The Law of God a good leash

Pingo and I went for a walk. A woods behind our church had been clear cut. The last time we had walked there all the trees were still there. It has been so nice to walk and meditate in the seclusion provided for by the evergreen foliage and pines. Now it was a whole new world—other-worldly—just a desolate wilderness of sand, branches littering the whole area, shrubs newly returning, and a few saplings still standing, unwanted by the paper company.

I didn’t put a leash on Pingo since we were away from the road and traffic. But as we went along the dirt access road we ran up on to a big, muddy waterhole. I assessed the situation and decided I could pass it by using a narrow path next to the puddle. And so I went.

But Pingo decided that the muddy water was a better way. So he strode right through it all the way to the other side, unfazed by having done anything socially unacceptable. Now I was a little peeved at the thought of him getting back in my car, all filthy as he was.

So I decided we would have to walk around long enough for him to dry off, and then use my belt for a leash to keep him out of the waterhole on the way back to the car. But when we walked along the path beside the mud hole Pingo almost strangled himself trying to get back into the water. Nevertheless, we passed it and soon we were far enough away from it that I could remove the leash and he could run carefree, happy again.

God’s Law is not meant to choke us to death. If it feels that way it is due to our resistance and rebellion against it. But we have been called by Christ’s name, and if we will ride in His royal chariot the day He returns, we need to let Him restrict us by His Law. It may not feel good; it may seem to have a stranglehold on us; but if we will remain under its persistent control and constant condemnation and instruction and correction—all for our eventual justification, it will finally bring us to Christ in sorrow and repentance. When Christ’s power through faith in Him has won us the victory over Satan and our rebellion against Him, then our reconciliation and union with Christ will remove our continual sense of condemnation. Peace replaces His wrath; His acceptance replaces all effects of rejection; and then “the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace.” (Jas. 3:18). Jesus becomes our schoolmaster through His Spirit and the Law of God ceased to have dominion over us, as well as does our sin, through the grace of Christ and His Law.

“Wherefore then serveth the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator.
Now a mediator is not a mediator of one, but God is one.
Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law.
But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe.
But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed.
Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.
But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.
For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.” (Gal 3:19-26).

“Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned.” (1Tim. 1:5).