Laws of Life

Psalm 119:160  All your words are true; all your righteous laws are eternal.

 

In 10th grade I got smacked in the head with a rock.  And it’s one of my favorite memories of all time.

On a class retreat, they dropped us off in the middle of the forest and left us there – alone.  It’s what they called a “stress hike”.  Working together to find our way back to camp, we were supposed to build relationships.  But it took us hours.

Exhausted and irritated… our patience was wearing thin.  I was walking with a group of girls up ahead, and, far behind us on the path, the boys starting skipping rocks at our ankles.  It was, no doubt, meant to be flirtatious; however, it was just making us mad.

We turned to yell at them.  My girlfriend, as a stern warning to the boys, chucked a big stone down the path in their direction.  Just then, I happened to turn around.  That turn meant my head, not a few feet in front of her, got in the way of that rock.  Ouch.

Newton’s 3rd law of motion held true that day.  For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction.  And my forehead broke open like a fountain.  Seeing stars for a moment, I fell over.

But here’s where it got completely wonderful… One of the most handsome guys I’ve ever seen was new to our class that year.  And, as my vision returned, I saw him running at full speed down that path towards me.  He swooped me up into his arms and carried me back to camp: fairytale style.

I went to the hospital, got stitched up, and bear the scar to this day.  But Newton’s law served me well that afternoon, as the most handsome-boy-ever had rescued me!

However, Sir Isaac’s not the only one with “laws of life”.   And, generally, as a people, we are not stupid enough to challenge these basic truths we know.

Touch a hot stove = you get burned.  Jump off a building = you fall.   You see where I’m going here…

Whether it’s through personal experience, having witnessed others, or just trusting authorities, there are many things we know not to question.  We simply believe them to be true.

As Christians, we also have laws of life.  Did you realize that?  And these laws will hold true no matter our age, social status, emotional state, finances, health … in truth, our circumstances, whatever they are, will never define these laws, but these laws should define our circumstances.

Because these Biblical truths will always be truths.  We should depend on them in the same way we depend on gravity.

These are but a Teeny Tiny example of the kind of truths I’m talking about.  So be encouraged today:

• He gives power to the weak and strength to the powerless.  Isaiah 40:29
• But all who listen to me will live in peace, untroubled by fear of harm.  Proverbs 1:33
• Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.  Matthew 11:28-29
• Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart. Psalm 37:4
• God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.  Psalm 46:1 
• And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.  Romans 8:28
• The Lord longs to be gracious to you; he rises to show you compassion.  Isaiah 30:18

And the Bible is FILLED with such “guarantees of living”.  You need to find them.  Accept them.  Trust them.  And CLAIM them.  They will serve to help you in many many ways.

Just as gravity is gravity – regardless of your current emotional state or circumstance.  God is God.  And He IS faithful to His word.   So don’t be surprised when He follows through with what He’s said.