The rules of the game
I love watching football, used to play as a kid, and I watch when I can. Once while watching an NFL game with a friend, I made the following comment: “You know what I like most about football? The rules.” At which point he chuckled and thought I was insane. But I retain my sentiment. I do like the rules.
I admit that this does sound a bit odd. After all, football is notoriously known as a spectator sport. There are bone-crushing hits, lightning-fast players, acrobatic moves, etc. Yet the rules still grab my attention. Indulge me and I’m sure you’ll see what I mean.
The beauty of boundaries
Boundaries keep things in and keep things out. They are a barrier, but a special type of barrier. Boundaries define a space for freedom. My brain automatically goes to a pen for animals. The fence that lines the perimeter is a boundary that allows the animal to know it’s limits – how far it is allowed to go. Without such limits, the animal would probably roam all over. Man is no different.
God gave us boundaries as well. He set His boundaries with His commandments. The Father tells us how far we can go and makes it clear when we’ve gone too far. Yet His boundaries are far more elegant than any chain-link fence. The commandments He gives us comes with blessing and curses. We can comprehend this, an animal cannot. But do believers in Yeshua comprehend it?
The long arm of the Law
I find the phrase “the long arm of the law” fitting when talking about God’s law. In Numbers chapter 11, Moses is having a conversation with God, wondering how that huge multitude of Israelites will get fed. God responds powerfully in verse 23:
“And the LORD said to Moses, ‘Has the LORD’s arm been shortened? Now you shall see whether what I say will happen to you or not.”
The Father is saying that He is still the same powerful God that He was before. If there was faith in His power before, there should be faith in His power still. His power is everlasting to everlasting.
What about the Law? God made His law as an everlasting covenant with His people. God does not change. If we followed the commandments before because He is our God, we should follow His commandments still because He is the same God who gave them to us. His Word is everlasting to everlasting. His arm reaches across that man-made barrier some place between the “Old” and “New” Testament. This has nothing to do with football, you say? Bear with me.
The cage of freedom
Let’s face it, our brains cannot comprehend true freedom. As humans, we need boundaries in order to act. Without any boundaries (i.e., rules), we would go crazy. We wouldn’t be able to do the simplest things like drive a car since everyone would be all over the place and there would be no street lights not to mention streets at all. Anarchy leads to chaos. And chaos makes people freeze and not do anything because they don’t know which way to go. This is a cage without bars but no less imprisoning.
That animal mentioned earlier has freedom. It can freely roam about within it’s pen. And animals, as we know, need structure and routine… boundaries. Again, we are similar. God’s commandments give us an area in which we can roam freely as long as we don’t go outside that area. And there’s plenty of freedom there.
Back to the game already in progress
Animals… cars… freedom… what does this all have to do with football? Well, football is a game played within boundaries. First the players have to play within the bounds (boundaries). Then they can only act within the rules of the game. Here’s where it gets good: even though football has many rules, the players continue to come up with fascinating new moves and plays. All this while remaining within those boundaries. And that’s a good thing. Football would be a very boring sport to watch if the players had too strict of rules.
I see a parallel. God allows us room to roam, room to do fascinating new and wonderful plays and works. All while staying within the boundaries of His commandments. And I believe that’s what He intended and wants. This is that freedom that we have, not a freedom apart from the law, but within the law. So close to the law that it is in our hearts. With His commandments, our hearts are now free to love in ways we never thought possible.
