CD - The First Commandment - Matthew 19:16-24

The world (nature), our conscience, and the Bible tell us there is a God. It is my belief that everyone on earth knows there is a God. I believe that it takes more faith to be an atheist than to believe in a God. However, although everyone knows (head knowledge) there is a god, not everyone knows Jesus Christ as his/her personal Savior.

The world, or nature, shows us there is a God. The argument I always use is this: Is it easier to believe that, say your washing machine evolved, and all the parts came together by chance over millions of years, or that someone designed it and someone built it? In the same way is it easier that this even more complex world evolved by mere chance or that there was a master designer, namely God, behind it all? Adding to that, according to evolution the process of things getting better; whereas, in reality, our world is running down, getting worse. We get older and die, the earth is wearing out, the sun is burning out, etc.

Our conscience tells us when we do wrong. We have a built-in guilt sensor. Of course, this sensor can be abused and killed off, but, for the most part, it works to guide us to do right and avoid wrong.

The Bible definitely tells us of God and Christ Jesus, but not everyone has a Bible you say, or access to one in their language. That is correct, but most cultures do have stories of such Biblical events as the great flood and creation.

We may not openly worship idols in our society today, but too often people get so wrapped up and comfortable in our world that they lose eternal sight. The story of the rich man in Luke (12:13-21) is a good example of how we get so caught up in the here and now that we forget about the hereafter. To put it another way, we become like the Egyptians of whom the ten plagues attacked ten of their gods. That is, we worship not the Creator as we should; instead we worship the creation. Money, pleasure, comfort, social status, power, lust, greed—all these things have become our god, our idol. Yes, we become idolaters, worshiping God’s creation instead of God the Father, the Creator Himself.

The next step in this parade is self- or work-righteousness. To appease our conscience, we give to charity and act like good people. We try to be our own god. We become such a part of this world, seeing that everything has a price with strings attached, that we cannot believe or accept the free gift of eternal life in heaven given us by grace through faith in Jesus Christ.

What are your priorities? Where is the main focus of your life? Whatever you put first in your life is truly your God. I pray that Jesus Christ does indeed have first place in your life. You have first place in His.

Dear Lord, forgive me when I worship Your creation and forget to worship You. Forgive me when I get too wrapped up in things and forget people. Thank You that You have graciously chosen me to be Your child. Thank You that You have given me faith, forgiveness and eternal life through Jesus. Forgive my doubt and strengthen my faith. For Jesus’ sake. Amen.