Thanks for a Good Law

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Mountain View, California · Nov 23, 1904

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 30, No. 46.

Thanks for a Good Law.

People who want to do right, and who desire to see justice done to all their fellow-men, are always glad when a really good and equal statute has been enacted. When a legislator, who has been instrumental in procuring a specially good law, returns home from the capitol, his constituents usually express their gratitude for his services. Then every one ought to be thankful for the law of God, which His unerring Word tells us is "perfect." Ps. 19:7. This brief law of Ten Commandments contains two leading principles, or more comprehensive commands: (1) "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind." (2) "Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself." Of this perfect law the Saviour of mankind says, "This do, and thou shalt live." The practical working of this law as respects man's duty to man, is further enunciated in what is popularly styled the Golden Rule, "All things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them." Any law whose provisions, if obeyed, will work out such a happy result as this can not fail to meet the approval of all really benevolent people. The great Lawgiver is deserving of truly heart-felt thanks from all intelligent creatures for devising such a wise law for the promotion of their happiness. This law of Ten Commandments is so "perfect" that if it were perfectly obeyed there would be no need of any other. It was the disobedience of this law that brought sin and death into this world (1 John 3:4; Rom. 6:23; 7:7); and the entire plan of salvation was devised in order to bring the fallen race back into harmony with the law, back to allegiance to God. And it was because "God so loved the world, that He gave His only-begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." To believe in Christ means obedience to His Word. "Why call ye Me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?" is the pertinent query of our Saviour. Obedience is the test of faith. There is great blessing in store for those who delight in the law of the Lord. Ps. 1:1, 2. It is not only a "royal law," but it is a "law of liberty," and in fulfilling it "according to the Scripture," we have the assurance that we "do well." James 1:25; 2:8-12. And all who do well shall enter into the joy of their Lord. Matt. 25:21. Then shall we not all praise the great Lawgiver for this best of all laws?