No other gods

I’m reading a book called The Return of the Gods by Jonathan Cahn and finding it fascinating. If you’ve ever wondered what is behind ancient Israel’s idolatry and America’s fall away from the Judeo-Christian worldview, I highly recommend this book.

As I’ve been reading though, it occurred to me that it is no mistake or coincidence that when God gave the Ten Commandments, the first thing He said was, “You shall have no other gods before me.” (Exodus 20:3)

And when asked which was the greatest commandment, Jesus said, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment.” (Matthew 22:37-38)

Why this commandment? Why is it of greatest importance to God?

Because God has always wanted our hearts. He only wants our love and He won’t compete with other “gods” who are not gods at all but demons masquerading as god. But then satan has always wanted to be God so it makes sense that he would call the idols of ancient days “gods”.

They are nothing but imitations of the True God. And they are nothing like Him.

The ancient gods were violent, irreverent, illogical, sexually immoral, controlling, manipulating, hateful, spiteful, evil. Study the acts of the Baals and Ishtar or Ashtoreth and see if there is anything good there. I don’t see any.

The True God is unfailing love. He is Creator. Almighty One. Lord of Heaven’s Armies. Redeemer. Savior. Good. Righteous. Holy. True.

The gods of this world (the demons of the evil one) want our devotion so they can destroy us. Satan is the thief who comes to steal, kill, and destroy. Sound familiar in our society these days?

Jesus came to set us free because whom the Son sets free is free indeed. He came to heal, to bind up the broken-hearted, to give sight to the blind, and to give his life for those who hated Him so we could be with Him forever.

The True God offers us the exact opposite of our upside down illogical world we’re far too used to. Where there are lies, He is truth. Where there is hatred, He is love. Where there is misery, He offers joy. Where there is bitterness, He forgives.

“Have no other gods before me.”

God didn’t say this because He’s some kind of narcissist who needs our adoration. He is our Creator who wants our hearts. Just give Him that. Discover what it’s like to be held by His love. To know He is for you. He wants you. Not to use you. To spend eternity with you showing you His love and grace.

No “god” of this world can come close to offering what the True God offers us. They have nothing to give but heartache and pain. At the end of life, they will laugh at our destruction if we follow their path.

We don’t have to go there. Jesus offers us salvation, rescue, and an eternity in paradise with Him.

Don’t let the lies of the world fool you. Other “gods” exist. The spirits of demons are behind them, whether we want to think so or not.

The first commandment is clear. God knew His people would be easily tempted to follow after the gods of the people groups around them. And we are no different today. The Ten Commandments used to be the standard we taught to our children and could read in government buildings. As I sat down to write this, I noticed that Texas wants to bring them back to public schools.

I wonder…if students read those commands throughout a week, would it change their behavior? Our neighbor is a teacher who has second graders throwing things at her and cursing her every day. Second graders. What if they were taught respect and to honor parents and all the rest?

The One True God gave those commands to protect us from ourselves. From evil. The new gods we’ve chosen? They are evil. Judges 5:8 says, “When new gods were chosen, then war was in the gates.”

War is in our gates today, not necessarily with other nations, but with ourselves. And I daresay we live in a world of miserable people because of our choices.

“Have no other gods before Me.”

Maybe it’s time to revisit why God said that and how transforming His love and commands can be.

~Selah