I remember that, when I was growing up, I thought my parents rules were stupid, and shouldn't apply to me. I wouldn't overtly rebel, yet I would find ways to make the instructions fit my purposes. When I was in my mid 20s, I remember apologizing to my parents for how foolish I was. In many respects, I did the same to God (and at times still do). I walked away from God in my teens, seeking girls, popularity, and social means to solve a spiritual problem within myself. What I didn't realize is that in both cases, Rebellion was, and still is the problem. Throughout Scripture, God gives commands on how we're to respect Authorities, beginning with Himself, then our parents, then the governments He allows to rule. Why? Because rebellion is a catalyst that drives us away from Himself, and learning to respect earthly Authorities solidifies our trust in His divine authority. In reading the Scriptures and examining the world around me, in looking at demons, and wicked men, I can't help but come to this conclusion: our sin issues, our skin problems, our authority problems all stem from rebellion. Satan and his minions are in rebellion against God, those who seek to go against God's rule (while, ironically setting up rule for themselves), all have the same thing in common: Rebellion, and all rebellion (see Romans 13:1) God takes personally. We do things His way, or we're in rebellion. We can't have it all. Personally, I've tried to live in rebellion, and I know that it is far better to spend one day in the presence of my Father than thousands elsewhere.
1 Samuel 15:17-26
And Samuel said, “Though you are little in your own eyes, are you not the head of the tribes of Israel? The Lord anointed you king over Israel. And the Lord sent you on a mission and said, ‘Go, devote to destruction the sinners, the Amalekites, and fight against them until they are consumed.’ Why then did you not obey the voice of the Lord? Why did you pounce on the spoil and do what was evil in the sight of the Lord?” And Saul said to Samuel, “I have obeyed the voice of the Lord. I have gone on the mission on which the Lord sent me. I have brought Agag the king of Amalek, and I have devoted the Amalekites to destruction. But the people took of the spoil, sheep and oxen, the best of the things devoted to destruction, to sacrifice to the Lord your God in Gilgal.” And Samuel said,
“Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices,
as in obeying the voice of the Lord?
Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice,
and to listen than the fat of rams.
For rebellion is as the sin of divination,
and presumption is as iniquity and idolatry.
Because you have rejected the word of the Lord,
he has also rejected you from being king.”
Saul said to Samuel, “I have sinned, for I have transgressed the commandment of the Lord and your words, because I feared the people and obeyed their voice. Now therefore, please pardon my sin and return with me that I may bow before the Lord.” And Samuel said to Saul, “I will not return with you. For you have rejected the word of the Lord, and the Lord has rejected you from being king over Israel.”
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