Obedience?

From the youngest years I can remember back to, after understanding that I have parents and they ruled my young life, there were rules in place; standards by which we lived - my brother, my sister, and I. But as we grew older that started to change. Why always be obedient when we can now control our own lives? Let me offer you a very quick story about myself. I was not saved yet and lived in the web of sin in the worldly ways.

My life was night clubs, discos and fun; which included plenty of booze and definitely hot women. That's what I loved, after hours though as day time was consumed by studies [before qualifying], then later working to earn my own living. I remember that my parents always told me to control my lifestyle, not to drink heavily [which I did] and fool around until the wee hours of the mornings, mainly weekends but some week nights it happened too. I arrived home reasonably intoxicated one night, some time around 1am.

What did I do? I drove my car up on to the entrance balcony [which was only a few centimetres higher than the lawn and parked between my mom's flower pot stands near the front door, and opposite the other entrance directly into the kitchen. I was so drunk I sat on the bonnet and knocked on the door as I could just not aim straight and was unable to place my key in the lock. And who opened up? My dad of course! He was angry firstly for waking them up, and secondly because was car was not parked where it should be [on the other side of the house next to the garage].

He asked me to remove my car and I plainly refused. he asked me three times and the answer remained the same. He grabbed the keys and removed it himself. I was not happy at all. What happened next? He hit me with an upper cut to the jaw which send me flying over a small wall and I landed flat on my back on the lawn. Why did this happen? I was disobedient, and a cheeky 19 year old party "animal". I was never angry with him because of that and realized later in weeks to come that he did what I deserved. Take on a man and get a hiding like a man.

What about God and our lives? What happens if you disobey Him after He has shown you how to live a life that pleases Him? He will punish you, not avenge you, not kill you, but will take the "spiritual rod" and sort you out. Disobedience is, to me that is, like sinning against God; like the Israelites who rebelled against Him so often as we have read throughout the Bible.

Here is what is said in 1 Samuel 15:22, "Listen! Obedience is better than sacrifice, and submission is better than offering the fat of rams." This touched me deeply, at least knowing that many years later I'm saved and believe. Obedience honours God all the time. When we submit to Him and are obedient to what He wants from us, this leads to open doors of blessing. Men! If life before Jesus was like mine, and maybe now drifting to anything worldly, don't! God will not be honoured if you call yourself His child. Obey Him and follow Jesus. Allow God's Spirit to lead you, teach you, and guide you to where God wants you.

Surrender and give every area of your life to Him. This honours Him and definitely pleases Him. Disobedience will bring His wrath upon you. As a father sorts out his child so does our Father sort us out. Therefore, be obedient at all times and allow Him to lead you on a great journey into the future. Amen.