"It has always been a mystery to me why people commit crimes. Someone who speeds down the highway gambling the act of being caught ... those who can't seem to tell the truth ... people who steal, commit fornication, and even murder. Does it become a way of life that seems to be too interesting to give up? Or is it for other reasons?

Do they not understand the consequences of being fined, jail time, prison, sexual diseases, or even death? Or is it they think they won't be caught for their sinful acts?

Why, if they know the consequences of being caught, do they persist on sentencing themselves to punishment, the fearful dreadment of prison, would or should be enough to persuade otherwise. We should always remember that we will eventually be caught somewhere along the way. We should all consider the consequences of all sinful acts whether it be lying, stealing, killing, fornication and many others. We can elude being caught by the law but we've already been caught by the Lord. So why then should we continue to sentence our souls to torment in the ETERNAL prison of HELL!"

These first few paragraphs were written by my wife, Anna. She brings up an interesting point, one that I believe needs to be thought upon often. Even if we make it through this life without getting caught we have already been sentenced by our Lord. But the one thing that may be overlooked is that it doesn't matter if we follow all of the laws, rules, and regulations here on earth.

Now I want you think on whay I just said, I am not saying that we should disregard the laws of the land. In fact we are commanded to "... submit yourselves to every ordinance of man .... " (1 Pet. 2:13-14). But, what I am saying is that even if we were to obey all of the laws of the land, and never go against them, we would still be in danger of eternity in Hell.

There are a lot of good, moral people who follow the laws to the letter, and we too should be like that, but there is a law that is far superior to the laws of man, that is the Law of God. The Holy Scriptures, The Bible, The Word of God, this is what we should look to for guidance. Psalm 119:104-15 says "Through your precepts I get understanding; Therefore I hate every false way. 105 Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path." It is through the word of God that we get understanding of right and wrong. We can not depend upon the man-written laws of the land. If we were to depend upon them for truth and understanding then we would know that the killing of human beings was OK, as long as they were still in their mother's womb. We would believe that homosexuality is OK, even though it goes against the very laws of nature. These things are against the word of God.

Romans 1:26-32 says, "For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: 27 And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet. 28 And even as they did not like to retain God in [their] knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; 29 Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit malignity; whisperers, 30 Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, 31 Without understanding, convenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful 32 Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the sme, but have pleasure in them that do them"

What is the Judgement of God? We could spend page after page giving scriptural reference that tell of God's judgement against these people, but I believe that these two say it quite well: Revelation 21:8 "But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death."

1 Corinthians 6:9-10 "Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not decieved: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, 10 Nor theives, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God" (The New King James Version usses the word "homosexuals" in place of "effeminate", and "sodomites" in place of "abusers ... with manking")

I believe that we can see a quite clear, picture of whose law is perfect. Romans 12:2 says "And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what [is] that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God." God's will (law) is the one we should follow, not the world. We are to be separated from the world and be transformed so that we might prove the "perfect will of God"

And so returning to our point, we need to do more than follow the laws of man, we need to look to the "perfect will of God" for guidance, for salvation. There are many in the world today that need to be turned towards the greatest laws man can imagine, the Word of God. In it we can find everything we need to guide us in this world. (2 Timothy 3:16,17) Yes, if we follow it we may end up in prison, or be stoned and killed, but if we will do as it teaches, these things will not harm our spirit. Matthew 10:28 reads "And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear Him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell." We need to be more concerned with our souls condition than with our bodies. The apostle Paul was able to state the condition of his sould because he knew whom he should follow. 2 Timothy 4:6-8 "For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. 7 I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: 8 Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing."

We as Christians must obey God's laws first. It is only with the Word of God that we can learn of eternal salvation. That is why I said, it doesn't matter if we follow all of the laws, rules, and regulations here on earth, it is the laws in heaven, the Word of God that we must be concerned with. Let us all be careful that we are not EVENTUALLY CAUGHT.

Timothy R. Henderson