07/02/2008
Exodus 20:1 - 17 (HCSB) 1Then God spoke all these words:
2I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the place of slavery.
1) 3Do not have other gods besides Me.
2) 4Do not make an idol for yourself, whether in the shape of anything in the heavens above or on the earth below or in the waters under the earth. 5You must not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the fathers’ sin, to the third and fourth [generations] of those who hate Me, 6but showing faithful love to a thousand [generations] of those who love Me and keep My commands.
3) 7Do not misuse the name of the LORD your God, because the LORD will punish anyone who misuses His name.
4) 8Remember to dedicate the Sabbath day: 9You are to labor six days and do all your work, 10but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God. You must not do any work—you, your son or daughter, your male or female slave, your livestock, or the foreigner who is within your gates. 11For the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and everything in them in six days; then He rested on the seventh day. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and declared it holy.
5) 12Honor your father and your mother so that you may have a long life in the land that the LORD your God is giving you.
6) 13Do not murder.
7) 14Do not commit adultery.
8) 15Do not steal.
9) 16Do not give false testimony against your neighbor.
10) 17Do not covet your neighbor’s house. Do not covet your neighbor’s wife, his male or female slave, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.
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I am convinced that so many people reject Christianity because they refuse to accept a moral absolute. That is, a set of morals that are unchangeable and do not adjust for any situation. While most people will tell you: “I am a good person;” when asked to qualify that statement, they will come up with a list of morals that they have decided are important. Very few people will tell you they adhere to the Ten Commandments.
But the problem we have is, when we do not have a moral absolute, then the question becomes: “Whose morals should prevail?”
The Justice system has gone beyond punishing people for their behavior (based on moral absolutes) to evaluating their motives (moral relativism). This person murdered another person, but he had a terrible childhood and so we need to rehabilitate him, rather than punish him. That person abused a child, but since she was under the influence of drugs or alcohol, we need to rehabilitate her, rather than punish her actions.
Accountability for one’s actions is going out the window, because everyone can rationalize his or her actions in light of some circumstance. However, the hard truth is that when we stand before God in judgment, He isn’t going to ask: “What were the circumstances that caused you to sin?” Rather, he will judge you for the mere fact that you did sin. Each person will be held personally accountable for every sin they committed. Circumstances, reasons, or any other events are irrelevant. He will ask: “Did you sin?”
You respond: “Well, yes, but…”
“It is decided.” He will proclaim. “You are guilty.”
“But, you see, I had a good reason…” You try to explain.
He will ask: “Did you sin?”
You respond: “There was this guy, and he…”
“Did you sin?”
“He was really aggravating me and…”
“Did you sin?”
“Yes, but…”
“Guilty!” He declares. His justice is absolute.
While our society has become so concerned with why people commit crimes, we have forgotten that the mere act demands retribution. God demands payment for sin. Unfortunately, we are unable to pay the debt for our sins.
Thankfully, Jesus has presented himself on behalf of our sins to pay our debt.
But let us never forget that God’s laws are simple, for our own good, and most of all, absolute. They apply to everyone, even if they don’t believe it.
Jeff Justus
Cleff Publishing
www.cleffpublishing.com
©2008 Cleff Publishing, all rights reserved.
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