"Why Do You Obey God?"

        Jesus said, "But why do you call Me 'Lord, Lord,' and not do the things which I say?" (Luke 6:46) This is a very thought provoking question that begs, yet, another question, "Is Jesus really the Lord of our lives?" If He is our Lord, then we will keep His commands.

        There are several reasons for obedience. 1. One might do another's bidding because of the stated consequences for neglecting those instructions. 2. One might heed the order of another because he has been offered a reward for his compliance. 3. One might comply with another's instruction because he or she, too, believes that it is a good thing and should be done. 4. The command might come from a position of authority and, therefore it is mechanically complied with regardless of whether another thinks it valid. 5. One may comply with another's wishes because he or she recognizes that the commander has wisdom and insight that is above their own and has established a pattern of always doing things that work for the greater good of all. It's the right thing to do.

        Our Lord has given us guiding principles by which to live. Moreover, He has commanded us to live by those principles. But there is an additional caveat to our obedient service to Him. He has promised eternal reward for those who comply with His commandments and, conversely, eternal punishment for those who do not.

Wouldn't you want to obey God because He is the undisputed creator of all things...that He created you and me and that He has provided for us in such a marvelous way? In light of these things, who am I to go against what He has commanded...for any reason?

        I believe that God's word is "truth" and, by definition, "truth" is absolute. God's word declares itself to be truth. The psalmist said, "For the LORD is good; His mercy is everlasting, And His truth endures to all generations." Our Lord declared God's word to be truth. In His prayer that is recorded in John 17, Jesus said in vs. 17, "Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth." Truth is not a comparative term. There is not something that is "more true" or "less true." It's either truth or it's error. There are no gray areas. If God says, "Do not do this or that," then there remains no latitude for a situation for us to do otherwise.

        So what is it that motivates you to keep God's commandments?