United Church of God

Letter From William Bradford - September 6, 2024

Letter From William Bradford

September 6, 2024

Title: Imagine if everyone one...Kept the 1st Commandment!

Imagine a world where everyone kept the first of the Ten Commandments. What a world that would be! A world where insecurity and pessimism about the future are replaced with hope and optimism. This is the future that we can look forward to, the future that Jesus Christ came to announce when he said the Government of God is coming!  

Do you believe in the good news of the coming Kingdom of God and take the preaching of Jesus Christ to Repent seriously? Few hold this belief, but it's a belief in a future where all the problems that mankind is experiencing have a solution. This solution lies in the very laws that will be upheld when Christ returns. Christ said that as long as we have heaven and the earth, not even the smallest detail of God's law will pass.

The laws of God's government, the Ten Commandments, were spoken by God and codified for us in Exodus chapter 20.

Let's imagine if everyone kept the 1st commandment where God said.

2 "I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage 3 "You shall have no other gods before Me. (Exodus 20:2-3, NKJV)

What would we see? First, we would have less confusion, as everyone would recognize that all that is seen in the furthest telescopes and the most powerful microscopes has been masterfully engineered and created by the most powerful God. The words of David would bring understanding to the origins of our universe when he wrote as we read from psalm 19

The heavens proclaim the glory of God.
    The skies display his craftsmanship.
2 Day after day they continue to speak;
    night after night they make him known.
3 They speak without a sound or word;
    their voice is never heard.
4 Yet their message has gone throughout the earth,
    and their words to all the world. (Psalm 19:1-4, NLT)
Observing the First Commandment would then open minds to respect a creator. This is the beginning of wisdom, which leads to good decision-making from a foundation of true knowledge.

Fear of the Lord is the foundation of true knowledge, (Prov 1:7a, NLT)

True knowledge based on respecting the wisdom and knowledge of the almighty Eternal God would put society on track to avoiding false teaching and deception.  It would bring society from darkness to light.  This brings us back to where God started his first commandment.   God brings those out from bondage, symbolized by Egypt, a land steeped in deception and superstitions, into the truth.

Ultimately, this commandment is not just a command but a prophecy that God will bring all out from the darkness and deception of this world into the glorious light of God's Ways that produce peace, joy, and prosperity.

Imagine a world without deception and lies.  We can imagine it now, but it will be reality in the world tomorrow, and the 1,000-year reign of Jesus Christ is prophesied in scripture.  Isaiah wrote of this time.

"Listen to me, my people.
    Hear me, Israel,
for my law will be proclaimed,
    and my justice will become a light to the nations.
5 My mercy and justice are coming soon.
    My salvation is on the way.
    My strong arm will bring justice to the nations. (Is 51:4-5, NLT)

What a vast difference we will see when all will keep the 1st commandment, and there shall be no other god before the one true God.  

We look forward to that time as we pray thy Kingdom Come.

Have a blessed Sabbath where we worship the true God who has created the furthest galaxy and the smallest subatomic particles.