Chapter One -

THE FIRST COMMANDMENT

The earth trembled as God began to speak. Moses later recorded, "And God spoke all these words, saying, I am the Lord your God, which have brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. YOU SHALL HAVE NO OTHER GODS BEFORE ME" (..."slickWindow('Exodus','20','1-3')" title="View scripture">Ex. 20:1-3). This is the First Commandment.

The Bible reveals that this was not God the Father, but the Lord (Yhwh, meaning the "Ever Living One" or "Eternal")-the Spokesman who later became Jesus Christ (..."slickWindow('John','1','1')" title="View scripture">John 1:1, ..."slickWindow('John','1','14')" title="View scripture">14).

The lightning, thunder, trumpet blast and earthquake that accompanied the receiving of the Ten Commandments were intended for a purpose: "And Moses said unto the people, Fear not: for God is come to prove you, and that His fear may be before your faces, that you sin not" (..."slickWindow('Exodus','20','20')" title="View scripture">Ex. 20:20). As the people heard God's words, they were ready to be obedient to every word, yet history records that the memory of this event quickly faded.

Begin With the Fear of the Lord

The First Commandment is the most basic requirement for beginning to understand God's truth and to fulfill our ultimate purpose. All humanity is warned to put God first, and to avoid false gods. The Being who issued that first and great commandment rephrased it in ..."slickWindow('Matthew','22','37')" title="View scripture">Matthew 22:37.

Notice: "Jesus said unto him, You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and great commandment." In this New Testament passage, Christ was essentially quoting words that He inspired in ..."slickWindow('Deuteronomy','6','5')" title="View scripture">Deuteronomy 6:5.

The message of putting God first should ring loud and clear. ..."slickWindow('Proverbs','9','10')" title="View scripture">Proverbs 9:10 tells all who will listen, "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding." ..."slickWindow('Psalms','111','10')" title="View scripture">Psalms 111:10 adds, "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do His commandments: His praise endures for ever."

Only by putting God first (in every area-worship, obedience and goals in life), is sound judgment and understanding accessible. King Solomon wrote, "Evil men understand not judgment: but they that seek the Lord understand all things" (..."slickWindow('Proverbs','28','5')" title="View scripture">Prov. 28:5). Another key proverb is ..."slickWindow('Proverbs','1','7')" title="View scripture">Proverbs 1:7: "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction." Further notice ..."slickWindow('Job','28','28')" title="View scripture">Job 28:28: "And unto man He said, Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding."

Repetition is the best method to get a point across. The message of these scriptures should echo in our minds, just as God's voice echoed to Israel when He thundered these commandments.

Without starting in the right direction, everyone will ultimately reach the wrong destination. The First Commandment points mankind in the right direction from the very beginning. Notice what the apostle Paul observed concerning those who left God out of the picture: "Because that, when they knew God, they glorified Him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools" (..."slickWindow('Romans','1','21-22')" title="View scripture">Rom. 1:21-22). Getting it right from the beginning is crucial. Notice: "The wise men are ashamed, they are dismayed and taken: lo, they have rejected the word of the Lord; and what wisdom is in them?" (..."slickWindow('Jeremiah','8','9')" title="View scripture">Jer. 8:9).

Another way of putting God first is portrayed in ..."slickWindow('Matthew','6','31-34')" title="View scripture">Matthew 6:31-34. Notice this: "Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? Or, wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For after all these things do the Gentiles [all non-Israelites] seek:) for your heavenly Father knows that you have need of all these things. But seek you first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof." We can rely on this absolute promise-God always keeps His word.

Here is another vital key. ..."slickWindow('Matthew','6','33')" title="View scripture">Matthew 6:33 talks about seeking the kingdom of God and His righteousness. But what is righteousness? ..."slickWindow('Psalms','119','172')" title="View scripture">Psalm 119:172 defines it: "My tongue shall speak of Your word: for all your commandments are righteousness." Certainly this means that we should OBEY these commandments!

Avoid False Gods

Some might think that obeying the First Commandment is relatively easy, since they do not worship statues of pagan gods. But you could easily violate it without realizing it. People who worship false gods are most often oblivious to that fact. Whatever occupies your interest and/or time more than anything else could well be your god. Idolatry, strictly speaking, is the worship of idols. But there is another, less apparent, form of idolatry. This is the blind or excessive devotion to anything. The object of such devotion becomes a false god and the blind devotee becomes an idolater.

Probably the "god" that people most often put before the true God is money. To many, the chance of winning a lottery or contest is their most treasured "religious experience." Playing the lottery is at an all-time high. Television commercials promote lotteries, sending people into fantasies. They buy tickets weekly, or even daily, often leading to financial ruin.

Another false god that people worship is politics. Some people, especially conspiracy theorists, exalt their political ideology as a virtual religion. While there may be some credibility to many of these theories, people obsessed by them are blinded to God's purpose and plan of salvation. They only look at life through the narrow portal of their particular theory. Avoid anything that stands between you and the truth of God!

Many who fall into forms of liberalism generally oppose everything associated with God. Their own ideology is their false god, which credits evolution as the origin of all life. These people are generally the architects and producers of the secular, anti-religious media, which offer today's generation new depths of sex and violence, disguised as entertainment. Though elevated in university systems and controlling public education, liberal intellectuals almost invariably promote the opposite of God's truth.

Another pitfall that traps most people is an almost religious reverence for the medical field. A great many people show far more respect to doctors and hospitals than to God. The medical profession certainly has its place and does fill a need. However, many seem to stand in awe of each new medical breakthrough. They place their trust and hope in the false gods of modern medicine and scientific research to deliver mankind from all sickness and disease. Again, not all medical breakthroughs and scientific research are bad, but it is a mistake to put hope and trust in this rather than God. As you draw closer to God, you will come to realize that far better results are possible by looking to Him for healing. God instructs His servants to seek His intervention in healing (..."slickWindow('James','5','14-15')" title="View scripture">Jms. 5:14-15).

It is important to understand that Jesus Christ carried out a dual ministry: (1) preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God and (2) healing the sick and casting out demons (see ..."slickWindow('Luke','4','18')" title="View scripture">Luke 4:18 and ..."slickWindow('Luke','7','22')" title="View scripture">Luke 7:22). The original apostles continued in this same pattern.

In contrast to the first century, healing today occurs primarily within the Church, rather than in dramatic public "healings." Pseudo-healers have made a mockery of healing, through circus sideshow fakery. Modern medicine may help treat the effects of disease, but only God can truly heal.

Certain people worship sports figures, entertainers or themselves in place of God.

Most people turn to materialism, in one form or another, to fulfill their lives. Some turn to cars, others to clothes, and still others to a combination of every material thing that they can possibly obtain. So many do this in a vain attempt to fill the void that exists within their lives-the absence of God's Holy Spirit.

Know the Real God

The way to know the real God of the Bible is to seek Him above all else. Read-study-the Bible alongside our literature. This will help you learn to fear and honor God. It will help you gain doctrinal understanding as you become better grounded in the truth. Your relationship with God also hinges upon your contact with Him in sincere, humble prayer. Read the Psalms on your knees in prayer just as if the words were your own. This will help make these words eventually become your own praise toward God. Try this with ..."slickWindow('Psalms','19','ALL')" title="View scripture">Psalms 19, ..."slickWindow('Psalms','119','ALL')" title="View scripture">119 or various other chapters that you find inspiring.

Ask God to instill within you a proper fear and respect for Him. If you do this, you will come to view God with greater awe. Strive to fill your mind with uplifting thoughts on the wonders of His creation. Learn to appreciate His handiwork, such as the different kinds of trees, the unique designs of flowers, the incredible organization of beehives and the mysterious migration of birds. Think about the huge spiraling galaxies and remind yourself that God knows every individual star-countless billions of them-by name (..."slickWindow('Psalms','147','4')" title="View scripture">Psa. 147:4). And determine to appreciate His incredible wisdom and forethought, which are reflected throughout His creation.

People who aspire to follow God, while enduring this hostile world, must be on guard not to allow anything between them and God. Be aware that human nature tends to set up false gods in place of the true God. Seek to honor and treasure God. Some people are reluctant to praise Him, due to the way pseudo-Christians resort to sanctimonious gyrations in their "worship." Do not allow this to stop you from learning to do this properly. We can praise God through proper hymns and private prayer. Learn the correct way to praise God, as David and others did in the Psalms and other scriptures. It will then be possible to praise God with your own original thoughts and words. Best of all, you will have been trained to praise God as He has instructed, not as pseudo-Christians do!

"You Shall Have No Other Gods Before Me"

The First Commandment and its immediate implications are also found in ..."slickWindow('Deuteronomy','6','4-9')" title="View scripture">Deuteronomy 6:4-9: "Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God is one [is "only" or "alone"] Lord: And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might. And these words, which I command you this day, shall be in your heart: And you shall teach them diligently unto your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise up. And you shall bind them for a sign upon your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. And you shall write them upon the posts of your house, and on your gates."

Human beings were designed to practice the Ten Commandments as a way of life. God commands that we also teach them to our children, discuss them and meditate upon them.

What If...?

We must ask: What if the entire world kept the First Commandment? To begin with, there would be no false religion-none! If all humanity put the true God first, seeking His wisdom and guidance, then wrong or incomplete concepts in all areas of life would disappear. Over 99% of religion today is false, so there would be an immediate and dramatic change all over the earth. As the world came to know and fear the true God, it would learn that His system of government and culture-and every aspect of civilization-should be followed. Mankind would look sincerely into His Word to seek true wisdom and understanding-and God would grant them.

By knowing and fearing the true God, the world would soon come to appreciate and obey the other nine commandments. This is a sneak preview of the millennial rule of Christ.