Obedience and Love

Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God (13:1). I accept this Scripture as the truth, but I don't always agree with God's choices of those in power.

God ordains some leaders who bungle the job badly. Such rulers become instruments to ripen a nation for judgment. Their mismanagement and injustices totally manifest the country's corruption so that no one questions God's judgment when it falls.

We know that our country needs judgment today, and we're being ripened for it. The deteriorating moral climate in the United States is reflected in the decisions made by our courts. Judicial decisions have been one of the greatest factors in opening the floodgates of corruption and immorality upon our land.

I believe that God has given our judges the power to make these landmark decisions. Because of this, I believe that He wants to bring judgment upon our immoral society, and He'll be blameless when He does.

When God told King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon that his kingdom would fall to the Medo-Persian empire, the king built a ninety-foot golden image. He set up the statue in defiance of God's word and demanded that men worship it as a symbol of an eternal Babylon. "Is not this great Babylon that I have built for the house of the kingdom by the might of my power, and for the honour of my majesty?" (Daniel 4:30).

For these things God allowed Nebuchadnezzar to go insane. The king lived with the oxen for seven seasons. The dew of the heavens settled upon him, he ate grass in the fields, his nails grew like claws, and his hair like feathers covered his body - until he realized the truth. God in heaven establishes the kingdoms of men and puts in charge whomever He wishes.

Then Nebuchadnezzar made a proclamation about God. "He doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou?" (Daniel 4:35). The king of Babylon came to his conclusion the difficult way. It's much easier just to believe that Romans 13:1 is true!

Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God and they that resist shall receive unto themselves damnation. For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same (13:2-3). You don't need to fear the police as long as you obey the law. When you're traveling at the speed limit, you're not afraid. When you're traveling 25 miles-an-hour above the speed limit and pass a black-and-white car with a radar scanner in the side window, fear grips your heart.

Those who enforce the law aren't a threat or terror to you when you're obedient. Law-abiding citizens receive praise from the civil authorities. A police officer is only a terror to those who do evil works, for he is the minister of God to thee for good (13:4a). The next time you're stopped for speeding or violating the law, don't be nasty or angry. The officer may have saved your life. Be thankful for the police. If they weren't enforcing the laws, our society would be a much worse jungle than it is now.

But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil. Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake (13:4b-5). Be obedient to the law, not just because you're afraid of getting thrown in jail, but because of conscience.

For this cause pay ye tribute [taxes] also: for they are God's ministers, attending continually upon this very thing (13:6). Yes, they do "attend continually!" Christians should pay their taxes. Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom (13:7a). Pay the taxes, pay the customs. If you bought a taxable item in another country, don't try to sneak it past customs.

Give fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour. Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law (13:7b-8). Jesus said basically the same thing. The lawyer asked Him, "What is the greatest commandment?" Jesus replied, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and mind, and love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments hang all the law" (Matthew 22:35-40). The Law of God is simply summed up in love.

The Mosaic Law contained a negative note, "Thou shalt not..." (Deuteronomy 5:6-21). Jesus turned to a positive note: love God, love one another. We don't have to worry about the negatives.

Many people think that they're good because they don't do anything bad. It's much better to approach life with a positive attitude and let God's love flow through your heart. For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal. Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love (13:9). Once you have the positive, you can eliminate the negative. Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law (13:10). Everyone who loves has fulfilled the Law.

Now Paul gives the final thought of the chapter. And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep (13:11a). God doesn't want the coming of Christ to take you by surprise.

Jesus said, "Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come. But know this, that if the goodman [owner] of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered [allowed] his house to be broken up" (Matthew 24:42-43). He has given you the signs of His return, so it shouldn't catch you by surprise. For you're not children of "darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief. Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day" (I Thessalonians 5:4-5a). Therefore, "walk as children of light" (Ephesians 5:8b).

It's high time to wake up, look around at the world, and realize that this age is coming to an end. For now is our salvation nearer than when we believed (13:11b). Every day brings us that much closer to the return of Jesus Christ. The night is far spent, the day is at hand (13:12a). Satan has had control of the world since Adam turned it over to him, almost six thousand years ago. What a horrible night it's been!

Our nation has been corrupted by greed. Christopher Columbus believed that God was sending him as a light-bearer to a people in darkness. He wrote in his diary that the Holy Spirit led and directed his mission. When his crew saw the treasures of the Indians, the holy passion of reaching the natives for the Lord was turned into a lustful passion for gold. The explorers raped and murdered the Indians. Spain moved into Mexico, and so unfolded the horrible story of plundering, killing, and enslavement, all because of the greed for gold.

England's Jamestown colony was founded when English ministers encouraged their people to share the Gospel with the Indians in the New World. Again, greed overcame John Smith and his followers. The Indians were treated as inferiors, robbed, and murdered. The mission of the Jamestown community was doomed from the beginning.

Finally the Pilgrims came. They landed at Plymouth Rock and established the first successful colonization of the land. They shared the Gospel, made peace with the Indians, and maintained high moral standards. Their writings and colony prove that God's hand was upon them. Because these settlers were truly seeking to serve God, Plymouth Colony was a successful community.

On the first Thanksgiving Day the Pilgrims gave thanks to God for His care. Their provision hadn't been bountiful. During their first winter the daily ration of corn was five grains per person. However, God sustained them, and our nation was established on their religious and moral principles.

Today the term "Puritan" carries a negative connotation, but we need to be thankful for the puritan ethic established in America's early history. Were it not for these standards, our society would have collapsed long ago. When the light of the Gospel was fading in England and on the Continent, God began to raise up America as the new light of hope for all men. For a time the light did shine. Unfortunately, the darkness is moving in once again, and America has become a home for every kind of spiritual and moral blight. It's high time that we awoke, for the "night is far spent." There are no more frontiers to conquer where God can establish a new light. The day is at hand when God will once again intervene in the history of man.

Let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light. Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness [sexual immorality and debauchery], not in strife and envying (13:12b-13). Let's live on life's positive side. Let us walk honestly... Put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof (13:13a,14). Don't gratify the desires of your flesh. We need to be caring about the Lord's business. There's so much to be accomplished... and the time is so short!