Thou shall have no other gods before me

Exodus 20:3

Why did God warn the Israelites about other gods?  Because they had just come out of the land of Egypt, which had many strange gods, and were going into the land of Canaan to conquer it, and the people there had many strange gods.  Today, we are called to be witnesses to all those around us, and the people of this world have many strange gods, which we must not recognize as gods at all. 

We that have been saved, are like Israel and ought to take warning about the strange gods of this world.  We have just been saved out of this world (just as Israel came out of Egypt) where many false gods are being worshipped and served.  When we have been saved, we are not taken out of this world, rather God leaves us in this world to be a witness for his sake and against their wickedness.  God wants us to be more than conquerors and to be overcomers in this present wicked world.  God wants us to conquer this present evil world for his eternal honor and glory.  We must be careful to continue to serve God Almighty because there are many strange gods in this world.

Today, there is a strange mix of the world and religion.  Religious merchandise (I saw this article in Reader’s Digest, July or August, 2005) abound.  Religious music is sung to the rock music.  First Baptist in Troy recently had their second or third (I don’t remember) antique car show.  They will have their annual “scare them into heaven” for Halloween, and their annual Christmas pageant, hoping by false doctrine to win some to Christ.

Acts 17 – Paul preached on Mars Hill because the people there had many gods, but did not truly worship the true God. The true God was almost completely forgotten.  He is certainly not understood.

Judges 17:6 – Every man did that which was right in his own eyes.

Name the different types of gods worshipped on Mars Hill:  war-peace-fertility-health-wealth-weather-knowledge-medicine-etc.

Genesis 13 – Lot followed the way of personal knowledge/reason.

Proverbs 14:12 and Proverbs 16:25 – There is a way that seemeth right unto man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.

Some follow the ways of religion.

Matthew 23 – Christ condemned those who were only outwardly religious.

Philippians 3:8 (1-7) – Paul counted all his outward religious and works as nothing at all.

Philippians 3:8-11 – Paul found the worship of God more and better than all outward fleshly satisfaction.

Deuteronomy 28 reveals God’s blessing/judgment upon the obedient/disobedient.  Verse 1-14 speaks of the blessings God is very able to give, while verse 15-68 speaks of the cursing of God upon the disobedient.