Should we break the rules?

As verbs the difference between elevate and levitate is that elevate is to raise (something) to a higher position; to lift. While levitate is to cause to rise in the air and float, as if in defiance of gravity.

We are held to boundaries, standards, and laws, placed around us. Laws of our government, laws of nature and laws of the Spirit. Yes, it's possible to break the law, or laws. But should we? I would say, yes, and no.

Did Jesus, the image of the invisible God, break laws? Yes He did. But many times He didn't. Jesus walked on water. But not every time. He broke the law of buoyancy. But when did He do this? How often, and why?

Jesus broke the law of the sabbath. He healed people on a day when no activity was supposed to be performed. Then told the individual who was healed to pick up their bed (mat) and walk home. Jesus broke this law purposely, right in front of the "cops". The Jewish law keepers of the specific law of Moses.

Elijah, a prophet, once ran faster than a king's chariot. Passing by the chariot at a speed that was beyond the natural law of what a human body is, normally, capable of. But, only once is this said to have occurred.

Moses, at God's direction, split the waters of the red sea. Creating a path for his followers to walk through.

Jesus was about to be pushed off of a cliff. An attempt to kill him by an angry crowd. But, before being shoved off of the cliff, He “passed through them.” Defying laws of matter.

There are numerous situations of beyond natural occurrences that have been documented. But why did these occur? And why did they only occur sometimes?

If Jesus could “pass through people” wouldn't it have been convenient for Jesus to have passed through, and walked away from, the ones who killed Him on the cross? If He could walk on water, breaking natural laws, wouldn't it have saved time and been more productive, “for God's work”, to do this more often?

What about the stories of certain people that God miraculously opened their prison doors? Peter was in prison, on one occasion, and an angel appeared. Peter was released from his chains and told to walk out. Yet, at the end of Peter's life, he was a prisoner again and ultimately was executed by his captors.

Paul was a prisoner. He was arrested multiple times. On one occasion, while singing to God in his jail cell, an earthquake or some type of phenomenon occurred. This apparently caused Paul’s, and all the other prisoners', cell doors to open. Yet, in this specific scenario, Paul didn’t escape. He was freed, but he stayed. Also convincing the other prisoners to stay. An odd choice if you ask me.

If all of these possibilities, these supernatural powers, abilities, were available to us, what would we do? If we have experienced, or believe we can experience, some type of circumstance that defies the laws and boundaries we know, would we even know when or why to use it?

The possibilities and abilities of God, and with God, are endless. God often provides money, clothes, homes, food, cars and jobs for us in ways we never expected. While other times, it seems, He doesn’t. At least not at the timing we would have desired.

Why, at times, does God answer prayers and work out amazing miracles for us? Even, seemingly, at the very moment we ask. While other times it’s delayed, minimal, or possibly, not at all.

I would suggest this has to do, similarly, with the difference between “elevating” and “levitating”.

Just because God “can” break rules and laws, being that He is the one who made them and set them in order, doesn't mean that He always does.

Likewise although He does the miraculous, and at times has allowed His children to break laws and experience “beyond natural” experiences, does not mean He will every time. But why?

One quote comes to mind, “All things are permissible, but not all things are beneficial”. In our minds we often can’t always fathom what is “beneficial” because we can’t see into the future. We can’t know how one scenario may affect several others. Many could not see how Jesus’ death on a cross could have been “beneficial”.

Apparently even Jesus, who was God yet lived as a human limited to human limitations like us, didn’t see the entire beneficial process of Him being killed either. At least not while going into it.

While faced with the decision to allow himself to be arrested, beaten and killed, He prayed, “If there’s any other way, please let that way happen. But either way, I trust you God, and if this is ultimately the most beneficial, then I will go along with and submit to your plan and will.”

Jesus, in full trust and in humility, chose to walk through an experience that we would have labeled as being “dark, abandoned and unheard by God”. We would most certainly would have been praying for a miraculous rescue. Yet, through the centuries, God continues to show that this was the most beneficial choice.

Jesus did not “levitate” away from the problem. He did not “defy” the authorities or circumstances, although He could have. He did not choose escape. Not this time. He did not choose to apply God’s supernatural abilities. He only applied humble submission, and obedience, to what God was allowing.

Each time God allows a supernatural experience it is because, in His wisdom, it’s the most beneficial course. But know that each time God doesn’t allow a miraculous, supernatural experience, it is also in His wisdom, and the most beneficial course.

Jesus, in this scenario, knew God’s direction was not to “levitate”, not to defy or supersede, the laws or current authorities. In this moment, like some of our scenarios, like people in jail in the times they weren't rescued and set free, Jesus chose to humbly submit to the laws that governed.

His choice of submission wasn’t what anyone thought He should do. Not one other friend, or person on the earth at that time, thought he should allow himself to go through such a dark, grueling crisis like that. His choice to trust God, facing death without a supernatural way of escape, showed that He knew this humble choice would be most beneficial to all.

His choice, unlike “levitating” which defies authority, was more similar to “elevating”. His choice of submission to the laws and authorities, even though there were dark powers working within them, elevated us. His choice of humbly accepting what He had to experience, allowed Him, God, to elevate us. Elevating us, lifting us up beyond the darkness, the oppression and hell that we couldn’t have escaped on our own.

Maybe there are also some circumstances we are experiencing. Things we are facing that we don’t understand. I would suggest, if God has not yet given you permission to walk on water, to part seas, to break the sabbath, that we humbly submit to the circumstances and laws around us.

Paul, who was imprisoned while He wrote most of His letters, which are found in the New Testament of the Bible, wrote, ironically, “Every person should place themselves under the authority (laws, rules, and boundaries) of the government. There isn’t any authority unless it comes from God, and the authorities that are there have been put in place by God.”

God is the highest authority. But, in the majority of cases, God works through the authorities He’s allowed and the laws He has created. If God gives you authority to do something, at a specific time, that defies other laws, then so be it. But our choices, the motive behind them and our responsibility in this life, isn’t to escape hardship, trials, or even death. It is to walk through life with God.

Our purpose and His plan is for us to trust Him, no matter what. Humbly submit to the laws and authorities that govern our circumstances. Knowing God will also show us when to request, and walk in, a beyond natural experience of the miraculous.

We must remember, that we are God’s chosen, precious, dearly loved children. Knowing this, we can know that, whether we “pass through” our problem, or if we must walk through hell and endure the experience, He knows best and we can trust Him. Our humble submission to whatever God allows is for the purpose, not of levitating us past hard times, but elevating. Elevating others, out of darkness.

Some may be elevated toward God by seeing the miraculous way God rescued or provided for us. Others may elevate because we endured suffering, like them, even alongside them. A choice made out of love. Like God did for us.

Whether your current circumstance will involve the supernatural and miraculous, or a humble enduring, the purpose is to elevate others. The motive should always be out of love, even unto death.

Love lays down their life for others. It’s in giving that we get. It’s the humble who are exalted. The least are the greatest and the greatest are the least. Choose God’s wisdom. His plan is not always for escape, but it is always, for Victory. God always wins.