Day 13

“I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws.” — Ezekiel 36:26-27

We know our universe is governed by natural laws of varying kinds. In mathematics, two plus two will always equal four. In chemistry, we can mix two parts hydrogen with one part oxygen and we’ll get water. The laws of physics are totally dependable. Gravity is the force that attracts matter to matter and gives a sense of weight, more popularly known as ‘what goes up must come down’. From the beginning of time, these are laws that are absolute and enable us to understand and predict the workings of our universe.

But what about a moral law? Is there a natural moral law that is not superimposed but is actually inherent within us and transcends both time and culture? In Romans, Chapter 2, the Apostle Paul, referring to Gentiles who have never heard the Law of God, writes, “Indeed when Gentiles, who do not have the law, do by nature things required by the law, they are a law for themselves, even though they do not have the law, since they show that the requirements of the law are written on their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness, and their thoughts now accusing, even defending them.” Romans 2:14-15.

Was it mere coincidence that Gentile people do the things required by the Law of God even though it had not been circulated amongst them yet? Paul is saying that it is not coincidence, but it is because the requirements of the law are actually written on their hearts. That is, there is a natural sense of right and wrong. God gave the Jewish people the law in writing, but He has also instilled it in the hearts of Gentiles. 

As there does exist a natural moral law that is not arbitrarily imposed, but is universal to the human race, there also exist implications inherent in that. While we may feel free to break or change the laws, the reality is, if we break them, in the course of time, they will break us! The violation of the moral law of God is as destructive as ignoring the physical laws of God. There is much confusion today, where the ‘right’ of yesterday has become the ‘wrong’ of today and the ‘wrong’ of yesterday has become the ‘right’ of today. The goal of the gospel is to restore such behavior as expresses the moral image of God. It is His character that creates the moral law of the universe, and is only possible to us by restoring God to his rightful place, as King in the hearts of people.

Prayer: Dear heavenly Father, I always want to live according to the law you’ve written upon my heart. I am grateful for this moral compass, expressed in your word and embodied in the Lord Jesus Christ. empower me not to be seduced by the respectable wrongs of this confused world.

To reflect upon: How are the wrongs of this world, so prevalent today, affecting me and how do I resist them?