Today I read Romans 12. The Gospel is not easy to live and follow. It is not meant to be. At every turn it typically does that which is contrary to the nature of man, or the natural man. It is no surprise to me that God denied the Israelites the opportunity to have the higher law when they weren't even living the basic 10 commandments. The higher law is not easy to live, it requires you to put aside what you want and do as God asks you to do.
Paul tells the Romans in this chapter what the Savior told the Israelites when He was alive. He is re-teaching the Sermon on the Mount. It is not an easy thing to hear for most people. I have sometimes wondered just why the natural man is the way He is. Why is the natural man an enemy to God? Does it have something to do with the way our physical bodies try and take control over our spirits? I mean if someone who was really righteous in the pre-earth life can come to earth and take upon him/herself a mortal body and suddenly just start doing everything that is contrary to the will of God, how does such a thing happen? What is it about a physical body that does not agree with God and His commandments?
I personally think it is more about conditioning as opposed to just being that way. Think about children, they are pretty willing to do as their parents ask and learn very quickly. They might get upset when they want to do something and you don't allow them to, but they get over it pretty quickly. So what changes them? Well, I think it is all about what they are exposed to. Ever since my daughter was born I've watched her growth with interest. And I have learned several things. Probably the most interesting to me is how much she loves and wants to be outside. She doesn't even care what we do outside, she just prefers to be outside as opposed to being inside. I really think that is normal for babies and it is a learned behavior from their parents that staying inside is preferred. Now, my daughter loves to watch her movies and few shows that she likes, but given the choice, she would rather go outside than watch her favorite movie, every time. So that's is part of the reason that I think all the qualities we normally attribute to the natural man are learned instead of being born that way.
Although every child seems to come down to earth with a sense of fairness and justice. That too could be a learned behavior and could be part of the way their parents interact with them, I don't know. I personally see nothing wrong with parents spoiling their children in different ways. I do not buy into the philosophy that every time you do something nice for one child, you need to do something nice for all the children right then and there. Now, you certainly need to spend equal amounts of time with all the children and make sure you are spoiling in equal amounts but it doesn't have to be all at the same time. In fact I personally think it is kinder not to do that. The world is NOT fair and will not cater to a child's sense of justice. It is better to prepare them for it gently as opposed to feeding their false impressions all their early lives and then tossing them to the wolves so to speak when they become adults, unprepared for society and the world. I spend all day every work day dealing with people that fit into that category and it isn't pretty!
If we start young and teach our children correct principles and how to overcome the natural man, then it will be much easier for them in their life. They are going to encounter people who take advantage of them and treat them poorly. They are going to find situations that are not fair in one sense or another and they need to be able to behave properly about it, not like a spoiled child who isn't getting their way. The Gospel of Jesus Christ is meant to change us and it will if we allow it a place in our hearts. And it is a change for the better in every sense. Until tomorrow.
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