TEN COMMANDMENTS
-
"You shall have no other gods before me."
Have you always
put God first in your life? Jesus said to love God with all your heart, mind, soul, and strength-- so much, that your love for your parents, brothers
and sisters, friends, and even your own life is like hatred compared to your love and devotion for God. Have you
ever failed
to put Him first in your life?
- "You shall not take
the name of God in vain."
Have you ever used God's name as a curse word? If you have, you've taken the holy name of God-- who gave you your life, your family, and everything
precious to you-- and used it as a filthy, four-letter word. Hitler's name wasn't even despised enough to be used as a curse word! If you have used
God's holy name in that manner, you are a blasphemer
and the Bible says "God will not hold him guiltless who takes the name of the Lord in vain."
- "You shall not make
for yourself any idol."
Who is God to you? Is he only a god of love and mercy who would never judge anyone and never cast anyone into Hell? If that's your god, then you're
right. Your god couldn't cast anyone into Hell because he doesn't exist. He's a figment of your imagination. You've
created
a god in your own mind that you're more comfortable with. You may call it your "personal belief," but God calls it
idolatry.
It's the oldest sin in the Book, and the Bible warns that idolaters will not inherit the kingdom of heaven.
- "Remember the Sabbath
Day, to keep it holy."
God commands that we set aside one day
in seven. Have you ever been guilty of breaking this Commandment?
- "Honor your father
and your mother."
Have you always
honored your parents in a way that's pleasing in the sight of God? Ask Him to remind you of the sins of your youth. You may have forgotten them, but
God hasn't.
- "You shall not
murder."
Jesus warned "Whoever is angry with his brother without cause, is in danger of judgment," (Matthew 5:22) and the Bible says, "He who hates his
brother is a murderer," (1 John 3:15). God sees hatred in the heart to be as wicked as murder. We can violate His Law by attitude and intent.
- "You shall not commit
adultery."
Jesus warned,"You have heard...'You shall not commit adultery.' But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed
adultery with her in his heart." Have you ever
looked at another person with lust? The Bible says that adulterers and fornicators (those who have had sex before marriage) will not enter the
kingdom of heaven.
- "You shall not
steal."
Have you ever stolen anything (even if it was something small)? The value of the thing stolen doesn't matter; petty theft is
still
theft. Have you ever taken anything that belonged to someone else (from the office, school, parents, etc.)? If you have, that makes you a
thief.
- "You shall not lie."
Have you ever told a lie? Then you are a liar. How many murders do you have to commit to be a murderer? Just one. If you have told even one lie, that
makes you a liar. The Bible warns that all liars
will have their part in the Lake of Fire (Revelation 21:8). You may not think deceitfulness is a serious sin, but God does.
- "You shall not
covet."
This means we should never desire anything that belongs to another person. Not their house, nor their car, nor their money, nor their wife, nor their
lifestyle, nor anything that belongs to our neighbor.
What a shock! God didn’t see me as the “nice guy” I imagined myself to be… and he doesn’t
see you that way either. Nothing you’ve ever done is hid from His holy eyes. Will you be innocent or guilty on the Day of Judgment? Listen to your
conscience. You know that you will be guilty, and therefore end up in Hell. That’s not God’s will. He provided a way for you and I to be forgiven.
He sent His Son to take our punishment: "God commended His love toward us, in that, while
we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." He was bruised for our iniquities. Jesus then rose from the dead and defeated death.
Your own so-called “goodness” can’t get you into heaven any more than mine could. Jesus is
the only way to Heaven. He is the "Door," the only "mediator." There is salvation in no other name, so pray something like this: "Dear God, I repent
of all of my sins (confess them). This day I put my trust in Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior. Please forgive me and grant me your gift of
everlasting life. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen."