There is a funny commercial on the radio that leads into their message by quoting a dumb state or city law. I found them so intriguing that I looked up a web site of a whole bunch of other silly laws that are either outdated or just plan dumb.

Let me share a few with you. The anti-NRA folks will be pleased to know that it is illegal to shoot any game in California from a moving vehicle, unless it is a whale. And whether they are shooting or not, no woman may drive a car while wearing a house coat. (Based on our morning drop offs, I think some Stoneybrooke moms might be breaking the law!).

In Baldwin Park, no one is allowed to ride a bicycle in a swimming pool. And anywhere in the state it is illegal for a vehicle without a driver to exceed 60 miles an hour. Boy, don’t you feel safe?

In Los Angeles, toads may not be licked and in Fresno no one may annoy a lizard in a city park. Since I hate lizards, I think I will avoid parks in Fresno!

And my favorite law comes from Chico, California where detonating a nuclear device within the city limits carries a $500 fine. Now there is a city that I could feel safe living in!

Silly dumb laws make us grin, but the truth is we all value the rule of law. The law plays an important role in maintaining order in our society. In the scriptures, the Law (the spiritual, civil and ceremonial guidelines given by God to Moses and passed onto the Israelites- see Leviticus and Deuteronomy) plays an even more important role in the life of a New Testament believer.

The Law had a couple of clear purposes. First, it provides an unmistakable definition of sin (Rom. 3:20-23). Because of the written Law we know exactly what is wrong and right. Our behavior can and should be moderated accordingly. Secondly, according to Galatians 2:24, “the Law has become our tutor to lead us to Christ, that we may be justified by faith.” The Law was not set aside by Christ, in point of fact, He came to fulfill the Law (Matt. 22:38-40).

If God had not chosen to reveal Himself and give the standards whereby we will all be judged, we would just be wandering through a meaningless existence. Instead, He outlined exactly want to do to be perfect. And because of the clear statements about His standards (perfection) we are able to recognize our desperate need for a Savoir. Because it is impossible to live up to that standard, we desperately need someone to redeem us, to pay the price for our sin and to justify us before a holy and righteous God.

Christ did that for me…for you too I hope.
Maybe this week would be a good time to consider how onerous it would be living under the law (not the outdated silly ones, but those in the scriptures.) And as we consider them (Lev. 20 and Deut. 5) lets express once again our eternal gratefulness for the grace of God given us-not through the Law, but through the cross!