The forgot Commandments

Ephesians 5:15-17

Have you watched the local news of late, if so, have you noticed any kind of trend?  What grade would you give your local community, are they becoming more loving, is crime and violence on the decline?  Without fail the San Antonio news brings us reports of crime, violence and murder each and every night.  That takes care of the local news, but the nation as a whole, what kind of grade does it get?  It matters not what you watch, NBC, ABC, CNN, Fox, they all tell the same story; we are living in a time of evil, a time with little regard for the laws of God:

• “You shall have no other gods before me” (Exodus 20:3).
• “You shall not make for yourself a carved image” (Exodus 20:4).
• “You shall not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain” (Exodus 20:7).
• “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy” (Exodus 20:8).
• “Honor thy father and thy mother” (Exodus 20:12).
• “You shall not murder” (Exodus 20:13).
• “You shall not commit adultery” (Exodus 20:14).
• “You shall not steal” (Exodus 20:15).
• “You shall not bear false witness against thy neighbour” (Exodus 20:16).
• “You shall not covet” (Exodus 20:17).

Not only do we not teach them to our children, many who we have sent to the Congress of the United States are doing everything they can to make sure they are not taught, that they are not seen or expressed by anyone.  They believe these Ten Commandments are from God and God should be kept out of Government.  I must agree with them, they are from God.   Jesus had this to say about many who hold high office in our government and the ones who voted for them; “And this is judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their deeds were evil.” (John 3:19)  Have we not become a nation of law breakers, have we, who call ourselves Christian,  not made choices about which of the Ten we will live by?

Remember what the apostle Paul said to us; “Awake, O sleeper” but he did not stop with just a wake-up call: “Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil.  Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.” (Ephesians 5:15-17)  Each day I’m reminded by the Scripture that as a follower of Christ, I have entered into a collision of two kingdoms, and I can walk in fear and in the flesh or I can believe God and walk in victory. 

A great football coach, Vince Lombardi, said this: 'Gentlemen, we're going back to the basics. This is a football.'  The basics for the Christian are obeying the Commandments of God!  We cannot read each other’s hearts, and so we should not judge each other, but the Holy Spirit will guide you to truth, just ask Him how you are doing in the area of walking in this world.

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice