LENT: Apr 10 - Deuteronomy 29:19

I have peace though I walk

in the stubbornness of my heart

Deuteronomy 29:19

In Deuteronomy 29 God and Moses are warning the people of Israel about what will happen if they fail to obey God's commands when they come into the promised land.

They tell Israel that some will say, "I have peace though I walk in the stubbornness of my heart."

In modern English, no one would say it exactly like this. Rather, in our English- speaking, modern world, many do simply say, "I have peace in my heart," though they are walking in blatant stubbornness and sin.

We do what we want to do. And sometimes it brings a short-term peace, or satisfaction, or thrill. But we've all seen it, these short-term thrills often wind up as long-term griefs. What once seemed like peace and satisfaction often turns into addiction or adversity.

For example, sixties were labeled the era of freelove. A generation or two later, that freelove has resulted in adversity for an epidemic of single moms and children who don't know their dads. In the short run, an amorous couple joyfully declared, "I have peace," as they walked in the stubbornness of their heart.

Society says purity is an archaic notion. And indeed, on an individual, case-by-case basis, many people seem to escape any real consequences of their rebellion. They simply seem to be having fun. But as Scripture says, "none of us lives to himself, and none of us dies to himself." As we've said and as we've seen, society does not escape these God-mocking behaviors. And in the long-run, most individuals really don't either. Look at the divorce rates. Look at the people yoked to to the flame of their youth who in the long-run has very different values and beliefs. Look at the once faithful children, who have forsaken their faith, because they wanted to ignore God's wisdom so they could excuse adventurous behaviors and still feel good about themselves.

In the short-run, they can say, "I have peace," though they walk in the stubbornness of their heart. The problem is that this world, and especially our years of youthfulness, are just a moment and a twinkling of the eye. In the long run, how many shipwreck their children, bankrupt their souls, and leave in doubt their Eternal future, all for some momentary thrills.

God is not against fun! And none of these rules is about legalism. They are about wisdom. God knows the long-term consequences of what happens when we go astray. He'd rather see us shore up the dike before the storm, than watch us – his little children – endure the consequences of the flood. God loves us. And that long-term joy is better than any short-term thrill.

Indeed, we can celebrate because – as it says in the next two headings in my Bible – we have "Restoration Promised" if we "Choose Life"!

In Christ's Love,

a guy who is glad that

his short term naïveté

has been replaced by

God's long-term guidance

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