In the past few weeks, we have examined different areas of how we can be more holy in our Christian walk. First, we examined repentance, how we need to see repentance as transformational in our accepting Christ and further living our lives for Him. Next we considered our connection to God by setting a daily appointment with God for prayer and study. Last week, we looked at being separated to God and separated from the world. This week, we will consider a tough one, obedience, because holiness most certainly requires obedience to God’s Word.
COMMAND FOR OBEDIENCE
Holiness is an attribute that God has demanded of His people for thousands of years. To the Hebrew children, He said, “Sanctify yourselves therefore, and be ye holy: for I am the LORD your God. And ye shall keep my statutes, and do them: I am the LORD which sanctify you” (Leviticus 20:7-8). Notice the inseparable connection between “being holy,” and obeying God’s Word.
Obedience is demonstrated by respectful treatment of parents, sexual purity, avoidance of anything associated with the occult, compassion on the poor, honesty, kindness, justice, refusal to be a talebearer, and not avenging oneself or bearing a grudge according to the Ten Commandments. It is also confirmed by our keeping God first place in our lives, not putting our little idols before Him, not using God’s name in curses or silly banter, and making sure to observe a day of rest.
Such obedience is not a concept that was just for the Hebrew children, though. In the Scripture that we read this morning, we see where we are exhorted to roll up our sleeves, put our minds in gear to be the kind of light that we should be. Part of that means that we should not lazily slip back into those old grooves of evil, doing just what we feel like doing. We need to live a life energetic and blazing with holiness. God said, “I am holy; you be holy.”
We must embrace 1 John 5:3 that tells us, “This is love for God; to obey His commands.”
CONSEQUENCES FOR DISOBEDIENCE
READ 1 CORINTHIANS 10:1-11
The incident in verse 8 describes when the Israelites worshiped Baal of Peor and engaged in sexual immorality with Moabite women. Verse 9 refers to the Israelites’ complaint about their food. They put the Lord to the test by seeing how far they could go. Verse 10 mentions when the people complained against Moses and Aaron, and the plague that resulted. The angel of death is also referred to in Exodus 12:23.
All of these incidents point us to the fact that “God is not mocked.” The wilderness generation served as a cautionary example to the Corinthian church, which was on the verge of provoking God. The Corinthians apparently were boasting that they could please the Lord and at the same time partake of food and fellowship at pagan religious clubs. The Corinthian motto was: “everything is permissible.” If we are not careful, we can easily find ourselves following the path of the Israelites and the Corinthians.
Christians today have plenty of warnings and examples that God will not overlook sin. We like to think that disobedience will be overlooked by God. But that is not the case. You can run, but you can’t hide. Be sure that your disobedience will find you out.
A little over a year ago, I was involved in a collision that was the fault of the other driver. We waited on the police to arrive. After assessing the situation and getting a quick account from each of us of the collision, the police directed us to move to the side to let traffic flow. While we were waiting for the crew to do their clean up and the police to complete their reports, the other driver and I engaged in some pleasant small talk. All of the sudden, the police officer comes up and says, “Mam, I am currently putting you under arrest as there is a warrant for your arrest for conspiracy in Boone County.” I was shocked, to say the least! The passenger in her vehicle and I made some small talk. The next thing I know, the cops are placing him in cuffs and emptying his pocket on the hood of his vehicle! I was looking around for cameras, because I was certain that I must be in the middle of a recording for the show “COPS!” I wanted to leave quickly because I was afraid that I might be next!
This story goes to show that while we think that we can run from God, we can’t hide from Him. Eventually, our sin will be dealt with. God does not do this to be a mean, dictating, overbearing God, but He does it to correct us and draw us back to Him. The one who spares the rod hates his son. God loves us, and He will not withhold discipline in our lives when it is needed.
COMPENSATION FOR OBEDIENCE
Exodus 19:5 says this: “Now if you will obey me and keep my covenant, you will be my own special treasure from among all the peoples on earth…”
When God commands us to obey Him, He is giving us a principle by which to live. He is also setting a framework around our lives that forms a hedge of protection from evil. When we choose to take the way of wisdom, we obey God. His promises of blessing for obedience far outweigh any possible consequences. He is just asking us to submit ourselves to Him and leave whatever happens to His loving care.
As we grow in our walk with the Lord, obedience becomes the avenue by which we know Him better. When we obey Him, He pulls us closer to Himself and teaches us more about His wise precepts and His unending love. God loves us and is committed to us. He commands our obedience, not because He is a strict taskmaster, but because He knows the devastating effect that disobedience and sin will have on our lives.
So what are we leaving this point with? Just obey God and leave all the consequences to Him.
CLOSING
In closing, we know that God commands our obedience to follow Him, not the ways of the world, and to put nothing before Him. We have also established that we can’t run from God when we don’t live an obedient life, we can run but we can’t hide from Him. We must know that God will not be mocked and that our sin will eventually be dealt with. Finally, never forget that when we live a life of obedience, it draws us into a closer, more intimate walk with our Lord and Savior.
