Learn To Respect Constituted Authorities

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By
The Man Who Saw God Face To Face
Raphael Okechukwu Nweze


Introduction
         From time to time, you notice that people like to rush. They do not even like to respect the gate man or receptionist. They always want to rush straight to the man at the head, as if other officers are not important, and as if it is not the head that placed other officers in their positions and locations. The result is usually general indiscipline, neglect of the rule of law or wide spread impunity.

Learn From The Conduct Of Angels
         The book of Ezekiel demonstrates how people should respect constituted authorities, how people should behave in an orderly manner, from day to day.

6 Then it happened, when He commanded the man clothed in linen, saying, "Take fire from among the wheels, from among the cherubim," that he went in and stood beside the wheels. 7 And the cherub stretched out his handfrom among the cherubim to the fire that was among the cherubim, and took some of it and put it into the hands of the man clothed with linen, who took it and went out. Ezekiel 10:6,7

Now, read the above portion again, noting carefully the step by step procedure:
  1. Then it happened,
  2. when He commanded the man clothed in linen, saying, "Take fire from among the wheels, from among the cherubim,"
  3. that he went in and stood beside the wheels.
  4. And the cherub stretched out his hand
  5. from among the cherubim to the fire
  6. that was among the cherubim,
  7. and took some of it and put it into the hands of the man clothed with linen,
  8. who took it and went out. Ezekiel 10:6,7
In the above verses, the man in linen did not just walk in and take fire from the wheels, and then walked away. He went in and respected the cherubim in-charge. He waited for the cherub to give him fire. Even, among the cherubim were other cherubim, and not all of them were cherubim of fire. The cherubim of fire gave him the fire he needed and he went away satisfied. That is how you should attend to the things of God, in the house of God and in the holy places, especially at the altars.
Whenever you are asked to get something, first go to the person in-charge and let him attend to you. Do not take things by force, because you can do it or because you know how to do it. In the house of the Lord, if you are not qualified to do something, let the person who is qualified do it for you. Do so and always in the house of the Lord.

Always Respect Constituted Authorities And Follow Due Process
         The Almighty asks, “Why do your people lack this wisdom? Why is it that they do not respect the echelon of powers. They are not patient enough to obey constituted authorities. It is both relevant and compulsory that people respect constituted authorities. It is wrong to jump the hierarchy,wrong to jump the queue, and wrong to by-pass procedures.”
         When you go to an office or establishment, always follow due process. Do not jump the queue, and do not by-pass the hierarchy of officers. Always follow the specified procedure. And make sure you satisfy all necessary conditions. In this way, you shall be able to stand guiltless before any earthly court or Heavenly judgments. For example, people should be patient when there is delays or traffic jam, and should avoid congestion, overcrowding of vehicles, by disorderlyarrangement and irregular movements. Likewise, at the offices and service points, do not jump the queue.

It Does Not Sound Wise
         It is not proper to go into an office, take something and go away, simply because a higher authority sent you. Always respect those who are in-charge.

When You Are Asked To Go And Bring Something
         Do not just rush in, and take something, and then go away. First, consult the officers in-charge. Explain your purpose of your coming or who sent you, and ask them to give you what have come for. You suppose to inform them and respect their authority, because they shall give account of whatever that has been entrusted into their care.