Redemption

While reading this chapter in Plantinga's book, I was struck by something he brought up regaurding the ten commandments. He asked his readers to imagine just one day in which every single person on earth followed the ten commandments perfectly. In that day, there would be not killing, no stealing, no lying, cheating, adultery, jealousy. On the other hand, there would be perfect worship of God and love shown towrds the neighbor. Out of an attitude of praise and thankfulness would come selflesness, kindness, and peace. What a day that would be!

As I looked back through that section, I saw that Plantinga had focused on the ten commandments as our guide to freedom and happiness. It shocked me to realize how often I forget to look at them in this light. Sometimes, doing the right thing seems like such a burden. I choose the right because we know it is God's will, but my hearts looks back wistfully at the things of this world. God's law seems to restrict rather than set free. I decide not to watch a movie because I know it has lot of sex scenes in it, but when I hear friends talking about it later, I feel like I have missed out. Or right before I go to sleep, I struggle between spending time in God's Word or reading another chapter in my book. Obiously, when I read bout God's law in such a different light, it gave me something to think about. I know that God's law gives us freedom, but sometimes it is hard for me to see it that way when I want so badly to make a choice for myself and not my God.

Looking at God's law through Plantinga's eyes did much more than make me feel guilty. It actually gave me a lot of hope for finding joy in doing God's law. It made me realize that sometimes I look at that law and feel deprived, when I should be feeling priviledged. God has given us a clear pattern for a joyful life. Think of all the trouble we would save ourselves if we never lied or cheated, if we were always kind, patient and forgiving. I thought of all the times I caved in to sin and realized that they had only served to make my life miserable. Was putting myself first ever worth the guilt of knowing that I was disappointing my heavenly Father? I realized that the pleasure had been only for a moment but had given me no lasting joy. I also realized that it was much easier for me to follow God's Word when I was serving him with excitement rather than grudgingly. When I skipped out on a movie to go to bible study, or when I put my book down to visit an old lady, I bearly noticed my scacrifice because I thirsting after God. When I was looking at all the positive posibilities God's law opens up for us, I didn't desire to do anything but please him.

All this actually reminded me of Lewis' piece "No Right to Happiness" and our class discussion about it. With this piece, we spent a lot of time talking about the emptiness of earthly pleasures. They do not satisfy. Only heavenly joy can truly fill us and bring us peace. And following the law of God is a great first step to finding that joy!

I wish that this positive attitude was something I would never loose sight of. I have experianced the difference between seeing the law as a leash and seeing it as a guide to loving service and the second is far more pleasant. However, I know that because I still struggle with a sinful nature, I am not likely to keep it up perfectly. I am very glad that Plantinga brought this up in the book though, because it is a good motivation to find joy in doing God's will.