Why obedience to God is Important

Click here.

"And he who sent me is with me. He has not left me alone, for I always do the things that are pleasing to him.”- John 8:29

St. Siluoan once said, "God loves all men, but He loves those who obey Him more." What could this mean? Is it that God has favorites among those created in His image? This cannot be. For we know from the scriptures that God shows no favoritism (Romans 2:11).

I think it is more akin to a parent with two children. The one obeys the father, loves him and trusts him. The other fosters a rebellious nature, is hostile and disobedient. The father, if he is good, loves both of his children equally, but he is able to show his love more to the obedient child. The other child is subject to discipline and correction. And while that child receives love also, it is not the tenderness and playfulness and joy and affection afforded to the child that reciprocates love back. God's love is like a conductor and obedience is what is conducive to receiving and giving that love back.

But where is such an example in holy scripture? In the very beginning with Cain and Abel:

Now Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground.  And in the process of time it came to pass that Cain brought an offering of the fruit of the ground to the Lord.  Abel also brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat. And the Lord respected Abel and his offering, 5 but He did not respect Cain and his offering. And Cain was very angry, and his countenance fell.
 So the Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry? And why has your countenance fallen?  If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin lies at the door. And its desire is for you, but you should rule over it.” Genesis 4:2-7

"If you do well, will you not be accepted?" God will accept that which is right and reject that which is evil. For God is love and love does not rejoice in wrong (1 Cor. 13:6).  It is up to us to imitate God then, being just like children who would imitate their father (Ephesians 5:1). We must also repent as St. James writes in his epistle:

Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Lament and mourn and weep! Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up. (4:7-10)

Does this mean that God will completely abandon us if we do not listen to Him? Not at all! Rather "if we deny Him, He will also deny us; if we are faithless, He remains faithful, for He cannot deny Himself (2 Timothy 2:13)" and "If I ascend into heaven, You are there; If I make my bed in hell, behold, You are there (Psalm 139:8)."

We see that God reciprocates our desire towards Him. If we deny Him, He denies us. Not because he wants to for God desires that everyone should draw near to Him (Ezekiel 33:11) but that he lays out before you what you should do and gives you the choice of obedience (Deuteronomy 30:19).

Beloved, let us draw near to Him who loves us more than we love ourselves, who knows the depths of our being, the One who descended into hell where we have made our beds and lifted us up to reign with him in glory.