It’s one thing to not call on Christ, but it is a totally different thing to worship idols or call the Lord’s name in vain. “Is it Worth the Risk,”  to know we are in violations of these Commandments, and continue to break the rules?

In order to be successful, there are ten rules we must follow and some know this, but not know they are going about some of them all wrong. As usual, I find things out the hard way and end up suffering the consequences. The good news is it always leave me with a testimony to share.

I don’t ever recall putting the love of God and the love of money, in the same sentence. But as I grew in Christ, I learned and understand we cannot serve the both. Matthew 6:24 confirms that, “No man can serve two masters:” Read it there’s more.

We are to seek Christ, not earthly rewards that consume our very lives. Finally, I realized God will provide all our needs, if we let Him. In my case Jesus saved my life; and by obeying, I often find myself overwhelmed with blessings, and good news for others. If we follow His Commandments, sometimes there is a reward, if we don’t often there are consequences. Decisions, decisions, decisions; We are given rules with choices.

“And God spoke all these words, saying, I am the Lord thy God, which have brought thee out of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. Thou shall have no other gods before me.”  Exodus 20:1-3

We need to understand who and what these other gods are.

We can worship the things of the world, fall down on our knees and kiss the earth or, we can “kiss the garment of the Creator who made the Universe.”  The choice is ours. Keeping in mind the decisions we make, will affect us and our families for the better or worse, and at its own appointed time.

I have been up and I have fallen off my high horse more than a few times, serving other god’s is a choice, make the wrong one and we can suffer dire consequences. Still, we serve plenty of gods, starting with ourselves, after that it’s money. We love our cars sometimes more than our families, and some of us has a fixation with adult toys, (deck of cards, R rated movies) etc.

There are some of us who simply are not aware of the words which are in Christ Jesus, and the laws governing them. There are also plenty of us who are aware of the words and consequences, and still we worship objects.  Exodus 20:4-6 make it clear;

“Thou shall not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. Thou shall not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me.  (Iniquity: wicked or unjust act)  and showing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments;”

IS IT WORTH THE RISK? To bring Hell on you and your family for three or four generations; I think not, but you do you. Know that if you blindly obey the customs and traditions of your family, your church or society instead of the commandments of the Word of God, you are guilty of idolatry; the excessive reference for or devotion to a person or thing.

Take into consideration that a piece of jewelry hanging around some of our necks is a graven image; a carved image used as an idol. Now, there is nothing wrong with the cross, it’s the image of any person hanging on it that’s the problem. I have informed some of this and to no avail.

“Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?”   1st Corinthians 1:20

We must understand Jesus is not on the cross.

“But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the first-fruits of them that slept.”  1st Corinthians 15:20

We talk too much, taking the Lord’s name in vain, some by false swearing, blasphemy, and all profane irreverent uses of God’s name, conjuring up false religions. Now in my opinion, that’s a different language all together, and a dangerous game of chit-chat, I know to avoid at all cost.

“Not that which goes into the mouth defiles a man; but that which come out of the mouth, this defiles a man.”   Matthew 15:11

Using Christ’s name in the correct manner with prayer, communion, teaching and worshiping God, may lead to the reward of remembrance on judgment day; It is one thing to say I know the Lord, and quite another for Him to say I know not you.

Malachi 3:16 says; “Then they that feared the Lord talked often one to another; and the Lord listened and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before Him of those who feared the Lord and who thought on His name.”

IS IT WORTH THE RISK; to not heed the advice and take the Lord’s name in vain: I think not.

“And he that blaspheme the name of the Lord, he shall surely be put to death, and all the congregation shall certainly stone him;” (punish)  Leviticus 24:16

Repeating the Lord’s name over and over in an unrighteous manner, and there is no truth in the words, is a dangerous thing. Crying out to God, Oh Lord, O Lord! If you do this, I will do that. Swearing to our friends in the name of the Lord, claiming, so help me Jesus, I can get it done; sitting in a court room, swearing to “tell the truth, nothing but the truth, so help you God.”

Jesus said; “Neither shall thou swear by the head, because you cannot make one hair white or black.”   Matthew 5:36

We use our tongues not only to blaspheme the name of God, but also to fabricate tall tales, cheat, steal, and slander others. At times we are just plain vicious by way of our mouths, and we speak in secret with no respect to others or in our tone.

We know there is a way to speak respectably, but that takes courage; “courage to stand up and speak to someone’s face, and courage to sit down and listen to someone else.”

Nelson Mandela said; “If you talk to a man in a language he understands, that goes to his head, If you talk to him in his language, it goes to his heart.”  

God’s language is universal, so we must speak to others with respect and in a Christ like tone. It is the Will of Christ, that we treat all as He treats us.

FYI: There are something’s we are just not aware of them being idols. One is we cannot call another man, father, only God can be called father, unless he is our earthly father; not father this or father that because a religious title. Hey, no disrespect, but this did come straight out of the Bible. Therefore, I believe it.

“And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven. Neither be ye called masters: for one is your Master, even Christ.”   Matthew 23:9-10

I was raised and taught in the church, to act in accordance to the Will of God; but I did not obey. I used the Lord’s name in vain and swore on it. For that, I paid a hefty price, all because I thought I knew more than most. I found out no one is exempt.

“Where is the wise: where is the scribe? Where is the disputer of this world? Hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?”    1st Corinthians 1:20

I am a Living Witness to the fact that “a hard head makes a soft behind,”  and I am warning you not to go there. We are not brighter or smarter than Jesus Christ, although some believe they are. If that’s you, pray for forgiveness, and ask Christ for help.

We are not gods and will never be, still there are those who set themselves above all, including The Christ; pray for them and me. As for me, living under God’s Commandments is durable and less stress.

“Who is like unto thee, O Lord, among the gods; Who is like thee, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders?”   Exodus 15:11

I say no one; careful now, don’t say you?

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