Some Things Are Not Outgrown
A South Sea Islander taught an American soldier a lesson during WWII. The friendly host brought a copy of the Bible out of his hut and said: “This is my most prized possession.” With obvious disdain, the GI replied: “We’ve outgrown that sort of thing.”
The Islander, whose tribe had formerly practiced cannibalism, calmly observed: “It’s a good thing we haven’t outgrown it here. If we had, you would have been a meal as soon as we saw you.”
Uphold the teaching of the Bible and the Ten Commandments in your life and in your world. This is our challenge for the 21st century, as it has been for all who have gone before us.
The Bible, preceded by the Ten commandments, together are the words ordered by our Creator for the purpose of guiding how we ought to live. Ted Koppel of ABC’s Nightline fame, in a speech during a commencement address said: “Our society finds truth too strong…to digest undiluted…. In the place of truth, we have discovered facts. For morale absolutes, we have substituted moral ambiguity….
“We now communicate…and say absolutely nothing. We have reconstructed the Tower of Babel and it is a television antenna….
“What Moses brought down from Mount Sinai were not ten suggestions (but)…Commandments. The sheer brilliance of the Ten Commandments is that they codify…acceptable human behavior…for all time.”
Of course, Ted Koppel is “right on.” Yet, there is no doubt that countless people give but lip service to the truth. It interferes with their conscience. This next story gives us an excellent example of how easy it is to stray from Gods Law, even if your duty is to the truth of the matter before you:
Two lawyers in Chicago fell into a discussion one day about the trend away from law and order here and over the world (in fact, since this story is over 50 years old things have gone terribly worse). One lawyer said that our only hope is to get back to the Ten Commandments. “What have they got to do with it?” his companion countered. “They’re just a set of worn-out customs.”
The first lawyer challenged him to look over the Ten Commandments and see which one among them could be thrown out without endangering our homes, schools, business and normal freedom. The other man picked up the challenge and said he would have his answer ready the next time they were together.
A few days later, the two met again at their club. “You really got me this time,” said the skeptical one. “Do you know that I’ve been racking my brain for several days to find just one of those Commandments that we could do without and still keep things going? I must admit that I haven’t found it. For the first time in my life I see that they are the foundation of all law and order.”
Discover for yourself what the second lawyer learned or relearned. He found indispensible laws like this given to us through Moses, as our words for living:
1. “I am the Lord your God, you shall have no other gods before me.” (Ex 20:3)
2. “You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain.” (Ex 20:7)
3. “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.” (Ex 20:8)
4. “Honor your father and your mother.” (Ex 20:12)
5. “You shall not kill.” (Ex 20:13)
6. “You shall not commit adultery.” (Ex 20:14)
7. “You shall not steal.” (Ex 20:15)
8. “You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.” (Ex 20:16)
9. & 10. “You shall not covet your neighbor’s house…your neighbor’s wife…or anything that belongs to your neighbor.” (Ex 20:17)
A word about # 9 & 10: These two Commandments relate to intentions and desires. Jesus said: “What comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and…out of the heart come evil intentions; murder, adultery, fornication, theft, false witness, slander. These…defile a person.” (Matthew 15: 18-20)
As you can easily see and understand, the Ten Commandments begin with honor due our Creator and continue with respect for one another and ourselves. Who in a right mind could honestly find fault with them?
For all time, each Commandment offers a clear and beautiful expression of God’s love and concern for each of His children. When Jesus walked the earth, He is quoted as answering a question put to Him as to which of the Ten Commandments is the greatest. Jesus’ reply:
“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul,
and with all your mind, and with all your strength…
You shall love your neighbor as yourself.
There is no other commandment greater than these.” (Mark 12:30-31)
A final note: It is a known, reasonably understood fact that no man is without sin. Man is what he thinks in his heart. A close review of the Commandments will reveal that breaking just one knocks down all the others. God, being pure Love cannot accept sin. He is turned away by sin. God’s Beloved Son, Jesus, Who was without sin, obediently took all of the world’s sins to the cross with Him. For this reason, we must understand and take action to repent, seek the loving mercy of God, our Creator, for failing His Words to Live By and wholeheartedly strive not to repeatedly offend Him.
Thanks for visiting. -- Bob 2 Tim 4:2
