Timeless Truths For Troubled Times
(A Study of the Ten Commandments)
"Ted Turner Ain’t Moses"
Exodus 20:1-3
This sermon was preached by Pastor Tom Dooley at the Harrison Church, Minford, Ohio,
September 14, 1997 in the a.m. service.
www.preachingtheword.com
A while back, Ted Turner, who is the owner of the Alanta Braves baseball team, CNN News
Network, and TBS television, was speaking to a group of broadcasters. In his speech he said to
them that the Ten Commandments are out of date.
Mr. Turner modestly offered to replace the Ten Commandments with his own version which he
called the Ten Voluntary Initiatives. I won’t bore you with all of his suggestions, but listen to his
first two.
The first one: I promise to love and respect planet Earth and all living things on the earth,
especially my fellow species.
The second one was: I promise to treat all persons everywhere with dignity, respect and
friendliness.
That one he violated in the same speech. For later in the speech he he bashed Christians and
called them losers and bozos. He also said, "I don’t want anybody to die for me."
Later he apologized for his remarks about Christians. He has not yet, however, to my knowledge
apologized to the Lord God for trying to undo His Ten Commandments.
Is Ted Turner right? Are the Ten Commandments out dated. Do they have any relevance for a
society that is on the brink of beginning a new millenium?
As I look at the world in which we live, the more convinced I become that there has never been a
time when the Ten Commandments needed to be studied in detail and depth as they do in our
society. These "Timeless Truths" touch on every problem we have in America.
Some would argue that "The Ten Commandments" are a part of the Old Testament law and
therefore do not apply to the Christian.
Before you jump to that conclusion, let’s make a clarification. Israel had ceremonial laws and civil
laws that pertained specifically to their worship and lifestyle. Israel, however, was also given the
moral law of God.
As we discover in the New Testament, the Christian is not under an obligation to live by the
ceremonial and civil laws intended for the Old Testament followers of the Lord. In Christ all of
that is fulfilled.
You and I however, like individuals of all ages, are responsible to obey God’s moral law. God’s
moral law applies across the board to everyone. And the Ten Commandments definitely fall into
that category.
As a matter of fact, "The Ten Commandments" were not only given by God on tablets of stone,
but the Bible teaches in Romans 2:15, that the law of God
has been written on the heart man - it has been etched into the human conscience and they apply
to everyone who has ever lived.
Jesus believed that these commands apply to everyone.
When Jesus was asked what the most important commandment was He responded by
summarizing the Ten Commandments and grouping them into two sections.
Remember He said, (Mark 12:28-31)
Number one - love God with everything you have.
Number two - love your neighbor as yourself.
When you look closely at theTen Commandments you will notice that they group themselves into
those two divisions.
The first four commandments focus on man’s relationship to God. And the final six
commandments deals with man’s relationship to man.
These "Commandments" are not obsolete. They are "Timeless Truths For Troubled Times". If
we will let them speak to our hearts and guide our steps, these truths will serve as a compass that
will direct through
the dangers of our days.
Look with me at our text. Exodus 20:1-3.
The children of Israel have gathered at the foot of Mt. Sinai. Moses has returned from being in
the presence of God and receiving from God, the Ten Commandments.
Let’s focus on the first of these great truths. Read with me verse 3... "Thou shalt have no other
gods before me."
What does that commandment mean?
First of all it means that we must...
1. AFFIRM THE REALITY OF GOD
Notice in verse 2 that God declares the fact of His existence. He says, " I am the LORD thy
God.."
Let me ask you a question. Now don’t answer too quickly. Here’s the queston. Do you truly
believe that God is real?
There are a lot of people who though they may not intellectually deny the existence of God, who
Monday through Saturday, live as if He did not exist.
They don’t talk to God in prayer. They don’t let God speak to them through the Bible. They
don’t concern themselves with what would bring glory to His name.
They ignore God. Frankly, most people are practical atheist. Most people do not want God
intruding on their way of living.
It is time however, for those of us who claim to be Christians to boldy..... affirm that we believe
that God is real.
Look back at verse 2 and notice that God not only proclaimed His existence, but He offered proof
of His existence. God says, I am the one, "...which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt,
out of the house of bondage."
Christian, let’s be reminded that the Lord is real by...
1. What He Has Done In Our Past
We were in the world and in bondage to our sins, but the Lord delivered us and set us free. If you
know the joy of sins forgiven, if you know the change that comes from trusting Jesus as your
Savior then you know that God is real.
I love the story I heard about this fellow who had been a notorious drunk. One day he sobbered
up enough to go to church with his family. He heard the gospel and experienced the conviction of
the Holy Spirit. At the close of the service, he went to the altar and the pastor showed him from
the Bible how to be saved. He prayed and was saved. Of course he immediately lost his desire
for booze, and he lost the desire to run with the guys he drank with. Several weeks later, he ran
into one of his old drinking buddies. His old so called "friend" told him that he had heard that he
had got religion and that he had quit drinking. The new christian affirmed that. His friend then
asked him, How do you know God is real?
The man wisely replied, "I know God is real because he has turned beer and whiskey into clothes
and furniture for my family."
Listen let’s also be reminded that God is real by...
2. What He Is Doing In The Present
Our God is actively invovled in our lives. He speaks to us. He watches over us. He hears us.
Our Lord is alive. Our God is real. Let’s act like it.
So this command means first that we must.. Affirm the Reality of God.
But then notice also that this commandment means that we must...
2. ABANDON THE RIVALS OF GOD
In verse 3 God says, "Thou shalt have no other gods before me."
Let’s be careful to understand, that these words do not teach the true existence of other "gods".
When God declared, " I am the LORD thy God.. (v.2) he was saying, I am the one true, eternal,
God who created this world and man.
These "gods" that the Lord refers to are the invention of man. These were false gods.
The warning to Israel was not to follow any of these false gods of the pagan nations.
God’s statement issues a mandate for us as well.
We break this command whenever we give anyone or anything more devotion or more authority
in our lives than we do the Lord Jesus Christ.
Someone said it right when they said, If Jesus isn’t Lord of all than He is not Lord at all.
Let’s make it clear... the Bible demands that we give Jesus the preeminent place in our hearts and
lives.
We must guard against putting other things before HIm. We must watch that we do not invent
"gods" of our own hands.
The bottom line is simply this, "Who or what has first place in your life?"
When we examine closely our priorites, our plans, how we use our time, how we spend our
money, we get a clearer picture of whom or what is truly the LORD of our lifes.
Mark it down, there are many things that rival that position of preeminence. Things like pleasure,
possessions, power, and even people.
Friend let me also say that the Bible not only demands that Jesus be given such place in our lifes,
but the scriptures indicate that He deserves such a place.
Why? Because of who He is and what He has done!
Christian.. we must affirm the reality of God and abandon any rivals of God.
Today in the house of your heart, there is a throne room. That room is the contol center of your
life. From that place your life is ruled and managed.
In that room is a throne. That which is most precious and important reigns on that throne.
For many, self interest, sits in power on that throne.
Most spend their earthly existence trying to do everything they can to satisfy their own pleasures,
desires, and goals.
Such a pursuit brings momentary fulfillment, but no lasting happiness.
Perhaps that is you today. Dethrone yourself, enthrone Jesus. Let Him be your Lord today!
