Life or Death

DEVOTION
PROVERBS
LIFE OR DEATH

Prov 14:2
2 He whose walk is upright fears the LORD,
but he whose ways are devious despises him.
NIV
Why would someone ever think of slowing down when they saw a police car sitting in the middle of the expressway? I the only reason to fear getting pulled over and ticketing is because that person is breaking the law. The only reason to despise the police is because of disrespect for their authority and defiance of the law. Is there any difference with God? I think not. If a person is walking according to the ways of God he fears God in all the respects of that word in the original language. If a person fears the power and authority of God he will endeavor to do the right thing, which is first of all accept Jesus Christ as his personal Lord and Savior. After that being afraid of God is not the issue as much as being reverent towards him, accepting his authority and living to please him. Sure sin still exists in the life of a believer, but he has not to fear reprisal from God, but rather forgiveness. The believer knows God does not approve of bad behavior, but also knows the human condition and has made a provision for forgiveness. True, sin should not be sort out and blatantly acted out, but temptations get the best of even the most morally holy believer at times. Still that believer is aware of God and the failure to remain absolutely pure and seeks the forgiveness of God once more. Those who live to please only their own self despise the authority of God, even to the point of refusing to acknowledge his existence. If they refute the existence of God then they need not have any restraints on their lifestyle. Just as criminals despise the laws of the land in order to satisfy their own desires, the morally wicked despise the law of God in order to continue to satisfy their own desire. God will not be mocked and those who despise him will receive their just reward. But the righteous, those who fear him, who revere him, who try to live to please him, will receive the crown of life. They will enter into the paradise of God and eat from the tree of life. They will live forever in the presence of God. Why would anyone refuse such a life? Why anyone would choose to despise God and as a result spent any time in hell at all, until the day of perishing, I cannot understand. I choose God, I choose life rather than death.