The Cost of Disobedience

One of the things we as Christians may not be totally clear about is the importance of obedience.  What does this mean exactly?  In the last blog, I talked about bitterness and that when we are bitter, we are actually in agreement with Satan and we need to forgive and get out fast.   Disobedience is very similar, and in fact, may even be worse.  Take a look at the following Scripture when Samuel is rebuking King Saul after he disobeyed a direct command of the Lord.

1Sa 15:22  And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.

1Sa 15:23  For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, he hath also rejected thee from being king.

Saul sorely lost his crown after his disobedience to God.  It's interesting that, like Saul, we can be doing many good things for the Lord, but not that one thing He has specifically asked us to do.  In reality, if we continue to disobey, then we are serving self and not God.  This gives the devil a perfect opportunity to have a heyday with us.  Now we are participating in witchcraft (where we wield control instead of God because it's all or nothing), iniquity (goes against all the good and right things that God stands for), and idolatry (we are now worshipping something or someone else - we have gone our own way).  And so disobedience to God is a very serious thing, and sometimes results in fatality.

If we are honest, we have to admit that sometimes we don't really want to do what God is asking of us, and we feel like running away.  I ran from God for years and years during my teen years and nearly lost my life more than once.  A serious car accident changed my life forever, and all because I went my own way.

I can think of two specific situations in my own life where God asked me to do something I didn't really want to do.  The first time, it was after I completed a year in Bible school and went back to my home town for a year, I knew it was time to move on. I had no idea where to go.  One day the Lord clearly said to me, "Winnipeg."  Really?  What about beautiful BC or Toronto?  Winnipeg was not my first choice of places to live mainly because of the long winters, but I knew in my heart this is where God wanted me.  Half of my family lived there, I got a good job, a place to stay and remained there for most of my life.  This is where I met my beloved husband.  This is where I received almost all of my education and I got very good paying government jobs.  I discovered a city rich in the arts and culture and history.  It is close to everything, only an hour from cottage country and the most beautiful lakes, beaches and forestry in the world.  Winnipeg was very good to me and I grew to love the people.  God knew it wouldn't be easy, but I ended up flourishing there. I am so glad I listened and obeyed Him that time.

The second time was just after 911.  The Lord specifically spoke to me to put aside my lifelong dreams of traveling, and instead I was to write my books.  Since then I have written 42 books and 3 complete writing manuals, plus family history and about 200 blogs.  Was it easy sitting at home on a beautiful sunny day writing and sometimes struggling to put my thoughts together in a coherent fashion? No. Many times I wanted to give up. Writing is not easy and any honest professional writer will tell you that.  It takes training and skill and a great deal of discipline.  

But the Lord was very clear when He commissioned me to write the books.  I was to share the sound doctrine He had taught me for the past several years where I got grounded in the Word (mostly during those long harsh Manitoba winters).  He said that a time was coming where many Biblical truths would be lost amidst false teachings, cults and worldly philosophies and people would need sound doctrine.  Wouldn't you agree that today we are more in need of sound doctrine than ever before?  And so I write as much and as often as I can while the doors remain open.  

God knows all our times and seasons, our yesterdays, todays and tomorrow's.  He has a perfect plan for each of us.  If we ignore what He is asking us to do, and instead say “no” and go our own way, our life may continue on, but with none of the richness and blessings He had for us all along.  It just delays things, and sometimes we have to wait even longer for our hoped for dreams to transpire, or perhaps they will not come to us at all.

I think we all agree that the time is short.  We are to wisely redeem the time and make it count. We need to get busy doing the thing or things the Lord has asked us to do.  Will it cost us?  It surely will.  Our flesh will argue, and we will likely want to remain in a comfort zone.  But will it be worth it?  Absolutely, when one day, we hear these words:

Mat 25:21  His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.