Written by: John Sernaque
Dear Reader,
I was listening to a radio show whereby the guest speaker was discussing a book he wrote titled “The 10 Laws of Trust.” I immediately thought about how ironic this was. Thousands of years ago God gave to us, written with His own finger on two tables of stone, the Ten Commandments.
And he gave unto Moses, when he had made an end of communing with him upon mount Sinai, two tables of testimony, tables of stone, written with the finger of God. Exodus 31:18
How far has the world come where they forget that it is God they are to place their trust in and not man. If mankind were to abide by these Ten Commandments, there would be no other book necessary regarding what trust is and how to go about achieving it. Unfortunately, higher criticism has taken over the world where man trusts in his “higher intellect, his own reasoning” rather than in the Word of God.
Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil. Proverbs 3:7
The fear of the LORD [is] to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate. Proverbs 8:13
These Ten Commandments are stored inside the Ark of the Covenant, in the Most Holy Place of the Heavenly Sanctuary. They are eternal.
And I will establish my covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee. Genesis 17:7
In these Ten Commandments are the Laws that govern our relationship with God and with each other. The first table of stone, the first four commandments, state the laws that we are to follow to establish our relationship between ourselves and God. On the second table of stone are written the next Six Commandments, establishing the laws between ourselves and our brothers and sisters. They are clearly written and easy to remember. They are part of the Old Testament (First Covenant) and New Testament (Second Covenant). His Ten Commandments were established for eternity. However, the Jews tried to keep these Commandments in their own strength and failed miserably. Therefore, a Second Covenant was needed whereby a Savior was given to us for the redemption of our sins. That Savior is of course Christ Jesus.
And it came to pass, when Moses came down from mount Sinai with the two tables of testimony in Moses' hand, when he came down from the mount, that Moses wist not that the skin of his face shone while he talked with him.
And when Aaron and all the children of Israel saw Moses, behold, the skin of his face shone; and they were afraid to come nigh him.
And Moses called unto them; and Aaron and all the rulers of the congregation returned unto him: and Moses talked with them.
And afterward all the children of Israel came nigh: and he gave them in commandment all that the LORD had spoken with him in mount Sinai.
And [till] Moses had done speaking with them, he put a veil on his face. Exodus 34:29-33
Moses Saw the Day of Christ—In the mount, when the law was given to Moses, the Coming One was shown to him also. He saw Christ’s work, and His mission to earth, when the Son of God should take upon Himself humanity, and become a teacher and a guide to the world, and at last give Himself a ransom for their sins. When the perfect Offering should be made for the sins of men, the sacrificial offerings typifying the work of the Messiah were to cease. With the advent of Christ, the veil of uncertainty was to be lifted, and a flood of light shed upon the darkened understanding of His people.
As Moses saw the day of Christ, and the new and living way of salvation that was to be opened through His blood, he was captivated and entranced. The praise of God was in his heart, and the divine glory that attended the giving of the law was so strikingly revealed in his countenance when he came down from the mount to walk with Israel, that the brightness was painful. Because of their transgressions, the people were unable to look upon his face, and he wore a veil that he might not terrify them....
Had the Israelites discerned the gospel light that was opened to Moses, had they been able by faith to look steadfastly to the end of that which was abolished, they could have endured the light which was reflected from the countenance of Moses. “But their minds were blinded; for until this day remaineth the same veil untaken away in the reading of the Old Testament; which veil is done away in Christ.” The Jews as a people did not discern that the Messiah whom they rejected, was the Angel who guided their fathers in their travels in the wilderness. To this day the veil is upon their hearts, and its darkness hides from them the good news of salvation through the merits of a crucified Redeemer (The Signs of the Times, August 25, 1887). {1BC 1110}
There are erroneous teachings out there that are taught by ministers in the pulpit that the Ten Commandments were abolished at the cross. The Bible teaches that it was the ceremonial laws, the sacrificial offerings typifying the work of the Messiah that were to cease. It was these laws that were done away with and not the law of the Ten Commandments. Jesus came not to abolish the Law but to Establish the Law.
Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. Matthew 5:17
Precepts Given to Guard Decalogue—In consequence of continual transgression, the moral law was repeated in awful grandeur from Sinai. Christ gave to Moses religious precepts which were to govern everyday life. These statutes were explicitly given to guard the ten commandments. They were not shadowy types to pass away with the death of Christ. They were to be binding upon men in every age as long as time should last. These commands were enforced by the power of the moral law, and they clearly and definitely explained that law (The Signs of the Times, April 15, 1875 [Reprinted in The Review and Herald, May 6, 1875]). {1BC 1104.6}
[Is he] the God of the Jews only? [is he] not also of the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles also: Seeing [it is] one God, which shall justify the circumcision by faith, and uncircumcision through faith. Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law. Romans 3:29-31
Above when he said, Sacrifice and offering and burnt offerings and [offering] for sin thou wouldest not, neither hadst pleasure [therein]; which are offered by the law;
Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second.
By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once [for all]. Hebrews 10:8-10
If ye love me, keep my commandments. John 14:15
Ten Commandments—Ten Promises—The ten commandments, Thou shalt, and Thou shalt not, are ten promises, assured to us if we render obedience to the law governing the universe. “If ye love me, keep my commandments.” Here is the sum and substance of the law of God. The terms of salvation for every son and daughter of Adam are here outlined (Manuscript 41, 1896). {1BC 1105.1}
The ten holy precepts spoken by Christ upon Sinai’s mount were the revelation of the character of God, and made known to the world the fact that He had jurisdiction over the whole human heritage. That law of ten precepts of the greatest love that can be presented to man is the voice of God from heaven speaking to the soul in promise, “This do, and you will not come under the dominion and control of Satan.” There is not a negative in that law, although it may appear thus. It is DO, and Live (Letter 89, 1898). { 1BC 1105.2 }
There are literally millions of laws that have been written by man. Many of these laws are different depending on where you live. You may or may not be breaking a law if you live in different towns, counties, cities, states, or countries. But if you obey God’s Ten Commandments, you need not worry about knowing what the different laws are in different jurisdictions because most of man’s civil laws are applicable and can be broken down to at least one of God’s Ten Commandments. The world we live in would be much simpler if everyone were obedient, kept the commandments of God and put all their trust, not in man, but in God. Though we live in this world, we are not to be of this world. Give up the sins of this world, do not conform and follow the crowd blindly. The masses are always wrong. Broad is the way to destruction and narrow is the path to salvation. Do not continue in your sinful ways. Repent ye. True repentance means that you are turning away from your sin, to sin no more. If you knowingly sin, you are presuming on God’s grace, which is a sin in itself. There comes a point where you will commit the unpardonable sin of grieving the Holy Spirit. So, repent now before even your “little” sins become trivial to you and you move on to “bigger” sins. Sin is sin and must be called by its rightful name. Do not get trapped in Satan’s snare and believe that you will not surely die. The Bible says that you Will surely die.
Thou shalt not follow a multitude to [do] evil; neither shalt thou speak in a cause to decline after many to wrest [judgment]: Exodus 23:2
Hate the evil, and love the good, and establish judgment in the gate: it may be that the LORD God of hosts will be gracious unto the remnant of Joseph. Amos 5:15
Who will you put your trust in? Satan, the great deceiver; or God, the Father. To embrace the world as your friend; or to be in this world and not of this world. The choice is yours. I pray that you choose wisely. Amen.
