Natural Law

Evil strikes a deep chord with every human being. We cheer when the police apprehend a thief. When we think of Hitler, rage boils within us. We delight when King John is dethroned and King Richard the Lionhearted is restored to power.

Why?

Natural Law. 

What is Natural Law? It is a set of moral laws implanted into every human being. These laws - this Natural Law - include ones such as a horror of theft, cold-blooded killing, and inhumane treatment of humanity.
Our every interaction is tempered by Natural Law. It's that little voice inside us that niggles away when we transgress its moral law.
The Apostle Paul referred to Natural Law in Romans 2:14 "For when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do what the law requires, they are a law to themselves, even though they do not have the law."
When Paul states that the Gentiles do not have the law, he is speaking of the law contained in the Old Testament. The law that the Gentiles do have - "by nature" - is Natural Law.
Natural Law can help guide us on the road of life. But what happens when we must choose between two parts of Natural Law?
In Victor Hugo's masterpiece Les Miserables, Jean val Jean - an everyday French man mired in poverty - is hurled into this very dilemma. He has a choice: starvation of a family member, or theft to feed the family member. Jean val Jean chose to steal a loaf of bread.
What do you think - did he do the right thing?
The worst problem with Natural Law lies not in the law itself, but in humanity's sinful nature. If Natural Law was the cure-all for moral problems, there would be no thieves, Hitler, or King John the usurper. All too often, Natural Law conflicts with our evil desires. The child knows that she should obey her mother, but those cookies in the cookie jar just look so tempting ... so the child hardens her heart against Natural Law. In small steps, humanity sears their consciences. That's how we get people like Hitler.
Natural Law's usefulness is limited by its conflict with both itself and our evil desires.

What do rely on for our rules of conduct if we can't rely on Natural Law all the time?
God's perfect law is the only one that never changes. Natural Law can be the map that guides us on the road of life, but God's law is the magnifying glass that clarifies the tricky spots. If the map tears or coffee spills on it,  God's word will be our guide.
Psalm 119:60 sums up our discussion well: "The sum of Your [God's] word is truth, And every one of Your righteous rules endures forever."

True Freedom

There are some pieces of music that send your heart soaring, that tug loose in you that longing for freedom. Then the song ends, and you're left with a hollow ache.

God planted in every one of us a desire for freedom. What is that freedom? Why do we want it so much? Most of all, how can we find it?
Today I'll answer the first question: What is freedom?

Freedom is not a lack of restraint.
Look up the word freedom in a dictionary, and you find definitions such as:
 a. "exemption from external control, interference, regulation, etc."
 b. "the condition of being free from restraints."
 c. "the capacity to exercise choice; free will."
 d. "a political or civil right."

The American government was formed under the aspiration to the lofty idea of freedom. Yet according to common definitions, freedom (which is a civil right) can never be fully delivered by a government. Why? A government limits choice and imposes restraints, controls, interferences, and regulations.

More importantly, what does the Bible say about freedom?
2 Corinthians 3:17 "Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom."
Nowhere in Scripture does the Bible say that once we are reborn into freedom, we can be unrestrained.
1 Peter 2:16 "Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God."
Well, that's it: freedom is not the lack of restraint.

On the other hand, freedom is not restraint.
1 Peter 2:16, however, does not say that freedom is servitude. After all, the very word freedom broken down containing the word free. Our whole soul cries out for freedom! We know that freedom can't be found in a government imposing restraints, or even the culture's endless dos and don'ts.
Galatians 5:1 confirms freedom's appeal for ethereality, "For freedom Christ has set us free..."
We yearn to be free. God desires for us to be free. Yet what is freedom, if it's not the lack of restraint, or even restraint?

True freedom is the ability to be who God created you to be.
Have you ever been in a situation where you were frustrated because you were prevented from using your God-given talents? That did not feel like freedom, did it?
However, when you are able to develop your talents, you are closer to freedom.
God will set you truly free when you arrive in heaven, if you call on His name. You will be free to fulfill your ultimate purpose: praising God forever.

True freedom is the ability to be who God created you to be.