But Why?

I think my wife's addicted to 'little cuties'. They are seedless California clementines, and in the last two days she's gone through an entire box. You could probably get yourself a spare kidney in a third world country for what a box costs in Wisconsin, in the winter, but being in love for seven years makes a man do strange things, like putting off the purchase of his limited addition Dr. Grip pen, braving the elements, and going to the supermarket to get yet another box of his wife's favorite citrus fruit.
I was standing in line earlier today, box of clementines under one arm, when I began overhearing a conversation between a mother and her child. Before I begin, I must point out that I love kids. I have a niece and a nephew that I spoil every chance I get, about a hundred children that I feel responsible for in the hand of help orphanage, but there are some kids out there, that whether for lack of parenting or discipline - I will not pronounce myself on the matter until I've raised a couple of my own - are just obnoxious.
"Put on your coat," the haggard mother began speaking to her child, who in my estimation was about five years old.
"But why mommy?" he responded without moving a finger to put on his jacket.
"Because it's cold outside she answered."
"But why mommy?" the child asked again.
"Because it snowed," she answered again in a patient voice that astounded me.
"But why mommy?" the boy queried again.
"Because we live in Wisconsin."
"But why mommy?"
"Because your dad couldn't get a job in Florida."
The conversation digressed from there, I think the woman had some issues with her husband, but there is a point to this abbreviated story.
When God commands, we must obey. It is not our job to ask why, and if we do, the answer will most likely be, "because I said so!"
God does not suggest, He commands. He is not a guidance counselor, or a life coach, trying to find the positives in your life while overlooking the negatives. He is the sovereign omniscient, omnipotent, Creator of all that is, whose voice shook the heavens when He said, "be ye holy, for I am holy."
There is no getting around the fact that many today have redefined the nature of God. No, it wasn't the atheists, the agnostics, new agers, or unbelievers that have redefined His nature, but those who claim to know Him best, the preachers, the teachers, the pastors and pharisees among us.
Long forgotten are the concepts of a wrathful God, a jealous God, a righteous God, a just God, a holy God, all having been replaced by the singular more palatable and seeker friendly mantra, 'He is a loving God'. Nothing more, no other qualities necessary, he's simply a loving God.
I agree wholeheartedly, He is a loving God, but this does not mean we can reduce the nature of God to five words that fit well on a bumper sticker.
Because the righteousness and judgment of God are no longer being preached from the pulpits, most have made the impossible leap from God being a loving God, to 'since He is a loving God, there should be no fear, and even if I sin willfully, well He's loving, and even if I trample the blood of His son, He'll overlook it, because love covers all.'
There is a reason God commands His children to live up to a certain standard, and that reason is their sanctification. Without holiness, no man will see the Lord, and knowing this God commanded that we aspire, seek after, and attain holiness.
If we were to reacquaint ourselves with the authority of God, and understand that He desires the best for us, He desires to see us with Him in eternity, perhaps less of us would constantly be asking why, and simply obey God's commands.
I do not have the authority or the right to question God's commands, or His requirements concerning my life. I cannot ask why, all I can do is submit, humble myself and obey.

With love in Christ,

Michael Boldea Jr.