Wednesday 19 July 2017

morals to live by

Morals to live by
The book of Exodus records,
“I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. 
“You shall have no other gods before me. 
“You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below.  
You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me,  but showing love to a thousand  generations  of those who love me and keep my commandments. 
“You shall not misuse the name of the LORD your God, for the LORD will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name. 
“Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy.  
Six days you shall labor and do all your work,  but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your manservant or maidservant, nor your animals, nor the alien within your gates.  
For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy. 
“Honour your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the LORD your God is giving you. 
“You shall not murder. 
“You shall not commit adultery. 
“You shall not steal. 
“You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor. 
“You shall not covet your neighbor’s house. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his manservant or maidservant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.” 
Exodus 20:2-17.
These are God’s ideals given to mankind. God’s Moral code given to mankind that man might live in harmony with God and with other men.
They were not written in pen and ink so that they could be erased. They were engraved on tablets of stone. The very words were part of the stone themselves. They could not be erased.
These are the ideals I believe God has written on the hearts of every person that is living or has ever lived. They are universal truths, core values for living in a civilized society.
Such values did not come from the minds of Atheist, but believers in the one true God.
Abba Hillel Silver wrote,
“Faith in God is the strongest bulwark of a free society.  Human freedom began when men became conscious that over and above society and nature there is a God who created them...who fashioned them in His likeness, and that they are, therefore, possessed of intrinsic and independent significance and are endowed, as individuals, with original and irrevocable rights and authority.” Abba Hillel Silver.
It is only when individuals and society turns their back on God and His moral values that society suffers.
Hitler during world war two showed the world dramatically how turning away from God’s teachings can cause incredible harm. Fifty six million plus men women and Children killed during world war two. Six million Jews and an equal number of others murdered in an industrial killing machine that was Nazi Germany.
Such killing did not end with Hitler. Stalin and other atheistic leaders throughout the twentieth century have killed millions. As are many terrorist groups today. Individuals who say they are of God but are not, for they are breaking one of the fundamental laws of God, “do not Kill”.
On the streets of every major city there are individuals and gangs who kill and steal. A testament that failure to fear not only man’s laws but God and his judgement causes grief.
The writer of Ecclesiastes states,
“Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole  duty  of man. 
For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil.” Ecclesiastes12:13,14
The Psalmist writes,
“The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom;
 all who follow his precepts have good understanding. 
To him belongs eternal praise.” 
                                                                 Psalm 111: 10.
As society turns away from God, or individuals twists and misinterprets God’s word to say what they want it to say, society I believe moves relentlessly down a slope toward a lake filled with burning brimstone.
Please think about it.

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