In the first of the Ten Commandments God says, “I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. You shall have no other gods before Me.” (Exodus 20:2-3)
Erwin Lutzer, pastor of Moody church in Chicago writes: “Man is in rebellion against God. It all began with Lucifer, who said, “I will be like the Most High.” He began to challenge God’s supremacy. A drop of Lucifer’s rebellion has fallen on every human heart. Consequently, we as a race are also in rebellion against God. We share in that tragedy called sin.”
Take for example the so-called “Separation of Church and State.” This doctrine isn’t just a political position our government has taken, it is a moral position. The purpose behind the modern-day interpretation of this teaching is to guarantee that God doesn’t intrude into the affairs of men. The original purpose of the separation clause was to protect the church from government intrusion. Back during the time of our nation’s founding fathers, many in England weren’t being allowed to worship as they pleased and it was for this reason that some of the colonists left England for the “New World;” it was for religious freedom. The original concept of the “separation of church and state” meant for government to keep their hands out of religious concern but today it insures that God keeps His hands out of the affairs of men because man no longer worships God, he worship himself (Romans 1:18-32).
God told Israel as part of the first commandment, “You shall have no other gods before me” because there is a tendency for fallen man to worship himself. I’ve noticed that the 4th of July is no longer a day when we celebrate liberty and freedom from religious and governmental tyranny. The concepts of freedom and liberty have been redefined. The modern-day celebration of the 4th of July is now a celebration of the independence and liberty and freedom to do as we please…in essence to be our own god.
In the Old Testament book of Habakkuk chapter one, we find that the Chaldeans used nets to capture fish. It goes on to say, they then burned incense to their fishing net. (1:16). Rather than give all the glory to God for helping them to catch fish, they worshipped their nets. Similarly and sadly, man prefers to thank his government, his employer, or even the sweat of his own brow, rather than God who makes the blessings possible. God told Israel, “You shall have no other gods before me.” Because there is a tendency for fallen man to worship himself and we all know how we feel when we are around a person who is “stuck on himself.” This person makes us “sick to our stomachs.” Try to imagine what the Holy God of Creation, the only One who “Alone is worthy of worship and praise” feels.
Over the last several years we have witnessed kids killing each others in our schools. Do our nation’s leaders appeal to God and His Word for the answer? No, we try to get into the minds of these kids and at first we tried to blame it on their environment. But some of these “killers” came from homes where the parents seemed to love them and care for them. Some have tried to blame it on guns but many of these kids weren’t raised with guns in the home; they set out to find the guns and even persuade people to get the guns to them. The way some have reported these hideous crimes you would think that the guns suddenly came alive and walked into the homes of these young criminals.
Still some are blaming the Internet for giving the kids access to plans for making bombs. Others are blaming the culture’s music for its violence-inspiring lyrics and video games. When is someone going to admit that it isn’t the environment and it isn’t the guns? When is someone going to admit that it isn’t the Internet and the music? It is none of these things—the Internet, violent rap music and video games are all just tools. The root problem lies in the sinful hearts of these kids. Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold the young men behind the Columbine High School massacre (April 20, 1999), killed their fellow students because they represented the people that had offended them. They were paying them back. They hated them. Guns don’t hate. The Internet doesn’t hate. Music doesn’t hate. People hate. Let me share with you a quote from the web site of Eric Harris. “My belief is that if I say something it goes. I am the law. If you don’t like it you die. If I don’t like what you want me to do, you die. If I do something incorrect oh…well you die.” Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold killed their fellow students at Columbine High because they worshipped themselves—they were gods unto themselves.
As a nation, we have evicted God from among us and are receiving the consequences of our decision. The Ten Commandments are no longer allowed in court halls and on our school walls. Without God, liberty becomes a license to do as we please. True liberty is not the freedom to do as we please but to do what is right. God’s Word teaches what is right. Let me close this article with a passage from the Bible. Psalm 19:7-11 says, “The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul. The statutes of the LORD are trustworthy, making wise the simple. The precepts of the LORD are right, giving joy to the heart. The commands of the LORD are radiant, giving light to the eyes. The fear of the LORD is pure, enduring forever. The ordinances of the LORD are sure and altogether righteous. They are more precious than gold, than much pure gold; they are sweeter than honey, than honey from the comb. By them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward.”
Bible Points 
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