that is sufficient evidence that it’s good, for this is the one, and only way to obey God the right way.
We therefore end with a passage of Scripture that should help us to recalibrate our perspectives where necessary, and we hope and pray that everyone will ultimately see God as a friend, not as a foe. Let’s read:
Psalms 40:5 Many, O Lord my God are thy wonderful works which thou hast done and thy thoughts which are to us-ward: they cannot be reckoned up in order unto thee: if I would declare and speak of them they are more than can be numbered.
8 I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart.
God Bless!