Lawlessness

One of the problems with big government is that is generates a great preponderance of laws and onerous regulations. What we are seeing here is a materialistic world view that denies God as the ultimate Lawgiver and replaces Him with government. This is today’s version of idol worship and it should be noted that God hates idolatry (Exodus 20:4-5).

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is considering a crackdown on farm dust, so senators have signed a letter addressing their concerns on the possible regulations. This new regulation makes you wonder how the EPA intends to enforce it… will they have roving dust police in agricultural areas out writing tickets? Maybe they can staff up using the small farmers that are forced out of the business due to regulatory conformance expenses.

We have more laws than can be enforced now yet our bloated government churns out an increasing flow of laws and regulations. They pass two-thousand-page laws that no one has even read. There are enough laws on the books that everyone could be found guilty of something. All the laws can not really be enforced so government officials have to be selective. This is what is going on with illegal immigration. The Federal government refuses to enforce the law so the state of Arizona is trying to do it for them.

The problem with the government playing fast and loose with the rule of law is that people no longer respect the law. When the government no longer enforces the law uniformly, people start taking the law into their own hands and anarchy is the result. Seeing laws produced that are increasingly being enforced at the whims of government bureaucrats is like seeing a bulb that burns brightest just before it burns out. Producing more laws doesn’t result in more law keeping; it actually has the opposite effect as we will no doubt see soon.

Jesus warned of lawlessness in the time leading up to His return… “And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold” (Matthew 24:12, NKJ). I get the sense that if the next serious crisis is coupled with an inept governmental response, people will take the law into their own hands in this country. I’m praying that God will protect us from such a melt-down which gives me more peace than hoping the government will deliver us.

Another promise that gives me peace about the growing lawlessness in the world is in 2 Thessalonians 2:7… “For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only He who now restrains will do so until He is taken out of the way.” The Holy Spirit who indwells true Christians is restraining lawlessness in the world. This restraining ministry of the Spirit will end when He is taken out of the world with followers of Jesus that are removed at the Rapture. It helps to remember that God is restraining lawlessness while I’m in the world.