There’s an old saying that goes, “Rules are meant to be broken.” The origin of this phrase is not clear, but it is usually quoted when someone wants to go against the flow, to follow their own course, without regard to the rules of a society or their employer.
When it comes to human laws and regulations, there are times when this course of action may be justified. Consider the laws which enslaved generations of African-Americans or Hitler’s laws oppressing Jews, leading to the deaths of millions. No one with an ounce of humanity could argue that these rules were not meant to be broken. To do otherwise would be immoral.
When it comes to God’s Law,, however, this saying does not apply. God’s Law is perfect, reflecting the perfect love and character of our Heavenly Father. When we choose to break His law, chaos and suffering are the sure result, not because God is a vengeful god, but because these rules form the very foundation of society and when they are ignored everything comes tumbling down.
David, speaking of God’s Law, declared, “All your words are true; all your righteous laws are eternal.” (Psalm 119:160 NIV). God’s Law is unchanging, eternal. Man’s laws may change at the whim of whatever party is in power, but God’s Law will never change.
Even Jesus, God in human flesh, declared, “until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished.” (Matthew 5:18). So if Jesus wouldn’t change the Law, what makes you or I think it’s okay for us to do so?
At times human rules may be “meant to be broken”, but choosing to keep God’s Law is always the right choice. In fact, Psalms 119:1 says, “Blessed are those whose ways are blameless, who walk according to the law of the Lord.”
Today, let your prayer be, “Teach me, Lord, the way of your decrees, that I may follow it to the end. Give me understanding, so that I may keep your law and obey it with all my heart.” (Psalm 119:33, 34).