Exodus 20:1-3 - First Commandment

Thomas S. Myers

THE FIRST COMMANDMENT

Exodus 20:1-3

Every year man makes new laws to replace the old laws that he made.  Allow me to give you some of the old laws that have been made. 

Did you know that in Pine Island, Minn., a man must remove his hat when meeting a cow. 

Did you know that in Pocatello, Idaho it is against the law to go around looking peeved and dejected.

Did you know that whoever peels an orange in a hotel room in California is breaking the law.

In Kentucky, wives must first have their husband's permission to rearrange the furniture. 

In Berea, Ohio, all animals must wear a tail light when out on the streets at night. 

In Crooks  Corners, Mich., a horse may not be tied to a fire hydrant.

In Detroit, Mich., it is against the law to fall asleep in a bathtub. 

In Natchez, Miss., elephants are not permitted to drink beer.

In Owensboro, Ky., if a woman wants to buy a hat, her husband must first try it on .

Now these seem to be funny laws, don't they?  It's funny, how man's laws grow to be obsolete.  But it's not that way with God's laws.   

Somebody once figured out that we have thirty-five million laws trying to enforce ten commandments.

Some people say God's 10 commandments are out of date.  They say, we have left them behind.  Folks, we haven't even caught up with them.  I would like us to see 4 vital truths about the first commandment. 

Exodus 20:2-3

2 "I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.

3 "You shall have no other gods before me. (NIV)

FIRST -- NOTICE THE FACT THAT THE FIRST COMMANDMENT DECLARES THERE IS ONLY ONE TRUE SUPREME GOD.

EXODUS 20:3

3 "You shall have no other gods before me. (NIV)

A.  CREATION DECLARES THERE IS ONE SUPREME GOD.  

Romans 1:20

20 For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities -- his eternal power and divine nature -- have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse. (NIV)

            We can see the invisible God, by the visible creation.  Everything we see bares a stamp saying, "Made by God."  A scientist will say, "Nature obeys the laws of science."  No it doesn't, nature obeys the laws of God. 

            Think of the vastness of our universe.  Light travels at 186,00 miles per second.  In 2 seconds you're at the moon.  Yet you would not reach the nearest star until 4 years later.  10 billion years later, you still wouldn't be at the edge of the