The God of Laws, the Devil of Deception, and the Kingdom of Heaven

Today, I want to talk about something that is often misunderstood, ignored, or even resisted by many of us: God’s laws. We might think of laws as burdens, things that limit our freedom or tell us what we can’t do. But today, let’s take a deeper look at why God is a God of laws, how Satan twists them, and why obeying God’s laws isn’t just important—it’s essential for our eternal future.

God is a God of Laws

First off, let's set the stage. We need to understand that God’s laws are not arbitrary rules—He’s not up there throwing down a list of "do's and don'ts" just because He can. God’s laws are the blueprints for life, the perfect way for us to live in harmony with Him, each other, and ourselves.

Think about the world we live in. The universe runs on laws. We have the law of gravity, the law of thermodynamics, and so many others that we rely on every day. If you jump off a building, gravity doesn’t care how much you pray or wish for a miracle. The law will act. It’s unyielding. But God’s laws are far more than just physical laws—they are moral laws that teach us how to love, respect, and live in peace.

Just like gravity, God's laws are built into the very fabric of life. They are there to keep us grounded. They are there to protect us, not to punish us. They are life-giving and life-sustaining, designed to bring us closer to Him and to each other.

Satan Twists the Laws to Destroy Us

Now, here’s where things get a little tricky. Satan, the master deceiver, wants to twist those laws, bend them, and turn them into something harmful. He tries to convince us that God's laws are oppressive, restrictive, or out-of-date. He whispers in our ear that they’re just suggestions, or worse, that we don’t need them at all. But here’s the truth: Satan’s goal is to destroy us, and he does this by getting us to break God’s laws.

Remember, he tempted Eve in the Garden of Eden, saying, "Did God really say...?" He made her doubt God’s command and convinced her that disobeying it would lead to freedom. But the reality? Disobedience led to disaster. The consequences of their sin were catastrophic for humanity. The same is true today. When we listen to Satan’s lies and choose to ignore or twist God’s laws, we open the door to destruction.

Obeying God’s Laws Is Not Optional

Here’s the bottom line: Obeying God’s laws is not optional. It’s not just a nice suggestion for a better life—it’s a requirement if we want to enter the kingdom of heaven.

Jesus said in Matthew 7:21,

"Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of My Father who is in heaven."

That’s a sobering thought. It’s not about just showing up at church or saying the right words; it’s about living in obedience to God’s will.

Imagine you’re at a beautiful, exclusive party with an entrance fee. The host is God, and the party is heaven. The ticket to enter isn’t money, or popularity, or fancy clothes. The ticket is obedience. If you don’t have it, you can’t get in. There’s no backdoor. There’s no bypassing the rules.

We might think, “But God is loving. Doesn’t He want to forgive us?” Absolutely! God is full of grace and mercy, and He does forgive when we repent. But here’s the thing: grace does not erase the need for obedience. God’s laws are like the instructions for building a house. If you skip some of them, or get them wrong, the house will crumble. God’s laws aren’t arbitrary—they’re foundational.

The Severity of Disobedience

Now, let’s talk about the severity of this. We don’t like to think about it, but the Bible makes it clear: Disobedience has consequences. The consequences of not following God’s laws are not just earthly, they are eternal. Romans 6:23 tells us, “The wages of sin is death.” If we live in disobedience, we risk missing out on eternal life in heaven.

But here's the thing: God doesn’t want that for any of us. He doesn’t want anyone to perish. That’s why He sent Jesus—to show us how to live according to His laws, to give us the strength to obey, and to pay the penalty for our disobedience.

The Call to Obedience

So, what does obedience look like in practical terms? It’s choosing to follow God’s commandments, even when it’s hard. It’s not making excuses for our sin or justifying our actions. It’s living with a heart that seeks after God’s will and desires to please Him above all else.

And let me remind you: God is with us in this journey. He doesn’t ask us to obey on our own. The Holy Spirit helps us, empowers us, and convicts us when we stray. But we must choose to listen to Him and act in faith.

Closing Thought

The road to the kingdom of heaven is narrow, and God’s laws are the signposts along the way. We can’t afford to ignore them or twist them to fit our desires. We must obey them with the same seriousness as a person crossing a busy street—because the consequences of disobedience are far too great.

Let us choose today to live in obedience to God’s laws, not out of fear, but out of love for the One who gave them to us. Let us remember that when we follow His ways, we’re not just avoiding disaster, we’re embracing life in its fullest form. And one day, when we stand before God, He will say, “Well done, good and faithful servant. Enter into My rest.”

Prayer:

Heavenly Father,

We come before You today with humble hearts, acknowledging that You are a righteous and loving God, the Creator of all things. We thank You for the gift of Your laws, which are not burdens, but the guiding light that leads us to life and peace. Forgive us, Lord, for the times we have strayed, for the moments we’ve ignored or twisted Your commands to fit our own desires.

Father, we pray for the strength to obey You wholeheartedly. Help us to recognize the lies of the enemy who tries to lead us away from Your truth. Give us discernment to see Your laws as a path to freedom, not as chains, and empower us through Your Holy Spirit to live according to Your will. Let our lives reflect Your glory, and may we walk the narrow road with obedience and joy.

Lord, we know that without You, we are lost, but with You, we have hope. We ask for Your grace to guide us, Your mercy to forgive us, and Your love to sustain us. Help us to live each day with the awareness that our obedience to You is the key to eternal life with You in heaven.

We commit ourselves to You, Lord. May our hearts be steadfast in Your Word, and may we always seek to honor You in all that we do. In Jesus' name, we pray.

Amen.

May we all obey with joy and reverence, knowing that it is the only way to truly live—and to enter the kingdom of heaven.