Deuteronomy 12:29 – 32 “When the LORD your God cuts off before you the nations you are entering to dispossess, and you drive them out and live in their land, be careful not to be ensnared by their ways after they have been destroyed before you. Do not inquire about their gods, asking, “How do these nations serve their gods? I will do likewise.”
You must not worship the LORD your God in this way, because they practice for their gods every abomination which the LORD hates. They even burn their sons and daughters in the fire as sacrifices to their gods.
See that you do everything I command you; do not add to it or subtract from it.”
Revelation 22:17 – 20 “The Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” Let the one who hears say, “Come!” And let the one who is thirsty come, and the one who desires the water of life drink freely. I testify to everyone who hears the words of prophecy in this book: If anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book. And if anyone takes away from the words of this book of prophecy, God will take away his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book.
He who testifies to these things says, “Yes, I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus! (John the Apostle, describing the visions God gave him on the island of Patmos.)
Reading through Deuteronomy, you realize that God doesn’t think much of the Israelites’ abilities to remember or follow orders. Once more, God is promising to cut off the nations now inhabiting the Promised Land, but God is also warning the Israelites against taking up the pagan religions these people practice. God is very specific: “You must not worship the LORD your God in this way, because they practice for their gods every abomination which the LORD hates. They even burn their sons and daughters in the fire as sacrifices to their gods.” Does God love those people currently inhabiting Canaan? Yes. But unfortunately, those people have steadfastly turned away from the One True Living God to worship demons, even going so far as to make burnt offerings of their own children. The shedding of innocent blood brings curses on a land, and these people have brought curses on themselves.
God is also concerned that the Israelites not twist or pervert His Word. God has given specific instructions and expects them to be followed. God is not interested in someone changing wording to make the commandments more palatable or reducing the requirements for sacrifices.
In the last book of the Bible, the Book of Revelations, God continues to warn us about the need to respect His word. Those who refuse to respect the Word of God and who insist on changing it to suit themselves will eventually suffer eternal torment.
APPLICATION: Anyone buying a new piece of equipment is careful to read the manufacturer’s instructions. Failure to follow the steps outlined in the instruction manual might lead to a disaster or even destroy a valuable purchase before it gets used.
it is amazing but true that the same people who will carefully follow instructions for a new computer or a flat screen television feel no need to pay attention to God’s Word. There are those who present a cafeteria – style Gospel; they pick out the parts they like and ignore everything else. There are others who refuse to believe that God can do miracles, so they find all kinds of strange explanations for events such as the crossing of the Red Sea, the provision of manna, etc. Why do people do these things?
The fundamental problem with people who try to change God’s Word is this: they neither know God nor respect Him, and they have an exalted idea of their own importance and intellect. There is a story circulating in which a scientist comes to God and tells God that he can now make a living man from dirt. God says, “Fine. But create your own dirt.”
When Satan fell from heaven, taking one third of the angels with him, he fell because he thought that he was more powerful than the God who had created him. Men still make that same mistake. But our lives are very fragile, and at any moment we can suffer strokes, heart attacks, or other illnesses. If the COVID – 19 pandemic has taught us nothing else, it should have taught us that nobody is immune. Even young healthy people who run marathons and work out in gyms have died from this virus.
The Bible contains our Manufacturer’s Instructions. Doesn’t it make sense for us to follow them completely?
PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and for caring for us. Help us to treasure Your Word, to study it, and to memorize it so that we will follow Your Will for our lives. In the matchless Name of King Jesus. Amen.
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