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Of all the questions you will ask yourself in
life, probably the most important is, "Am I good enough
to go to Heaven?" The way to find this out is to ask yourself
if you have obeyed the Ten Commandments (listed below). Most
would answer the question, "Well, I've broken one or two,
but nothing too serious, like murder, etc." But, the Bible
says for a person to go to heaven by their own efforts, they
must obey the law of God perfectly. So, what does that mean?
Well, let's look closely at what is required
for a person to go to heaven by their efforts:
1. "You shall have no other gods before me."
This means our love for God should surpass everything
else in the world. If we love anything-husband, wife, children
or even our own lives-more than we love God, we are setting
our affection on the gift rather than the Giver, which is a
transgression of the First Commandment. (Matt. 10:37)
2. "You shall make not make for yourself
any graven images".
This means that we don't worship created things, but the Creator.
Some make gods out of wood and stone and bow down to those gods.
Some bow down to the gods of money and power. All of it is a
way of worshipping created things, rather than the Creator.
3. "You shall not take the name of
the Lord your God in vain."
This means to use God's name like any other word. The Jews would
not even speak the name of God because they considered it so
Holy. This also includes using God's name in a manner lower
than other words.
4. "Remember the Sabbath Day, to
keep it holy."
One day of seven, we are to rest from labor and worship the
Lord.
5. "Honor your father and your mother."
Have you always honored your parents in a way that's pleasing
in the sight of God?
6. "You shall not murder."
This means we are to never murder another human being. Jesus
warned that if we get angry without cause we are in danger of
judgment. So, it's not just a matter of committing the physical
act, it even includes the hatred in the heart that would cause
someone to want to murder that God sees as murder.
7. "You shall not commit adultery."
This means that we have always remained sexually pure. It means
that we have always followed God's plan for sex which is within
marriage. But, it also includes the thoughts of the heart. Who
of us can say that we are pure of heart? Jesus warned, "You
have heard that it was said to those of old, ÔYou shall not
commit adultery.' But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman
to lust after her has committed adultery already with her in
his heart." So, God sees adulterous thoughts and requires
not only for us to keep these laws in action, but also in our
thoughts.
8. "You shall not steal."
This means that we are to never take anything that doesn't belong
to us. If you take $100 from someone's purse, is that stealing?
What about $50? What about $1? What about a penny? It doesn't
matter that value of the item stolen. What matters is the heart.
9. "You shall not bear false witness."
This means we are to never tell a lie.
10. "You shall not covet."
That means we shouldn't desire anything that belongs to another
person.
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