POWER BUT NOT PERMISSION

POWER, BUT NOT PERMISSION
How many times I have heard the question asked, by Christians who don't understand the Way of Righteousness very well yet, or are prone to want to do things THEIR WAY instead of the way God has prescribed. "Why can't I do it?" "What's wrong with it?"
Now I am just as aware as you are of the fact that many things which we shun as followers of Jesus, are NOT HARMFUL to our physical well being. Neither would they be harmful to our Spiritual well being EXCEPT THAT GOD'S WORD says we should not indulge in them.
In other words, God's Word FORBIDS us to do all that we are CAPABLE of doing.
To OBEY GOD'S WORD IS CALLED WISDOM in Deuteronomy 4:6 Keep therefore and do [them]; for this [is] your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the nations, which shall hear all these statutes, and say, Surely this great nation [is] a wise and understanding people. For what nation [is there so] great, who [hath] God [so] nigh unto them, as the LORD our God [is] in all [things that] we call upon him [for]? And what nation [is there so] great, that hath statutes and judgments [so] righteous as all this law, which I set before you this day?
God's code of social conduct has NEVER CHANGED and NEVER WILL CHANGE. He knows, better than our modern day experts do, what is best for human relations. The nation or community that endeavors to follow God's social laws will be more happy and trouble free than those who do not. But each one of us has the ability (power) to do differently than what God has given us permission to do. We have a choice.
God's code of civil conduct has NEVER CHANGED and NEVER WILL CHANGE. His GOVERNMENT is the highest form available, and that nation or community which follows the precepts of His Civil Code as closely as humanly possible, will be the most prospered of Him. Consider England under Queen Victoria, and the US under the first few God-fearing Presidents and Congresses. To be sure, both governments are on the skids now, but that has not always been so.
God's code of moral conduct has NEVER CHANGED and NEVER WILL CHANGE. God made us, and He knows what is best for our emotional health and purity. He made us with a set of AFFECTIONS, over which we have control, if we will exercise that control. We are told this in Colossians 3:2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.
David's testimony in I Chronicles 29:3 Moreover, because I have set my affection to the house of my God,--
WE HAVE CONTROL, IF WE WILL EXERCISE IT, over our affections and emotions. Young and old married couples need to know, and follow this principle.
Young folks choosing a direction for life, need to heed the directives of the Bible in their choices.
Each of us has the ability (power) to do as we please. But we do not have the permission from God to do some things that are pleasant and attractive, no matter how much we might like to do them. Harm, or lack of harm, is NOT a factor--, God's Word is of primary importance.
The way of the transgressor is hard.