The Ten Commandments are relevant today more than ever. They were given by The Almighty God Himself. It was a supernatural voice that needed no microphones, or loudspeakers or any other form of public address systems. They were spiritual laws written by the Finger of God on Mount Sinai for all humanity. These laws were meant to enjoy abundant life, peace and happiness as well as physical, mental and spiritual well-being.
It is often said that the Ten Commandments are the basis of God’s covenant and the standard of His judgement indicating the parameters within which fellowship and relationship with God can grow. We are all enjoined to obey these laws in obedience to His command during these perplous times,
In most of his discourses, Jesus told his disciples and trainees, that the road to happiness is paved with loving obedience to God’s commandments, because they serve as basic principles for living a happy life, It is written…. ‘If you obey my commands you will remain in my love; just as I have obeyed my Father’s command and remain in His love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete’ (John15 verse 10-11). Jesus persistently warned his followers and disciples not to break any of the commandments.
Most religions and civilizations consist of beliefs and customs which stem mostly from traditional and pagan origin or cultures. Most of the time, people evade the commandments of God , arguing that the laws were meant specifically for the Jews, or they were abolished at the cross. The commandments were given well before jewswere born. I wonder why Jesus Himself obeyed these very same laws warning His disciples to strictly follow and obey each one of them. Since the nation of Israel comprised mainly of jews and jewish origin, they were given additional laws detailing how they were to be applied according to their traditional laws and customs. These laws were focused on the civil and social issues of Israel and when God communicated these laws to Moses, he wrote them in the ‘Book of the Law’. He put the laws in the outer pocket of the Ark of the Covenant. (Deut.31.verse 25,26) whilst the Ten Commandments he placed inside the Ark of the Covenant
One may say that the moral aspect of God’s law is a reflection of God’s,character being absolute and unchangeable. From the time our ancestors, Adam and Eve were created , God implanted the moral principles of the law in their minds making it natural for them to obey and do His will, but because they disobeyed and transgressed the laws, sin came into the world with much affliction.
It is an important factor to note that Christ’s death on the cross ended the authority of the ceremonial laws some of which are obselete today, unlike the Ten Commandments which were given by God to humanity for all eternity. In several passages in the bible, Jesus Christ repeatedly declared that He didn’t come on earth to abolish the law, rather, He came to take away the curse of the law, liberating believers from its condemnation.
Scripture tells us that Jesus’s mission on earth or part of His mission was to magnify the law and make it honourable . Christ came to redeem and vindicate the authority and holiness of the law of God. He gave some examples of how we are to relate to the law and stressed to His followers to be commandment keepers.
It is often said that obedience develops christian character and produce a sense of well-being, causing believers to grow up as ‘new-born babes’ and be transformed into Christ’s image.When we honour God and obey His commandments, He has promised to reveal Himself so that we can have a covenant relationship with HIM.
God cannot be silent forever
Many passages in the Holy Bible confirm that God breaks His silence from time to time by using one or more of His four deadly judgements to limit the growth of sin. They are sword, famine, plague and wild beasts. The amount of destruction and loss of life will put the whole world in a state of shock. Man’s innate ability to rebel against God has made the world an ugly and evil place to live, Actually, God allows things to happen until the cup of iniquity fills up, then He breaks His silence.
Bible history reveals that God follows a consistent principle when dealing with humanity. This principle is termed ‘the full cup principle’ The bible sometimes uses the metaphor of a cup to indicate the fullness of an experience. For example, just before Jesus was arrested and crucified…He said ‘My Father, if it is possible, may this (bitter) cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will,’ Jesus did not want to endure the experience of a bitter death on the cross , but He was willing to do so because it was the only way to save humanity.
The metaphor of a cup was also used to indicate a joyful experience. In the case of David’s well known words. ‘You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies, You anoint my head with oil; my cup (of joy) overflows.'(Psalm23:5) This metaphor no doubt expresses joy beyond containment.
There are various types of method of full cup principle God used both in the Old and New Testament. The perverted, reckless and evil lifestyle the people lived in Noah’s day, grieved the heart of God which made Him destroy the world with a flood.
Other cases worth mentioning are…, The Amorite and Canaanite nations, the Babylonian empire, Sodom and Gomorrah etc… Each of these nations was severely punished for their wicked and depraved lifestyles.
Although the Bible tells us that God is love, but the Bible also says that God has wrath, it is sometimes difficult to reconcile these two attributes.
The love of God is revealed in a perfect balance between justice and mercy . Man’s limited view in the affairs of God makes it hard to understand and trust Him. Sin is offensive to God and this is what has separated man from God.
When an individual, community or nation reaches the limit of divine forbearance, God breaks His silence, although there are people who assert that God does not kill or destroy people
They argue that God does not violate His commandment. ‘Thou shalt not kill.’. There are many examples in the Bible sufficient to show that God not only kills people for justifiable reasons, but He takes full responsibility for doing so.
We must realize that the underlying principles behind capital punishment are atonement and restitution. According to God’s order, these are what He requires for every sin.
In the book of Ezekiel chapt.24;14, God says …’I the Lord have spoken. The time has come for me to act. I will not hold back; I will not have pity, nor will I relent, You will be judged according to your conduct and your actions, declares the Sovereign Lord.’
The Lord was speaking of Israel, that it had filled its cup of iniquity.
There is still time to repent and turn away from the evil and ugliness man’s face and experience on daily basis. Our world will never be able to sustain one visitation of God’s judgement because it will be sudden and powerful. He will break His silence whether we like it or not.
