“But the steadfast love of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear him, and his righteousness to children’s children, to those who keep his covenant and remember to do his commandments.” Psalm 103:17-18 ESV
Reflection: after Jesus, why do we need to fear God and follow his commandments?
Let’s say you have totally ignored traffic laws since you started driving. And from your reckless driving, you have been picked up by police numerous times, given warnings and even many fines. Until one day, your reckless driving caused you to run a red light and, you actually killed a pedestrian. You are arrested, taken to court. With your history of reckless driving, the judge has no mercy on you and therefore sentence you to life in prison without parole. Your freedom is taken away, and you are confined to a small prison cell. No hope for ever getting your freedom back. A few years into serving your prison sentence, you get a note that someone you have never met, have decided to serve the sentence for you. You are free to go, all you have to do is to accept the exchange. You’re thinking, “Who in the world would want to take your place?”
Let’s now think for a moment about the freedom that you have been given. What happens if you accept the exchange and walk out of that prison as a free person. But instead of becoming a law abiding citizen following traffic laws, you continue your behavior of reckless driving and ignoring traffic laws. Clearly, this would eventually lead you into trouble again, and certainly would not honor the one who took your life sentence and gave you a second chance of life, right?
As David thinks of how God has freed him, given him new life, we read in Psalm 103 “Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name! Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits, who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy, who satisfies you with good so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s. He does not deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us.” Psalm 103:1-5, 10-12 ESV
But now notice something very important for all of us to understand. There is a caveat, in order to continue to receive God’s blessings. “But the steadfast love of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear him, and his righteousness to children’s children, to those who keep his covenant and remember to do his commandments.” Psalm 103:17-18 ESV. Jesus also spoke of this, as to the woman caught in adultery, “Jesus stood up and said to her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more.”” John 8:10-11 ESV. Sin no more, which means change your life. She had been set free from prison; given new life and now she needed to follow the right path. God’s laws and commandments.
I am afraid so many church communities and pastors miss this in their message, because it is not popular. They instead let their flock continue to ignore the law; continue to drive recklessly as if there is no consequence. Has Jesus set you free? Offered to take your life sentence? Then live and thrive in the freedom and new life He has given you, keeping the law and commandments, and follow His way, and declare with David “The Lord has established his throne in the heavens, and his kingdom rules over all. Bless the Lord, O you his angels, you mighty ones who do his word, obeying the voice of his word! Bless the Lord, all his hosts, his ministers, who do his will! Bless the Lord, all his works, in all places of his dominion. Bless the Lord, O my soul!” Psalm 103:19-22 ESV