____________________________________________________ THE GOSPEL OBSERVER "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations...teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age" (Matthew 28:19,20). ____________________________________________________ September 22, 2002 ____________________________________________________ God's Rules Have Reasons by Jarrod Jacobs One thing that escapes many is the fact that God's rules have a purpose or reason behind them. Unfortunately, many have the idea that if they follow God and the Bible then they will be "oppressed," "held down," etc. In other words, people are led to believe that if we follow the will of God then we are somehow giving up our "freedoms." In fact, the opposite is true. When we follow God's word, we will be free. Jesus said, "If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed" (Jn. 8:36). God's commands, (the "thou shalts" and the "thou shalt nots") have a purpose behind them. First and foremost, their purpose is to save men from sin. Paul said, "I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith" (Rom. 1:16-17). The goodness of God demanded His will be revealed to us so that we could be saved. The love of God motivated Him to send His Son to die for us (Jn. 3:16; 2 Tim. 3:16-17; 2 Pet. 1:20-21). Having said these things, we ought to also realize that God's laws have been given to us that we might not only enjoy spiritual blessings, but also physical blessings. Perhaps we have not thought in terms like this, but it is true that by following God's will we can enjoy many physical blessings. Paul told Timothy, "refuse profane and old wives' fables, and exercise thyself rather unto godliness. For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come" (1 Tim. 4:7-8). Godliness is the only truly practical way for a person to live. Paul says it benefits one in this life and that which is to come. In other words, it benefits the here and now as well as the hereafter. There is not a realm or relationship of this life that is not bettered as the result of one living a godly life. Even one's general relationship in society is bettered when one keeps in mind the "golden rule" as it is called (Matt. 7:12)! Let us consider some of God's laws and learn the physical blessings that come through obedience. Monogamous Heterosexual Marriages One thing that God makes clear is that He expects one man and one woman to be married for a lifetime. In the beginning, God created Adam (man) and Eve (woman). Adam said, "This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man. Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh" (Gen. 2:23-24). Jesus reminded the people of this in Matthew 19, saying, "Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female, And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh? Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder" (Matt. 19:4-6). First, notice the references made to "man" and "woman" throughout this text. For those who think that Jesus never talked about homosexuality, let them read Matthew 19:4-6. Here, He continually referred to the man and the woman, and their enjoying the relationship of marriage. Knowing that God's silence prohibits, we know that Christ prohibited homosexuality through His silence. If we had nothing more than this in the Bible, we would know that homosexuality was sinful. Of course, we have more than this (Rom. 1:26-27; 1 Cor. 6:9-10; Gal. 5:19-21; etc.). What are the physical benefits, or blessings enjoyed in God's command of one man and one woman for life in marriage? Consider those who are plagued with sexually transmitted diseases. How did they contract these diseases? Many times it was because of their multiple sex partners. These people did not respect God's word which says, "Marriage is honorable in all, and the bed undefiled..." (Heb. 13:4). Since some people are living in opposition to the will of God by engaging in sexual relations outside of marriage; besides ultimately losing their souls if they do not repent, they now suffer with diseases. Please understand, I am not saying that God "supernaturally struck" these people, but God allowed nature to take its course on them, and they are reaping the consequences of what they have done (Gal. 6:7). What amazed me was a recent television commercial advertising medicine for certain forms of herpes. The actors in the commercials talked about how they needed this new medicine because they "had a life" and couldn't take the pills as another rival medicine required. How low we have sunk!! We could continue in thinking about the consequences of sexual relations outside of marriage. Of course, the most common consequence is the fact that there will be children who come into this world, being born out of wedlock. That is, if they are not killed first by their mothers. See how sinful conduct can escalate out of control? By people not controlling their passions, and by not satisfying their desires in marriage (1 Cor. 7:2), diseases can result; and sometimes this sinful behavior ends in murder! How tragic! Friends and brethren let us learn and learn well that there are physical consequences we will face for our sinful behavior just as we will face spiritual consequences for our sinful behavior (Rom. 6:23; Isa. 59:1-2)!! While thinking about these things, let us also remember that AIDS is a plague on this world. Like it or not, AIDS is rampant among homosexuals and drug users. Think about it. Yes, we understand that some people have acquired AIDS through blood transfusions, truly of no fault of their own. Still, this begs the question, where did the blood come from? It came from a person who was infected with AIDS. How did they get it? 9 times out of 10, they got it either through homosexual activities or through their illegal drug use! So, now, we have someone who received a blood transfusion and acquired AIDS, and will die with that disease because some donor would not respect God's will concerning marriage and satisfying sexual urges in marriage (1 Cor. 7:2-3; Heb. 13:4; Matt. 19:4-6). Rationalizations, excuses, tears, and defiance will not change the will of God! His will has been given to us for a reason! Drinking Alcohol Or Abusing Other Drugs From Old Testament to New Testament times, we see that the drinking of alcohol is condemned. King Lemuel said, "It is not for kings to drink wine; nor for princes strong drink: Lest they drink, and forget the law, and pervert the judgment of any of the afflicted" (Prov. 31:4-5). Not only is drunkenness condemned, but the very idea of drinking one drink of alcohol is condemned. Solomon said, "Look not thou upon the wine when it is red, when it giveth his colour in the cup, when it moveth itself aright. At the last it biteth like a serpent, and stingeth like an adder" (Prov. 23:31-32). Many will read this verse and say that this verse prohibits drunkenness. Yes, but this verse is also a prohibition of all drinking! You don't keep from drunkenness by drinking "a little," you keep from drunkenness by not drinking at all! Remember, Solomon said, "At the last it biteth like a serpent, and stingeth like an adder." Notice please that there could be no "at the last" if there was not a "first"! A person must take the first drink, which leads to the second, the third, etc., until they are drunk! God, however, has condemned drinking alcohol in any quantity. Please read what the inspired apostle Peter said, "For the time past of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revellings, banquetings, and abominable idolatries" (1 Pet. 4:3). Notice please that in this verse, Peter deals with every aspect of drinking, and says God condemns it all. "Excess of wine," of course, is the falling-down drunk. This phrase is defined as, "an overflow (or surplus) of wine, i.e. vinolency (drunkenness):--excess of wine" (Strong's). Then, we read about "revellings." This is the drunk who is the "life of the party." He gets drunk enough to get good and loosened-up! This word is defined as follows: "a carousal (as if a letting loose):--rioting" (Strong's). Finally, there are "banquetings" that are condemned. This is the man who drinks "socially." He may drink one or two drinks, but that is all. Though the world praises such a one for his "moderation," God condemns this. "Banquetings" is defined as, "a drinking" (Strong's). Remember, one cannot have "a drinking" without a drink! While many try to defend such people, remember, drinking alcohol is in the same category as "the lusts of men," "abominable idolatries," and "excess of riot" (1 Pet. 4:2-4)! Why has God condemned such behavior? Put simply, it is because mind-altering drugs including alcohol keep us from thinking rationally. Those who drink "to escape" truly understand what alcohol does. It deprives the brain of oxygen, thus making our reaction time slower, our rational thoughts cease, and fantasy begins! This is why some are considered "mad drunks," "happy drunks," "tough drunks," etc. Many have died in car wrecks as a result of driving drunk. They were so intoxicated that their motor skills were impaired and they could not control the vehicle they were driving. Many times, what we find is that the one who is drunk somehow escapes a car wreck unscathed while innocent people die. Nevertheless, alcohol has a terrible effect on our brain. Alcohol effects other organs in the body as well. Some have scar tissue on their liver, or have endured other diseases as a result of the alcohol that was in their bodies. Of course, abusing other drugs, whether legal or illegal, will bring terrible things to pass both physically and spiritually. Again, remember that many drug users who "shoot-up" and share their bloody needles with others are likely to spread the AIDS virus to others. Other diseases are spread through drug use. Let us not forget though, that the drugs themselves have an effect on our brains, similar to alcohol. Some have literally "fried" their brains after doing drugs just one time! They are in such a state that their parents, or others close to them will have them as a burden so long as they live because a young man or young woman thought it would be "fun" to try drugs. Before we leave this point, let us understand that nicotine is a drug that is commonly seen in tobacco products. Therefore, those who are using tobacco products are taking drugs into their bodies every time they take a puff, or dip, or whatever! Smoking, of course, effects the lungs of a person, his/her circulatory system, as well as other parts of the body. Using tobacco products has also been shown to produce deadly cancers in the bodies of the users in some cases. Friends and brethren, we need to understand that whether it be alcohol use, drug use, tobacco use, etc., these things will cause men to become addicted. Their bodies and brains will become dependent upon these substances. Some have become so addicted to these substances that they have had terrible illnesses, and died because they had abused their bodies so greatly with drugs, alcohol, and tobacco. The Bible teaches that we are not to be addicted to such things. Paul said, "I will not be brought under the power of any" (1 Cor. 6:12). Paul was saying he would not be under the authority of any person or object. Christ has all authority, and we are to be subject to Him and no one and nothing else (Matt. 28:18; Col. 3:17)!! How foolish man is, not only for engaging in sinful behavior, but to engage in behavior that has such a terrible effect on our own bodies! God has told us to stay away from these things for a reason. Let us respect Him for it! -- Via Watchman Magazine (concluded next week) ___________________________________________ News & Notes If you are visiting with us this day, we are glad for your presence and hope that you will feel free to come again. As one of the songs we sing instructs, let us each "Take time to be holy...." ________________________________________ MYRTLE STREET CHURCH OF CHRIST 1022 Myrtle Street Denham Springs, LA 70726 (225) 664-8208 Sunday: 9:15 AM, 10:00 AM, 4:00 PM Wednesday: 7:00 PM evangelist/editor: Tom Edwards (225) 667-4520 e-mail: tedwards@onemain.com web site: http://home.onemain.com/~tedwards/go ________________________________________