In all my years of attending church, Pastor Jesse is the first pastor to do that when he spoke to the children and parents regarding Ephesians 6:1-4.

What stood out to me was the verse ‘Honor your father and mother. This is the first of God's Ten Commandments that ends with a promise. And this is the promise that if you honor your father and mother, yours will be a long life full of blessings.” (Ephesians 6:2-3, TLB)

What is so significant about this verse?

This verse is the first of God’s Ten Commandments that ends with a promise.

Jesus also spoke seriously about this verse:

“For instance, God’s law is ‘Honor your father and mother; anyone who reviles his parents must die. But you say, ‘Even if your parents are in need, you may give their support money to the church instead. And so, by your man-made rule, you nullify the direct command of God to honor and care for your parents. (Matthew 15:4-6, TLB)

If you are the created, would you not want to know what commandments the Creator had in store for you?

I know I would!

So, what are these Ten Commandments?

These Ten Commandments, when lived out, will not hurt a human being whether mom, dad, brother, sister, wife, husband, neighbor, etc

Since the United States was founded on Judeo-Christian principles, the Ten Commandments must also be part of American history.

They should be displayed in every classroom in America.

Knowing that the Ten Commandments plaque is displayed outside the Allegheny County courthouse is so pleasing.

It is so exciting to know that the governors of Louisiana and Oklahoma require the Ten Commandments to be posted in public school classrooms.

Reading the Ten Commandments is wonderful for every child and adult because it will show them how life should be lived.

“You may worship no other god than me.

“You shall not make yourselves any idols: no images of animals, birds, or fish. You must never bow or worship it in any way; for I, the Lord your God, am very possessive. I will not share your affection with any other god!"

“You shall not use the name of Jehovah your God irreverently, nor use it to swear to a falsehood. You will not escape punishment if you do."

“Remember to observe the Sabbath as a holy day. Six days a week are for your daily duties and your regular work, but the seventh day is a day of Sabbath rest before the Lord your God. On that day you are to do no work of any kind, nor shall your son, daughter, or slaves—whether men or women—or your cattle or your house guests.

“Honor your father and mother, that you may have a long, good life in the land the Lord your God will give you."

"You must not murder."

 “You must not commit adultery."

 “You must not steal."

 “You must not lie."

 “You must not be envious of your neighbor’s house, or want to sleep with his wife, or want to own his slaves, oxen, donkeys, or anything else he has. ”(Exodus 20:1-17, TLB)

More than that, it will show them that we all fall short of keeping the Ten Commandments.

The Ten Commandments are the law of God given to Moses to give to the people of Israel.

What happens when people break the law?

There are consequences for breaking the law.

What happens when we break any of the Ten Commandments?

It shows us that we are not perfect and have sinned.

If we sin, God cannot allow us into His presence.

Ouch!

Now what?

It makes children and adults realize they have missed the mark and fall short of being perfect human beings.

I can keep 9 Commandments but falter on 1 Commandment, and I still have broken the whole law.

“And the person who keeps every law of God but makes one little slip is just as guilty as the person who has broken every law there is.  For the God who said you must not marry a woman who already has a husband also said you must not murder, so even though you have not broken the marriage laws by committing adultery, but have murdered someone, you have entirely broken God’s laws and stand utterly guilty before him. You will be judged on whether or not you are doing what Christ wants you to. So watch what you do and what you think.” (James 2:10-11, TLB)

What the Ten Commandments show us is that none of us are perfect.

That also means if we are imperfect, we cannot be with a perfect God because logic says imperfect + perfect = imperfect.

If we cannot be with a perfect God, Heaven has been elusive. Sadly, the only alternative is Hell.

Ouch?

After you die, if God asks you, “Why should I let you into Heaven, what would your response be?

If your response is that you have been a good person, then God should let you in, is that really true?

Is anyone truly good?

“The Lord looks down from heaven on all mankind to see if there are any who are wise, who want to please God. But no, all have strayed away; all are rotten with sin. Not one is good, not one! (Psalm 14:2-3, TLB)

As the Scriptures say, ”No one is good---no one in all the world is innocent.” No one has ever really followed God’s paths or even truly wanted to. Everyone has turned away; all have gone wrong. No one anywhere has kept on doing what is right; not one.” (Romans 3:10-12, TLB)

But you may say you have been good 99% of the time, so that should be good enough for God to accept you, right?

Wrong!

Imagine you need water to enter your body, so you ask for a cup of water that you believe to be 100% purified water. Now, right in front of you, a drop of CYANIDE is placed in the water.

Will you still drink it?

More than likely not!

You will not say that it is 99% purified water and only 1% cyanide, so you are okay to drink it.

You will turn down the water from entering your body because of the 1% cyanide.

Imagine you needed milk to enter your body, so you asked for a cup of milk, which you believed to be 100% milk. Now, right in front of you, the server SPITS into it.

Will you still drink it?

More than likely not!

You will not say that it is 99% purified milk and only 1% spit, so you are okay to drink it.

You will prevent the milk from entering your body because of the 1% spit.

Imagine you needed a pure white shirt for an interview, so you wear it with a black pen inside your pocket. Now, the black pen leaks and creates a BLACK DOT visible enough for the interviewer.

Will you still wear it?

More than likely not!

You will not say that it is 99% white and only 1% black dot, so you are okay to wear it.

You will take off your shirt and wear a pure white shirt.

Now, if we as sinful human beings distinguish even 1% of something being bad over 99% of something being good, what should a perfect God do?

A perfect God will not allow us into Heaven.

Now what?

Here comes the greatest Good News.

Once we realize we cannot enter Heaven because of our own good works, because no matter how much good we do, it will not erase the bad, we have hope because we will know even the good we think we do is seen as filthy rags because we are sinful human beings.

“God looks down from heaven, searching among all mankind to see if there is a single one who does right and really seeks for God. But all have turned their backs on him; they are filthy with sin—corrupt and rotten through and through. Not one is good, not one!” (Psalm 53:2-4, TLB)

Now, we know we cannot depend on ourselves to save us anymore to get us into Heaven.

Now what?

We realize the Ten Commandments help us see our shortcomings and know we have broken the law and not kept them.

So how can we enter Heaven and not Hell?

“Now do you see it? No one can ever be made right in God’s sight by doing what the law commands. For the more we know of God’s laws, the clearer it becomes that we aren’t obeying them; his laws serve only to make us see that we are sinners.” (Romans 3:20, TLB)

“But now God has shown us a different way to heaven---not by “being good enough” and trying to keep his laws, but by a new way (though not new, really, for the Scriptures told about it long ago). Now God says he will accept us and acquit us—declare us “not guilty”---if we trust Jesus Christ to take away our sins. And we all can be saved in this same way, by coming to Christ, no matter who we are or what we have been like. Yes, all have sinned; all fall short of God’s glorious ideal; yet now God declares us “not guilty” of offending him if we trust in Jesus Christ, who in his kindness freely takes away our sins.” (Romans 3:21-24, TLB)

“For God sent Christ Jesus to take the punishment for our sins and to end all God’s anger against us. He used Christ’s blood and our faith as the means of saving us from his wrath.” (Romans 3:25, TLB)

"Because of His kindness, you have been saved through trusting Christ. And even trusting is not of yourselves; it too is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good we have done, so none of us can take any credit for it. It is God Himself who has made us what we are and given us new lives from Christ Jesus; and long ages ago He planned that we should spend these lives in helping others." (Ephesians 6:8-10, TLB)

This applies to all of us. The Lord Jesus can save us by trusting Him and calling upon His name. He will help us live for Him.

So, the Ten Commandments show how much we need Jesus not only for the afterlife but also for the here and now. Once we turn to Christ, He will begin the process of sanctification.

Ramesh C. Reddy believes the Ten Commandments show us our sins and point us to Christ, who alone takes away our sins.  He can be reached at reddy4hisglory@gmail.com