Gospel

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“Salus populi suprema lex esto.” If you can read Latin, you are already ahead of me. If not, you will find the translation later on.

Law and Order is not just the name of a popular TV show—it’s the framework of life. No matter how free-spirited or independent or iconoclastic we think we are, we live according to rules. Try as we might to deny the laws of gravity, no one of us would jump off a building expecting to go straight up. Nor would we find much order in driving the streets of a large city without signs and speed limits, or existing without the laws of physics that hold our molecules together. And, should someone violate our person or property, would we not welcome the law enforcement officers and court rooms?

There are a few things that people are vaguely familiar with, yet cannot easily remember: The Seven Dwarfs, the fifty states, the 27 Constitutional amendments, and the Ten Commandments. Of these, you can probably guess which is the least popular.

We can all agree that laws are necessary for an orderly society. But can we agree on what laws are “good” or “bad”? For example, how would you rate the following:

• The speed limit for ambulances is 20 mph in Port Huron, Michigan.

• In Logan County, Colorado, a man isn’t allowed to kiss a woman while she’s asleep.

• It’s against the law for children under seven to attend college in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.

• There’s a law in Maine that prohibits anyone from stepping out of a plane while it’s in the air.

• Here’s a pertinent one: Campaigners in Waterbury, Vermont, are prohibited from “telling lies or fabricating stories” while on the campaign trail.

• One of my favorites: In many places, suicide is illegal. That one kills me (joke intended)!

Although many laws may seem silly, according to our Latin phrase, “The people’s safety is the supreme law.” Laws are meant to keep people safe in an orderly society.

Here is another list of laws from Exodus 20 (edited for space):

I am the LORD your God.

• You shall have no other gods before me.

• You shall not make for yourself an idol. You shall not bow down to them or worship them.

• You shall not misuse the name of the LORD your God.

• Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy.

• Honor your father and your mother.

• You shall not murder.

• You shall not commit adultery.
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• You shall not steal.
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• You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor.

• You shall not covet . . . anything that belongs to your neighbor.

The Bible contains well over 600 laws, commandments, instructions, rules, regulations, precepts, demands, decrees, and statutes. No wonder most people don’t want to read it! In fact, the first five books of the Bible, and sometimes the entire Old Testament, are known as the Torah, or Law. Sounds like pretty harsh, threatening or, at the least, boring stuff.

As we saw by the previous examples, some laws are either outdated or just plain impractical. Human laws change as society changes, and they are not uniformly enforced. However, such is not the case with God’s laws. Once He gave them, they were “forever settled in heaven” (Psalm 119:89). And they were meant to be equally and justly enforced, with one penalty for all: “The soul that sinneth, it shall die” (Ezekiel 18:20, KJV). That makes sense. Sin is against an Almighty, Holy, Perfect and Just God. What other penalty could there be? And, even worse, who can avoid breaking the laws? King Solomon said, “There is not a righteous man on earth who does what is right and never sins” (Ecclesiastes 7:20). Worse yet, there is no place to hide: “‘Can anyone hide in secret places so that I cannot see him?’ declares the LORD. ‘Do not I fill heaven and earth?’ declares the LORD” (Jeremiah 23:24). Looks kind of hopeless.

Many years ago, when I made a serious attempt to read the Bible, I plowed through it twice and came away with such a burden that I could not stand it. I knew I was guilty of breaking all of these laws and was eternally condemned. How could these laws be good for me? And, you might ask, how did I break them all? Why am I still alive? Tune in next time for Episode 2!

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