The Ten Commandments (they are not suggestions) – #2 (No Graven Images)

I have carefully searched the Scriptures for decades to find the Truth of what God wanted for my life. I was raised Roman Catholic and even attended seminary in the 1980s in Indianapolis, IN. They asked me to leave because I kept questioning the faith by pointing out where Catholic doctrine was counter to the clear teachings of the Scriptures (these differences are covered in many books). I was told that I was “too orthodox” and asked to leave.
I thank the Way International for teaching me ‘how’ to read the Bible. Just as one needs to be taught to read Shakespeare, there are literary rules used throughout the Word (e.g., context, first use, figures of speech, etc.) that make the study of the Bible thrilling and fulfilling (These rules are covered in many books). The Way had its own problems and their proclivity for teaching how to understand the Scriptures led to their undoing when some of their teachings were exposed to be counter to the clear teachings of the Word.
This is not intended to be an auto-biography but I want you to understand that my search has taken me in many varied directions and at the age of 58, I once again made a ‘shift correction’ towards what I believe to be a greater understanding of true faith. It is never too late for God to reveal the answers to the desires of your heart.

I began a thirty day fast after Thanksgiving 2018 for both spiritual and physical health reasons. I listed my reasons on a dry-erase board so they were constantly before me. Those who know me were shocked that I planned to go thirty days without food. I explained that Christ went forty days and he wasn’t sixty-five pounds overweight. I don’t believe I would have been successful without my list and a desire to see the changes come about in me.
Number one on my list was to ask for forgiveness. My transgressions unto the Lord are numerous and senseless (as I’m sure is the case with most people). This is where the opening verse comes in. Someone actually shared it on Facebook (see, FB is not totally worthless) and I was struck by what it said of God’s own heart. I looked it up in my Bible so I could see the context and I saw the verse was highlighted and there were notes in the margin. I was shocked. I had seen this verse - I had parsed the Hebrew words in the verse - I had saved my thoughts in the margin - and I had completely missed the Heart of God in the Verse.
Parsing, examining and searching the Word and various study helps is important and it has its place, but God only wrote one Book for His People so seeing the why, the heart, of what is written is vital. In a nutshell, in Isaiah 43 God tells us that HE forgives us for HIS sake because unforgiveness is so toxic that God worries about its effects on Himself. I couldn’t believe I had missed this simple, yet powerful truth and knew I had to examine every aspect of my faith to see what else I had ignored.
It is very easy to delve into the Bible to verify the doctrine one already has and this is what I had done for decades. Luckily, I had been ‘thrown out’ of my church the year before based on a personal disagreement with the Pastor. God had some major Truths He wanted to share with me and I was now not as likely to bend scripture to whatever my current church was teaching. The process behind the Revelation does not have a linear path that can be easily transcribed and this narrative is already lengthier than I had planned so let’s just cut to the chase. The epiphany is probably the reason you are reading this book in the first place and you are probably wondering if I will ever come to the point.

God told me that ‘Christ did not come to start a new religion or a new Covenant’.

Read that again.

Yes, Jesus brought about the New Covenant promised by God (Jeremiah 31:31) in the Old Testament, but he did not bring about something different than what had been prophesied. “Surely the Lord GOD will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets” (Amos 3:7). Where, in scripture, is it prophesied that God will ‘suspend’ His Laws for a time?
I could not have received that a year ago because I was so steeped in the Faith I had ‘clothed’ myself in. I understand that early believers were referred to as “Christians” but that was merely a derisive label given to them. In my civilian jobs, I was called supervisor, foreman, boss fellow, and several other names I chose, in good taste, to not repeat. These are all titles and did not change the underlying character of who I am. There are two very good YouTube videos I found that explain this so well that I recommend you stop reading now and watch them before continuing.

The Error of Dispensationalism (Remastered) - 119 Ministries
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5RL2hZSpKEE
Identity Crisis - Passion for Truth Ministries
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VN-1jUc963g

Yes, I understand Jim Staley is (was, depending on when you read this) in jail. He is an imperfect messenger (as are we all), but if you cannot distinguish between the messenger and the message then you are going to miss out on much of what God is sharing to you with the Scriptures and in life.

I was reminded of the lesson of Ananias and Sapphira from Acts 5:
1 But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession, 2 And kept back part of the price, his wife also being privy to it, and brought a certain part, and laid it at the apostles' feet. 3 But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land? 4 Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God. 5 And Ananias hearing these words fell down, and gave up the ghost: and great fear came on all them that heard these things. 6 And the young men arose, wound him up, and carried him out, and buried him. 7 And it was about the space of three hours after, when his wife, not knowing what was done, came in. 8 And Peter answered unto her, Tell me whether ye sold the land for so much? And she said, Yea, for so much. 9 Then Peter said unto her, How is it that ye have agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? behold, the feet of them which have buried thy husband are at the door, and shall carry thee out. 10 Then fell she down straightway at his feet, and yielded up the ghost: and the young men came in, and found her dead, and, carrying her forth, buried her by her husband. 11 And great fear came upon all the church, and upon as many as heard these things.

Ananias and Sapphira had obviously done a good work in selling their property and giving much of the proceeds towards the Ministry but their hearts were wicked in that they wanted praise for having done this and false praise at that since they kept back some of the money but they led people to believe that they had contributed the entire amount. Any amount would have been a worthy contribution but they wanted to be puffed up in their pride by lying to the Apostles and to the Holy Spirit. The shock and shame of having their hearts exposed by the Spirit through Peter was too much for them.

You must work out your path AND you must want to follow that path. Our Father is not impressed by people who feel obligated to do something they do not want to do (“This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.” Matthew 15:8). God also tells us that, “For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous” (1John 5:3). The Torah was not intended to be burdensome but the Religious Leaders, over time, added to and agonizingly interpreted the existing Instructions with their traditions (Talmud). I do not believe that this was God’s intention. God’s Instructions are not based on circumstance but the application often must be. This is your responsibility - please do not relinquish the accountability of your walk to others.

The two most important things you much figure out for yourself are, “what is God’s Heart in commanding such and such” and “what is my heart in obeying His Commandments”. This is a journey, much like marriage, and diligence to your relationship will produce wonderful results.