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Pastoral Nuggets - June 2010

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A Higher Law

 Romans 8:2-4 (KJV) states, “For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.  For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:  That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.” 

We find two laws in this scripture.  The first is the Law of Sin and Death.  The second, a “higher law,” the Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ, trumps the first.  Note:  It does not eradicate it; it renders it inoperative.  The truth to be learned here is that when we meet the conditions of the “higher law” the “lower law” will always be rendered inoperative. 

At 10:35 a.m. on December 17, 1903, Orville and Wilbur Wright did the unimaginable.  They designed and flew the first powered airplane.  The plane, which weighed 605 lbs., flew 120 feet in 12 seconds.  Now, common sense teaches us that the universal Law of Gravity should have prevented that 605 lb plane from getting off the ground.  However, what Orville and Wilbur Wright did was find a way to tap into a “higher law” that would render the Law of Gravity inoperative.  That law is the Law of Aerodynamics.  Basically speaking, the Law of Aerodynamics consists of two things: Propulsion & lift. They mounted an engine with a propeller on the airplane to provide the propulsion.  Then they designed and mounted wings to create lift.  When those conditions were met the “higher” Law of Aerodynamics trumped the Law of Gravity, rendering it inoperative.  Consequently, the birth of aviation.

On Sunday, March 4, 2001, the US Navy christened the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan.  This Nimitz class aircraft carrier is 1,092ft. long, has a 4.5-acre flight deck, towers 20 stories above the waterline, has 4 bronze propellers, each 21 feet across and weighing 66,220 pounds, displaces approximately 90,000 tons of water when afloat, and weighs approximately 722 tons.  Knowing that the Law of Gravity is universal, the obvious question is: “How in the world does that thing float?”  The answer of course, is the presence of a “higher law.” When all the conditions are met, the Law of Buoyancy renders the Law of Gravity inoperative.  The idea of buoyancy was summed up by Archimedes, a Greek mathematician, in what is known as Archimedes Principle.  It states, “Any object, wholly or partly immersed in a fluid, is buoyed up by a force equal to the weight of the fluid displaced by the object.”  In other words, whether an object floats or sinks is based on not only its weight, but also the amount of water it displaces. That is why the USS Ronald Reagan can float.  It displaces a large amount of water.

Now, I am sure that by now you are wondering why in the world I am speaking about the laws of gravity, aerodynamics, and buoyancy in a Spiritual column.  Hang on.  I am getting to the Spiritual application!

As we think about a large airplane flying and a heavy ship floating, it is important to remember that the introduction of the “higher law” that makes this possible does not eradicate the “lower law.”  It renders it inoperative ONLY AS LONG AS THE REQUIRED CONDITIONS ARE MET!  The moment an airplane loses its propulsion or a wing – the Law of Gravity immediately regains control and it crashes.  Likewise, the moment a ship springs a leak and takes on more water than it can displace, the Law of Gravity immediately regains control and it sinks.

All through the Bible we find the evidence of God’s “higher law” rendering a “lower law” inoperative.  Although not written in these specific words, the promise of Jesus to His followers is this:  If you will, I will.  In other words, if we meet the required conditions, then our actions will trigger God’s “higher law” into our particular situation that will render the “lower law” inoperative.  The Bible is filled with examples of this. 

• Because of original sin - all mankind was cursed to die. But Jesus came, and through His death, burial, and resurrection, made a way that when we meet the required conditions regarding faith in Him, as believers, when we die, we are simply passed from death unto life everlasting.  We have a beautiful Old Testament portrait of this when the Lord sent the death angel into Egypt.  He told Moses and the Hebrews that the firstborn male of both man and beast would die that night.  But then He gave them some conditions, which if they met, would cause a “higher law” to render the Law of Death inoperative.  In faith they were to apply the blood of a sacrificial lamb unto the doorposts and lintels of their homes.  When the death angel saw this he would pass over that house – and he did!
• Because of original sin - man was cursed to till the earth by the sweat of his brow and the earth was cursed so that it would reward his effort with thorns and thistles.  However, in the Book of Malachi God gives some conditions, that when met, ushers in a “higher law.”  Malachi 3:10 -11, (KJV) “ Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it. 11 And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field, saith the LORD of hosts.”
• Because of original sin - sickness was passed to all mankind.  But in the James 5: 14-17 (KJV) we find it written, “14 Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: 15 And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him. 16 Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.”
• Because of original sin - fear passed to all mankind.  But in 1 John 4:18 (KJV) we find it written: “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.”
• Because of original sin – man is filled with doubt.  But in Matthew 17: 20 (KJV) Jesus said “ … If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.”

Today as I close this Nugget, I encourage you to look at Galatians 6: 7 (KJV) with new eyes.  We often view it in the light of God’s judgment on sinful man.  But today I want you to look at it in the light of God’s mechanism for us to activate a “higher law” in every situation in which we find ourselves.  Read what it says, “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.”  The word “soweth” denotes “action.”  Spiritually speaking, as with the Wright Brothers, the Law of Gravity may have you grounded, but when you begin to sow the seeds of and meet all the conditions of the Law of Aerodynamics – you will soon discover you can fly!  And as with the USS Ronald Reagan, when the heavy burdens of your life threaten to sink you, when you begin to sow the seeds of and meet all the requirements of the Law of Buoyancy – you will soon discover – HOPE FLOATS!  And as in Romans 8:2 (KJV) when you find yourself captive to sin, and choose to align yourself with God’s “higher law” - the Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus – He will set you free! 

All to often, the sad reality is that when we find ourselves facing life’s situations, we do pray and ask God to help us, but then do nothing to meet the required conditions that enables His “higher law” (Grace) to render the “lower law” (Sin) that has us enslaved – inoperative.  But when we meet the conditions, His “higher law” will always trump the “lower law” and He will set us free! Praise God! Amen!

Brother Aaron