Thou Shalt Have No Other Gods Before Me

We have finished the Christmas festivities and have begun the new year, so I hope each of you took some time and re-read my last column on Our Christmas Wish for You—This poem, written in Thy Kingdom Come, captures our society and the impact of the holiday.

I do hope that each of you take the time to first remember Jesus Christ and center your time around him- Take time and read the THIRD Paragraph of this poem.

The author gives us the symptom and provides the cure, we just need to take the medicine to be well in this stressful time. Thank you for allowing me to share this poem.

Let’s return to the Ten Commandments as God’s command given to Moses in written form to the Israelite people. Here is the basis of the law and the TEN THOU SHALT NOT’s—Do not take these commands lightly for you see there are consequences when we don’t obey. If you don’t believe me, look at Deuteronomy 6:14, 15 (KJV) and pay special attention to verse 15. Have I got your attention?

Please turn with me to Exodus 20:3 (KJV) Thou shalt have no other gods before me—Plain and simple—This is the first commandment—Now turn to Deuteronomy 5:7 (KJV) and again the First Commandment is stated. Turn to Deuteronomy 6:1 (KJV)- Now these are the commandments, the statutes, and the judgments which the Lord your God commanded to teach you, that ye might do them in the land whither ye go to possess it.

As you read Deuteronomy 6, keep in mind Exodus 20:3 as the author explains this verse in verses 14 & 15: Ye shall not go after other Gods, of the gods of the people which are round about you; (For the Lord thy God is a jealous God among you;) lest the anger of the Lord thy God be kindled against thee, and destroy thee from off the face of the earth.

Please turn to 2 Kings 17 and read the whole chapter as this will give you great insight of what happens when we turn away from God and follow other gods.

We will go in depth as to other gods that we go after and that are round about us in a later lesson.

Let’s travel back in Biblical history and read about man straying from God and worshipping other gods. You don’t have to look to far to see that man, whether in good time or in tough times, looks to other gods when man doesn’t get the answer he expected, needed or wanted.

Do you remember when Moses came down from the mount and brought the Ten Commandments and what were the people doing? Turn to Exodus 32 and read the chapter for God makes very clear what happens when man goes after other gods. God is not to be mocked!

Now turn to 2 Kings 17 and begin with verse 7—18 (KJV) the children of Israel sinned against God by setting up idols, statutes, burnt incense in the high places, mixed in other religions, sold themselves to do evil and used divination and enchantments.

Here is the result: 2 Kings 17:20 (KJV) And the Lord rejected all the seed of Israel, and afflicted them, and delivered them into the hand of spoilers, until he had cast them out of his sight.

2 Kings 17 shows what happens when man puts other gods before God and what the results will be from God. God will reject and afflict each person for to every sinful action there must be punishment. God is not to be mocked!

Take both of the above examples and ask yourself if our society hasn’t replaced God with other gods? Have other gods seeped into our everyday living? What other gods take your time and your thought? Is the first commandment of any relevance today? Have other religions invaded your country? Is vanity a god? Where does money or mammon play into being a god? Has God been replaced by pride of power, glory or wealth?

Aren’t all the questions above, a recipe for disaster and are you receiving the blessings or the curses in your life? Yes, we all have interests in various things, but don’t let those interests take first in your life, make God and service to God as the first and center of your life.

The biggest question that each of us must answer is do you have other gods before the Almighty God? All through the Bible, there are many examples where people have placed other gods before God and the result is severe punishment.

As we close, turn to 2 Chronicles 7:14– If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and heal their land.

God says it is never too late to turn from our wicked ways for the door is open for us to enter. The first or NUMBER ONE commandment on the list is Thou shalt have no other gods before me—Simple, to the point and written in stone.

May God bless you and keep you in his arms.

Jeff