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God is a God of principle. It was He who set up the operation of the universe on a set of principles, and it was He who created man and laid down for him positive principles of living. “I the Lord do not change” (Malachi 3:6).
One Saw Mud,
The Other Saw Stars
by Peter Wade
The most common view of life that people express to me is the view that we humans here on earth just have to make the best of it. It is often said that life is a struggle but we’ll get there in the end and then look forward to a great retirement.
When such a pessimistic view of life is questioned, the answer usually comes back, “Well, what can a person do? I’ve got the government fighting me, the neighbors are mad at me, my boss doesn’t want to give me an increase, so what can I do?”
The highest good is available to you, but to enjoy it you must raise your sights. “ Two men looked through prison bars, one saw mud and the other saw stars!” Once the pessimistic people, who think life is a mere existence, discover the better way, they can change their world for the better.
This better way is applying the positive principles of God’s Word. The life that God has planned for His children is one of activity, energy and potential — the kind of life that has excitement and purpose in it. This dynamic life does not come by accident or as a free gift, but because people apply principles.
 A principle is a law which has universal application. We talk about the law of gravity. I can fight against it or I can co-operate with it, and my action determines the result I get. Fortunately the law of gravity never ceases to work, for we have learned many ways in which to apply the law. When I drive my car I am applying laws. The car stays on the ground because of the law of gravity, and this enables the law of friction to work. As the tires grip the roadway and the engine turns the axle, I am able to make progress along the road.
Now the reason some people are living successful, dynamic lives is not because they were born with a silver spoon in their mouths, or because they are good at wheeling and dealing, or because they have prayed long and hard. The reason is simply that such people have applied God’s positive principles of living and they are enjoying the results of their actions.
God’s positive principles of living have universal application for all the members of His family, just as the principle or law of gravity has universal application for all the members of the human family. If one person can apply the principles and get good results, then every person can do the same.
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