Anyone, child or adult, who uses
chalk on a chalkboard, pen or pencil on a notepad, or a word processor on a
computer screen, also knows the importance of dusters, pencil erasers, ink
erasers, whiteout, and the delete button. These products help us change our
minds about what we previously wrote without anybody else finding out, whether
due to a mistake or simply thinking differently.
There is one writing surface
that is not that easy to erase. The back porch of the house where I currently
live has the names and birth dates of the children who lived there before,
etched in the cement. It probably never occurred to them that they might not
live in that house forever. When something is etched in stone, it is very
difficult, almost impossible, to alter. So even though they no longer live at
this address, their names are still there.
God etched His commands in stone
when the Israelites were in the wilderness (see Exodus 34:28). But that was not
the first time God gave man His commands.
Prior to the Ten Commandments, He already had them on the tablets of our
hearts, where they can never be altered or erased. Even those who have never
read the Bible know right from wrong because of God’s law written on their
hearts: their conscience lets them know each time they do one or the other (see
Romans 2:14-15).
Mankind has been trying for
years to alter these commands to suit the prevailing lifestyles but to no
avail. One of the ways they’ve tried to alter the Word of God is by trying to
alter their interpretation of it and accusing Christians of being stringent.
Also, they think if they don’t acknowledge it, it won’t apply to them. What a
waste of time and energy! Nothing we do can ever undo God’s command. We can
choose to obey it or disregard it. Either way, we will be held accountable.
For us, the children of God,
let’s know that obeying the commands of God has benefits, as stated in
Proverbs: “My child, never forget the things I have taught you. Store my
commands in your heart. If you do this, you will live many years, and your life
will be satisfying” (Proverbs 3:1-2 NLT). As humans, we appreciate it when
others relate to us in ways that assure or indicate to us that we are loved.
Well, with God, obedience is our way of expressing our love to Him: “Loving God
means keeping his commandments” (1 John 5:3). Let’s learn from the psalmist; he
lovingly declares, “I have hidden your word in my heart, that I might not sin
against you” (Psalm 119:11). Child of God, are you taking His command
seriously, or do you obey it only when it’s convenient for you?
The Bible teaches us that we
miss blessings when we fail to obey His commands; the Israelites knew this so
well, and Daniel expressed it when he prayed for his people. “O Lord, you are a
great and awesome God! You always fulfill your covenant and keep your promises
of unfailing love to those who love you and obey your commands” (Daniel 9:4
NLT).
God’s Word is written on our
hearts and in the Bible: let’s read it, meditate on it, and obey it. Although
that is our duty, He blesses us when we obey Him!
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