Two Laws
As there were two trees in the Garden of Eden; the Tree of Life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Each, have produced a seed, or lineage; typified in the sons of Adam and Eve; Cain and Abel. These, in turn, developed into two cities; Babylon and Jerusalem. Each of these two cities, or system of values, is governed by their own laws. Babylon is ruled by the law of sin and death, whereas Jerusalem is governed by the law of the Spirit of Life, (Romans 8.2). James says that the first is the wisdom that is from beneath. It is “earthly, natural and demonic”. From this comes jealousy, selfish ambition and every evil thing, (James 3.15-16). It operates on the basis of cause and effect. In other words, there are consequences for every action. If one chooses to live in the “Babylon” of self-rule, the result, or wages, is death. The second is the wisdom that comes from above. This wisdom lifts us up and delivers us from the law of sin and death.
The law of sin and death is the wisdom of this age and convinces mankind that he can live his life as he desires. This wisdom has a pay-later plan. Everything seems so easy and fun at first, until the bill collector comes. The principal pain of the consequences of sin is “regret”, knowing that one could have avoided such an end if he would have only heeded the voice of the Lord and followed His precepts. The wisdom from above is like a fence at the top of a cliff, the wisdom from beneath is what visits us in the hospital or cemetery.
In acquiring the wisdom that is from above, one must also endure pain. This pain is that of discipline. The price of obtaining this wisdom must be paid up-front. Spending time with the Lord in prayer and the study of His Word is not always convenient or enjoyable. Many times, we do not see tangible and immediate benefits or rewards. It is like taking medicine. We know it is good for us, but sometimes it is hard to swallow. In time, though, it does produce good fruit. James says that this wisdom is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits,” (James 3.17). The cost and pain of following the law of the Spirit of life is far less than the cost and pain of following the law of sin and death. There is no comparison.
The law of the Spirit of Life has been made available to us through death and resurrection of the Son of God. It was through the shedding of the blood of Jesus that we can experience Life. By receiving Jesus as our Lord and Savior, we can obtain the wisdom from above. We don’t have to experience the destructiveness of sin to know it is wrong. In the Bible, there are over 300 testimonies, in 66 books, of men and women who have lived by the law of the Spirit of Life and have been blessed, as well stories of those who have chosen another path and suffered regret and destruction. They are all our mentors and if we learn from them and acquire the wisdom from above we will live a fulfilled and blessed life, with no regrets. The law of the Spirit of Life has set us free from the law of sin and death. (Romans 8.2)
Scriptures to meditate on:
I Cor. 10.11; Psalms 19.7; 32,8; 119.67, 71; Prov. 22.3; Rom. 6.23; James 3.15-17