Not Both Ways

                                                 No Other GODs

There was a time when we knew, when we feared, when we honored, when we

acknowledged that there was only one.

One to whom we dedicated our lives, our thoughts, our efforts, our families, our overflowing baskets, and our words to promote as best as we understood.

Before the age of consumerism, before the age of idolatry towards sports figures, towards celebrity, and before that next shiny new item that we could afford, we had the time and energy to focus our hearts and our hopes on the One who created all and is in all.

The One that each of us will one day stand before and offer our reasoning for all that we did while in the life that He has given us.

To so many today, the interest has changed and all of our time and energy and wealth is dedicated to serving and worshiping the things of this world. 

Men and women alike have their bodies tattooed with the likeness of logos of products that they have either purchased or would sacrifice immensely to own.

We wear clothing that is printed with the names promoting more consumerism or idolatry towards acquirable things of this world.

Too much time is spent on social media of many types, entertainment has become demonic in nature and content.

  

Many ascribe to appear like, to acquire like, to parrot like their favorite celebrity, with no regards to the foolish emulation that they have given themselves over to.

Wealth and all that can be acquired by it, is the primary focus of so many folks.

Pharmaceuticals for entertainment and to take the edge off of a conscience that is telling us that in the battle to satisfy our needs for more, we are falling behind.

In the Book of Exodus ch 20 vs 3 we read where God tells Moses to instruct the children that “You shall have no other gods before me.”

The children were seeking and honoring the same types of idolatry and consumerism that is destroying us today.

They had given their hearts to the love of Gold, the worship of images, the desire for more than they were already enjoying.

Already the children of God were desiring and making other gods to take the place of the One God.

In or around the year 1450 BCE , God told his servant Moses that “You shall have no other gods before me.

In the approximate date of 733 BC, the same God told his prophet Isaiah to “Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me,”

Not much had changed over 700 years as the great God was still pleading with His children to forsake all those things that they were placing before our God Yahweh.

As we move forward another 730 years we are given insight into a struggle that was going on at that time among the “religious” and the One who they claimed to serve.

In the New Testament Book of John chapter 10 verse 30-33, we see God in the flesh of mankind telling those who questioned his authority “I and my Father are one. Then the Jews took up stones again to stone him. Jesus answered them, Many good works have I shewed you from my Father; for which of those works do you stone me? The Jews answered him, saying, For a good work we stone thee not; but for blasphemy; and because that thou, being a man, makest thyself God. ”

Elsewhere in the Book of John ch 8 vs. 58 we see a definative statement made by the Christ toward that same group of “religious” folks....”Jesus said unto them Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.”

Jesus said it, the naysayers heard it. “I and my Father are one.” “Before Abraham was, I am.”

The Jews knew exactly what they had just heard......I am....thou shalt have no other gods before me.......I am........the One that you claim to worship.......I am....the one who pricks your conscience and your hearts..... I am......the one who came to deliver you from your sin.......The Jews knew exactly what they had just heard.

The “religious” knew what they must do in order to follow their religion, they must stone the man....Leviticus ch 24 vs. 16 demands it.

The “religious” of our day, allow that we may have many gods, to name some of them and to anger some of the readers of this article is not the intent. 

We all know where our values lie. 

We all know that, society has made many gods, none of which can help us in times of need, or deliver us from the snare of the devour-er.

                                     There is no other True God.

                                     His name is Jesus, He alone is God.

                                     Honor Him.

                                     Revival will come when He is the only one we desire.