Artwork by Daniel Venturo
Did you know that God has a Law? Like the Law of the United States, it is a standard of judgment. Those who disobey God’s Law must be punished for their crime. Humbly ask yourself the questions as you go through each of the Ten Commandments:
1. You shall have no other gods before Me. Have you always put God first in your life? Is anything in your life more important than God?
2. You shall not make for yourself a carved image. Have you made up a false god in your head who doesn’t punish sinners, judge evil, or create Hell?
3. You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain. Have you ever used God’s name flippantly, irreverently, or as a curse word? Do you treat the Creator’s name with respect?
4. Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. At Creation, God established the seventh day as a day of rest (Gen. 2:1-3). He blessed it and made it holy. Later, the Bible says that exactly which day of the week doesn’t matter (Rom. 14:5-6). The Bible also commands us to take time to worship God (Deut. 26:10; Phil. 3:3; Rev. 19:10). Do you set apart time to rest and worship God?
5. Honor your father and your mother. In the Old Testament, cursing one’s father or mother was punishable by death (Ex. 21:17). Have you ever dishonored, disrespected, or disobeyed your parents?
6. You shall not murder. The Bible says that hatred is the same as murder (I Jn. 3:15). Have you ever hated anybody?
7. You shall not commit adultery. Jesus says that even looking at a woman with lust in your heart is the same as committing adultery (Matt. 5:27-28). Have you ever looked with lust?
8. You shall not steal. Have you ever stolen anything, no matter how small?
9. You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor. The Bible says that “lying lips are an abomination to the LORD” (Prov. 12:22a). How many lies have you told in your life?
10. You shall not covet . . . anything that is your neighbor's. The Bible warns that wanting what others have is the same as idolatry (Col. 3:5).
How did you do? If you’re like me and all other people, you’ll realize that no one can obey these commandments perfectly (see Rom. 3:10-20). In fact, James 2:10 is clear that even if you break one commandment, you are guilty of breaking all of them. The punishment for sin is eternal death in Hell (Rom. 6:23; II Thess. 1:7-9).
The solution is the Gospel! The Gospel is that we broke God’s Law, but Jesus paid our fine! God can extend mercy to guilty sinners (and we all have sinned) because Jesus, God in the flesh, died in the place of sinners, was buried, and rose again. You must ask God for mercy, trusting in Jesus and turning from your sin. Once you do this, you'll become a new person who now desires to do God's will!
