Scripture Passage:  “Be not wise in your own eyes: fear the Lord and depart from evil.  It shall be health to your navel, and marrow to your bones.  Honor the Lord with your substance, and with the first fruits of all your increase: So shall your barns be filled with plenty, and your presses shall burst out with new wine.”  Proverbs 3: 7-10   “In those days there was no king in Israel: every man did that which was right in their own eyes.”   Judges 21:25

 

Dear Friends,

 

      I wonder what it would be like if all sporting venues suspended the rules for a season.  There would be no rules, guidelines, or referees.  “Everything Goes,” would be the motto.  The goal would be for everyone to do what they want, to get what they want, any way that they want, without any penalties or consequences. There would be no protection for the audience either.  If the athletes get bored abusing one another, they can involve the audience without their consent.  The only option the spectators would have is to not show up, and to keep quiet away from the game also.  Eventually there would be so much carnage the teams would destroy themselves.  There would be no money to pay salaries because the spectators would stop coming and the value of a ticket would drop to nothing.  The only thing that keeps games going today are the rules.  Everyone must abide by the same rules regardless of their preferences, or not play the game at all.  You could say that rules are a necessary part of the game.  Without them the game would cease to be.  I do not know of anyone who would be in agreement to suspend the rules.  As a matter of fact, the rules are reviewed, adjusted, and more added to keep the integrity of the game intact.  I find it interesting that we will go to great lengths to make sure everyone plays by the rules of the game – but not life.

 

     The Ten Commandments are a set of God ordained rules that are simple in their content, but profound in their Impact.  These ten simple rules cover all of man’s relationships with God, and with each other.  If everyone played by the same rules, life would run smoothly and there would be no need for armies, police forces, or prisons.  We have these because people break the rules and try to play the game by their own standards.  It just doesn’t work – EVER!  Of these ten simple rules, we only enforce rule six, eight, and ten in America.  Even those rules become arbitrary at times to fit public opinion.  Rule six does not apply to babies.  Rule eight does not apply to politicians.  Rule ten does not apply to celebrities in the entertainment field.  (For a list of these rules and their descriptions see Exodus 20: 1-17)  With the suspension of those rules, we will be living according to Judges 21:25.  Everyone will be doing what is right in their own eyes. 

 

     Solomon said that if you would just do what is right in God’s eyes, and according to His standards you would find the kind of life you are searching for. The playing field would be level and everyone would be playing by the same rules.  The participates and spectators would all be healthy and enjoy a life of prosperity and abundance. Apparently rules are a good thing.  I will remember the Lord with my first fruits and I choose to play the game of life by His rules.  It is the only way I know to get out of this world ALIVE!

 

In Christ,

 

Pastor Johnny