Does that mean that the commands to individual Christians should be enshrined in civil code? ABSOLUTELY NOT.
The Law states "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all your Heart, with all your Mind and your neighbor as thyself". When folks come to heaven, before the judgment seat and the impact being in the presence of the most powerful being in the universe, many will have to confess, "I did not love you in my life, I did not love my neighbor as I loved myself".
Some will say, "I planted my affections in money, sex, power and things I could do to my body and I suppressed the knowledge of you and your love in my mind so I could do as I pleased. I wasted my life rather than laying up my treasures in heaven and now, I have nothing."
For before the creator of the universe, there will be no hiding, no defenses, and no way to excuse oneself. For all one's life will be as an a video playing in the background and the evidence too overwhelming to deny.
Others will say "I have no plea, but the sacrifice of your Son, the Lord Jesus Christ on my behalf. I commend to you the good works he did through me, and the work of the Holy Spirit which you so freely pour out upon me. My own works I count as lost. You alone are worthy of praise and my soul knows it right well!".
So my question is to you, which of these will God receive into heaven, and which will go to the trash heap?
For truly, I say to you, God did not give us the Law for no reason. He will not abrogate it on the whims of man. You may say to me "I am assuming you would support legislation to prosecute those not sufficiently filled with the Holy Spirit?" but what will HE say to that? That, is the question.
For those without Christ, the answer would be that there would be None of the Holy Spirit in their lives; none of the indwelling presence to cheer and to guide; no sense of God's intimacy and personal love. It is not there there is not enough, but that there is NONE.
If you are a Christian, I tell you that intoxication is a good way to drive away the presence of the Holy Spirit; it dulls the senses to the "still small voice" calling you to pray; it muddles the mind so that one does not ask for things one really needs: Love, Peace and Joy.
When the smell of the banqueting feast, prepared before the foundation of the world for those who love God, is in the air, the smell of marijuana and the incense to try to cover it up would be as vomit before it.
Those who can, will rush to the banqueting table saying "This is what I have waited for all my life! This is what real food is all about, nothing compares to the Wine of God's love and the pure water which flows from His throne!".
Those one the trash heap will say "I can't believe I missed it, please just one drop of water! Warn my friends and my family not to come to where I am!", to which they will hear "They have have the Law of Moses and the witness of creation, it is enough".
Choose Life, my friend. Turn away from promoting the things of this earth - for they are passing away. Promote instead the Love of God, Eternal Rewards, and God's most excellent word - which shall never pass away.
The interest rate of God is beyond comprehension in this life.
Yours Sincerely,
sr4402
You may contact me via private reply if you wish.
I am in agreement with all you stated about the surpassing glory that awaits. The question here, though, is what role the law of God has in relation to our civil codes and further, what place, if any, do materials in this world have to "make the heart merry." I have already said I don't smoke pot. The question is not "is it wrong" but "should it be illegal?"