The Ten Commandments

Exodus 20

Thou shalt have no other Gods before me.

Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image.

Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain.

Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.

Honor thy father and thy mother.

Thou shalt not kill.

Thou shalt not commit adultery.

Thou shalt not steal

Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor.

Thou shalt not covet.

There is an old adage that says, "If the shoe fits, wear it." This is the view that has been taken by some folks in regard to God’s instructions to the world that are known as

"The Ten Commandments."

Consider this conversation: "What do you mean by ‘Gossip is murder?’ Gossip is just words, it’s not murder. She deserves my anger; she brought this on herself. I plan to make sure that everyone knows
what she did to me. Put that shoe on the person who took someone’s
life, not on me. I’m just telling the truth about what happened."

But God’s view is, "Whoever hates his brother [sister] is a murderer"
(1 John 3:15 NKJV) "But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you" (Matthew 5:44 NKJV)

Another argument to consider: 'Yes, I did take a few pencils from the office, but that’s not really stealing. You’re just being fanatical! No, I didn’t punch the time clock when I went on that personal errand; I was only gone twenty minutes. That’s not stealing. Put that shoe on the
bank robber or the fraudulent lawyer or the man who deliberately cheated on his income tax, not on me.'

Excuses or rationalization will not impress God.

He said not to steal, and he included no exceptions.

On and on the arguments go. Somehow we have convinced ourselves that God will make an exception of us. He knows we "mean no harm"
in telling the 'little white lie.' But God said to not lie, period. The housewife who fantasizes about the hunk who jogs by her house early each morning; the cute chic secretary who flits in and out of her boss’ office while he ogles her with visions in his imagination. That’s not adultery, they reason. Put that shoe on the married person who meets
a lover in a motel.

Jesus said, "whoever looks at a woman [man] to lust for her [him] has already committed adultery." (Mathew 5:28 NKJKV).

It is no wonder Satan is fighting so hard to keep the Ten
Commandments out of the courtroom and the classroom! The salved consciences will become raw conviction as we are reminded of God’s viewpoint. Satan’s purpose is to eliminate God’s commandments from the courtroom, the classroom and eventually the home. He won’t stop until he has outlawed the Ten Commandment signs posted in our lawns or on our bumpers. If he succeeds in having them removed from courtyards and school yards, do you think he will be satisfied and stop there? Don’t be deceived! He wants to remove them from our hearts! And he will if we don’t stop him!

Someone who wanted to remain anonymous (I don’t blame them!!) said the first commandment for the third millennium is 'Respect and worship any deity within your faith tradition, if you follow one. Value and
support the right of others to do the same.' Ah, now! Doesn’t that
sound so tolerant-mustn’t offend anyone! Well, it offends me that
anyone would try to re-write what God said! How presumptuous! All 'deities' will one day bow before Jesus and proclaim Him 'Lord of all'! Some will bow in this life and enter the 'joys of their Lord' while others will do so to their own condemnation.

The Ten Commandments are not Cinderella slippers that perfectly fit
on certain feet, but are not applicable to other feet. God’s shoe fits every foot and every foot must wear it or the royal coach will never
pick them up to go to God’s ball. They will find that they are depending on a pumpkin which will not carry them any where. Rather, it will
leave them in the cinders forever!

It’s time for us to wear the shoe! It’s a perfect fit for every foot. The good news is that life would improve one hundred percent for everyone
if we would be wise enough to wear it.

One shoe sums up all the feet...Love! ...'Jesus said to him, ' ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with
all your mind.’ This is the first and great commandment, And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ ON THESE TWO COMMANDMENTS HANG ALL THE LAW AND THE PROPHETS" (Matthew 22:37-40 NKJV.) (Emphasis mine.)

No, Jesus didn’t do away with the Ten Commandments; He promoted them and took them to a higher level. He knew if we loved like He loves, we would keep the commandments, not outlaw them. If we love each another, we won’t steal from them, lie on them or covet what they have been blessed with. But it is necessary to begin with the primary commandments which put God first, love Him most and worship no other. The first of all the commandments is: ‘Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength’ - (Mark 12:29-30 NKJV). The offspring of the commandments relating to our relationship with God are the others describing our relationship with each other. 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself' (Mark 12:31)

There are no exemptions. In God’s eyes there is no such thing as 'situational ethics.' The Cinderella slipper doesn’t skip the ugly step-sisters and stop at the delicate foot of the future princess. Even ugly step-sisters have to wear the slipper too, and it will fit.

No matter how many supreme courts or school administrators try to outlaw God’s laws, His Truth will stand; and it will stand forever.
They won’t be able to break His Tablets of stone; instead, they will
be broken by His immutable Law. God said He would put His law
in our hearts and with good reason. That’s where adultery, lying, covetousness, etc. begins-in the heart. From its abundance, we speak and act. We overflow with what we are full of.

What can we do to keep the law that is in our hearts posted publicly
and active in the courts and schools?

Post them on the doorpost like the early Israelites did. Post them
in your lawn, on your bumper and on your website.

Talk about them to your children morning, noon and night; when you are working or playing; when you are going about your daily business or on vacation.

Engrave them on your heart.

Support the minority political factions that want to keep them in the forefront of the laws of this land. Make them the basis of the laws and government actions.

Obey those that have the rule over you, but honor God first. Earthly rulers are in power temporarily; God is eternally all-powerful and His laws will meet us in judgment. If we break them now, they will break
us then; and there will be no appeal.

God did not give us Ten Suggestions. He gave us Ten Commandments that are absolutes, not subject to change according to your 'foot size.' One size fits all! As much as God loves us, He will not make an exception of you or me. We have to wear the shoe.

The shoe fits! - Wear it.

"THE TEN COMMANDMENTS"