An Imperfect Being in a Perfect World

An Imperfect Being in a Perfect World.

1989 2 February 6 An Imperfect Being in a Perfect World.(330) Close observation of the universe shows us that nothing ever strays from the path laid down for it. Everything in it obeys specific laws of nature. The stars and the planets are unwavering in their orbits. Hydrogen will always combine in the same way with oxygen to form water. Plants and animals and human beings will inevitably grow and develop in the same genetically pre-determined way. But when it comes to patterns of behaviour, the truly free agent is man. Laws are certainly in existence which he is morally obliged to obey, but whether he actually does so or not, is largely subject to one of God’s supreme gifts to man – the human will.

Man’s will is what causes him to deviate from the path followed by the rest of nature. All of his problems, in fact, stem from this deviation. It is only by re-adopting the course followed by nature that he will find a solution to them, for it is plain that the path followed by other objects in the universe is one of harmony and perfection. If man were to follow the same immutable guidelines, human society would certainly become imbued with those ideal qualities which have been so sadly lacking throughout the entire history of mankind.

When metals dissolve and water turns into steam, they do not do so in an unpredictable manner. They can always be counted on to do so, given the correct temperature and atmospheric pressure. Despite the fact that man possesses free will, he is required by his Maker to act in the same manner, i.e. with reliability and predictability. Rather than act on impulse and caprice, in order to satisfy the cravings of the moment, which may lead him into errant ways, he should faithfully adhere to the path which the whole of the natural world so successfully follows.

Just as the universe never ceases to obey physical laws, so should man never cease to obey the divine laws of morality.