COMPLIANCE AND COVENANT

COMPLIANCE AND COVENANT
From the sermon “Choose Blessing”
Deuteronomy 10:12-22; 11:26-32

According to the laws governing the building industry in Singapore, design and construction must meet stringent requirements.

First, before any construction can begin, the plans must be approved by all relevant authorities. The number of parking lots, cost for landscaping, handicapped facilities, fire safety, square metres of covered areas, and so on—all these must meet building standards.

Then, after the construction is completed, inspections are conducted to ensure that everything has been built according to approved plans and government requirements. Then only can the TOP, Temporary Occupation Permit, be awarded and we can move in to occupy and use the buildings.

There is an inspection before the formal inspection. I am told that no matter how well the pre-inspection goes, most projects fail the first formal inspection.

That was what happened to us. We were faulted on 3 major items and a host of minor ones. The minor ones were easily corrected, but the major ones required hacking, taking things apart and putting them back in a different way—at additional cost and delay.

After completing all the rectifications, and satisfied that we have complied with all requirements, we were ready for the second inspection. Much prayer went up to the Lord. We didn’t make it. More faults were discovered which were not found at the earlier inspections.

Of course, I was disappointed. In fact, more than disappointed; I was frustrated. From a layman’s point of view, I could not understand some of the minor requirements. Yet law is law, and until everything, however small, is in compliance with the law, no TOP.

Well, God taught me (and us) patience, and we dutifully fulfilled all requirements and the TOP was granted on 31 Dec last year. We returned to this place for worship in February. In August, after more rounds of inspection, we received the permanent TOP, or the CSC (Certificate of Statutory Completion)—which means this project is fully completed and has met all requirements.

In our Scripture passage today, we read the opening verse, “And now, Israel, what does the LORD your God require of you…?” (10.12).

Is God requiring of us “compliance” the way the government is asking us to comply to laws and standards? Is God calling on us for “obedience” in the way the authorities call on us for “compliance”?

They bear some similarities but as we will see, there is also a fundamental difference. They are similar in that both compliance and obedience is for our good.

But compliance to human authorities and obedience to the Lord are not the same. The difference lies in a word that is used again and again in the Bible: covenant. God made a covenant with the people of Israel, and it comes with requirements and promises.

The covenant is initiated by God, and he remains faithful to it, even if the people become unfaithful. While an agreement or contract can be terminated, God’s covenant is forever. While an agreement or contract is made between equal partners, the covenant is made between the God of heaven and earth and man whom he created.

God keeps his covenant whether or not we keep it. The nation of Israel was not always faithful to the covenant, but what God promised in the covenant, he remained faithful to fulfil it. “… if we are faithless, he remains faithful….” (2 Tim 2.13).