By: Gabriela Yareliz
I’ve been reading the book of Deuteronomy. It is a fascinating book so far whose main theme is to let the Lord fight your battles and to keep His commandments.
Deut. 11:1 ““Therefore you shall love the Lord your God, and keep His charge, His statutes, His judgments, and His commandments always.”
It never fails to amaze me how people who believe in other religions other than Christianity have such devotion, and they follow their beliefs no matter what the sacrifice.
In Christianity no one wants to sacrifice convenience and tradition. People fail to realize tha tradition and man’s ways do you not save you.
John 14:15 “If ye love me, keep my commandments.”
1 John 2:4 “He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.”
If there is anything that has been on my mind lately is how we try to shape everything into the way we think. We want things our way, yet things have already been established.
Hebrews 13:8 “Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.”
God does not change, neither does the reflection of His character which is God’s moral law. If it could have been changed or nailed to a cross… why did Jesus have to die? If that which pointed out our sin could have been changed then why did he have to die?
“The substitution of the precepts of men for the commandments of God has not ceased. Even among Christians are found institutions and usages that have no better foundation than the traditions of the fathers.
Such institutions, resting upon mere human authority, have supplanted those of divine appointment. Men cling to their traditions, and revere their customs, and cherish hatred against those who seek to show them their error.
In this day, when we are bidden to call attention to the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus, we see the same enmity as was manifested in the days of Christ. Of the remnant people of God it is written, “The dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.” Rev. 12:17.
But “every plant, which My heavenly Father hath not planted, shall be rooted up.” In place of the authority of the so-called fathers of the church, God bids us accept the word of the eternal Father, the Lord of heaven and earth. Here alone is truth unmixed with error.
David said, “I have more understanding than all my teachers: for Thy testimonies are my meditation. I understand more than the ancients, because I keep Thy precepts.” Ps. 119:99, 100. Let all who accept human authority, the customs of the church, or the traditions of the fathers, take heed to the warning conveyed in the words of Christ, “In vain they do worship Me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.”
(Desire of Ages, Ellen G. White, page 398)
When type met anti-type in the sanctuary services, the sacrifices of a lamb and much of the Mosaic law was no longer needed. Unfortunately people forget that the 10 commandments was not a mosaic law, but it was established long before a Jewish nation was. It is eternal because it is the character of God, and it was given to man at creation.
We see of Abraham, who was not Jewish, the Bible says Genesis 26:5 “Because that Abraham obeyed my voice, and kept my charge, my commandments, my statutes, and my laws.”
The people of ISrael had been enslaved by the Egyptians for quite some time, and so God gave them His law written out as a reminder of how to worship Him.
We must remember Psalm 19
“7] The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple.
8The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes.
9The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether.
10More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.
11Moreover by them is thy servant warned: and in keeping of them there is great reward.
12Who can understand his errors? cleanse thou me from secret faults.
13Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me: then shall I be upright, and I shall be innocent from the great transgression.
14Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.”
Let us all study God’s word and strive to keep His commandments, not because that can save us– no, we are saved by grace, but we keep His commandments because we love Him.
GABRIELA YARELIZ 