Don’t see the audio player? Click here.
The state of Wyoming accused a man of robbing a shoe store at knifepoint. He had taken a pair of tan hiking boots and $69. During the trial, the judge noticed the accused man was wearing tan hiking boots. The judge did a double take. Surely, the man would not wear stolen boots to court. After confirming that these were the same boots, the judge found him guilty and sent him to jail in his bare feet. God made it clear to ancient Israel that no one is above the law. We read in Leviticus 19 how God spelled out some of the applications of His moral law: Do not steal. Do not deceive or cheat one another. Do not bring shame on the name of your God by using it to swear falsely. I am the LORD. Do not defraud or rob your neighbor. Do not twist justice in legal matters by favoring the poor or being partial to the rich and powerful. Always judge people fairly.” Such standards of moral behavior do not change with the passage of time, because they come from an unchangeable God. Applications of laws may change because life brings new situations, but the basic principles remain the same. Of course, we often fail; but we recall what St. Augustine said, “Law convinces us of our weakness, and compels us to apply for the medicine of grace, which is in Christ Jesus alone.”
