Higher Powers

Higher Powers

“Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be arte ordained of God. Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they shall receive to themselves damnation. For rulers  are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? Do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same: for he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil. (Romans 13:1-5)

Recently, CNN released a courtroom video, from Miami, Florida, in which a judge was determining sentence against a teenaged woman for a minor drug offense. As the dialog proceeded, between the judge and the defendant, it was obvious the defendant was flippant toward the judge and the judicial system. When the judge ordered her to pay $5000 fine she asked if he was serious, to which he replied it was no joke and said, Bye, Bye to which she flippantly replied, Adios, while on the way out. He then called her back and raised the fine to $10,000 for her blatant disrespect for the judicial system, to which she became even more antagonistic, while leaving and flipped the “bird” at the judge saying, F---You! To which the judge, upon hearing her response, again summoned her and asked if she in fact had flipped the finger at him and said F---You. She responded, Yes, she had and the judge added 30days in the county jail on top of the $10.000 fine.

Today passage illustrates a number of important truths about the God we serve.

1.     Our God will not be mocked.

2.     God has ordained human government to execute Hid law and protect His people. [for our good]

3.     Because human government is ordained of God, it is wise to exhibit proper respect toward it. if not we shall reap the whirlwind.

4.     God’s love is manifested in human government in that it is for our behalf and not against us (that is unless we violate its laws).

5.     The entire judicial system is ordained of God. That includes legislators, judges, lawyers, and law enforcement.

Exodus 20:1-17 records what we call the Ten Commandments, given by God, to Moses, on Mount Sinai. Most often they are perceived as rules made to take the fun out of life, which in turn depict an angry, unlovable God.

However, take a moment to reflect on the Genesis account where God gave Adam instructions pertaining to the tow trees in the midst of the Garden of Eden. Did not God also tell Adam that if he ate of the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil that he would die? Yes He did. And yes Adam and his posterity died as the result. The point is that God gave warning, to protect Adam and his posterity, from certain death, which by the way, included sickness, disease, war, and sin of every category. Therefore, it seems to me that the Ten Commandments are simply a more detailed explanation of the same alternative given Adam. Likewise every scriptural account of laws and regulations are meant also for our good as well [they were likewise ordained of God] as the laws of contemporary human government. Something as simple as traffic signals and Stop, signs and rules of the roads, were intended for our protection and not to deprive us of our thrills.

In other words the Ten Commandments were given to protect life, health, promote prosperity and in general bless us beyond imagination. But, how many times do we shun God’s commandments and pursue life with reckless abandonment?

The same is true of the courtroom account above. The judge, God’s minister, was in fact, trying to spare the young lady future harm—but she refused—so he meted out more punishment with the same intent of changing her by getting her attention.

Kudos to that judge! My hat is off to him!

We serve a mighty God!