Chapter 3—God Has Rules Too
Our Unique Responsibility
As the Supreme Ruler of the universe, God has ordained laws for
the government not only of all living beings, but of all the operations
of nature. Everything, whether great or small, animate or inanimate,
is under fixed laws which cannot be disregarded. There are no ex-
ceptions to this rule; for nothing that the divine hand has made has
been forgotten by the divine mind. But while everything in nature is
governed by natural law, man alone, as an intelligent being, capable
of understanding its requirements, is amenable to moral law. To man
alone, the crowning work of His creation, God has given a conscience
to realize the sacred claims of the divine law, and a heart capable
of loving it as holy, just, and good; and of man prompt and perfect
obedience is required. Yet God does not compel him to obey; he is left
a free moral agent.
The subject of man’s personal responsibility is understood by but
few; and yet it is a matter of the greatest importance. We may each
obey and live, or we may transgress God’s law, defy His authority, and
receive the punishment that is meet. Then to every soul the question
comes home with force, Shall I obey the voice from heaven, the ten
words spoken from Sinai, or shall I go with the multitude who trample
on that fiery law? To those who love God it will be the highest delight
to keep His commandments, and to do those things that are pleasing in
His sight. But the natural heart hates the law of God, and wars against
its holy claims. Men shut their souls from the divine light, refusing
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to walk in it as it shines upon them. They sacrifice purity of heart,
the favor of God, and their hope of heaven, for selfish gratification or
worldly gain.
Says the psalmist, “The law of the Lord is perfect” (
Psalm 19:7
).
How wonderful in its simplicity, its comprehensiveness and perfection,
is the law of Jehovah! It is so brief that we can easily commit every
precept to memory, and yet so far-reaching as to express the whole will
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