A Love Greater Than Dominoes

In the Book of Exodus we read that God gave the ten commandments to the children of Israel. Most people are familiar with the ten commandments whether they were raised in church or not. We have laws in place that still uphold many of these commandments, such as laws against murder, thievery, false witness and adultery. In short form the commandments found in Exodus 20 are:

1. You shall have no other Gods before Me.
2. You shall not make for yourself a carved image.
3. You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain.
4. Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.
5. Honor your father and mother.
6. You shall not murder.
7. You shall not commit adultery.
8. You shall not steal.
9. You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.
10. You shall not covet.

For the past few years I have referred to the tenth commandment as the domino sin. I think it has the potential to cause the most damage in our lives and in the lives of others. I call it the domino sin because when we begin to covet without restraint it can lead to us breaking many other commandments as a result.

For example, if a person were to covet another man's car, and that desire were left unchecked, it may lead to him lying or stealing in an effort to get what he wants. If the desire is great enough a person may even commit murder to attain what they covet. That is what happened to King David when he looked upon Bathsheba bathing.

David allowed his desire for Bathsheba to lead to adultery, deception, plotting and murder. Like dominoes falling, one after another, the sin of coveting caused him to commit many other sins. He placed his lust in a position greater than God and, thus, his lust became his god. It could be said that his actions were not honorable and would have shamed his parents. He slept with Bathsheba while she was married, set Uriah, her husband, up to die in battle and then took Bathsheba as his wife. David nearly took out every commandment when his coveting took control.

When David was called to account for his actions by the prophet, Nathan, he repented. The Lord spared his life but his sin cost him the life of his son. Sin always comes with a price. What we do in seemingly secured secrecy will eventually be found out and drug into the light.

While we are not ruled by the rituals and the letter of the law we are still accountable for the choices we make. The law of God is written on our hearts.  (Hebrews 8:10)

When Jesus was asked which was the greatest commandment He gave this answer, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets." (Matthew 22:36-40)

In John 13:34-35 Jesus told his disciples, "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another."

Romans 13:8-10 sums it up nicely, "Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law.  For the commandments, “You shall not commit adultery,” “You shall not murder,” “You shall not steal,” “You shall not bear false witness” , “You shall not covet,” and if there is any other commandment, are all summed up in this saying, namely, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law."

Love the Lord. Love your neighbor. That sounds simple enough, yet people are struggling every day. Christians are struggling every day.

John 3:16 is a familiar verse. In fact, it is almost too familiar. "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life."

For God so loved. Do you know that love? If you do not know that love, then it is going to be especially hard to love God, much less your neighbor.

We read in 1 John 4:7-11
^"Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. He who does not love does not know God, for God is love. In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another."

Verse 19 is an important key. It reads, "We love Him because He first loved us."

God gives us everything we need to succeed in this world. He even loved us first and most so that we may have a supernatural supply of love to love Him in return. When we make full contact with His love how can we not love Him? How can we not love our neighbors?

The domino sin may have the greatest potential for harm, but God's love has the greatest potential for good. God's love produces life, sets captives free, heals wounds and restores wholeness where there was once brokenness. God's love provides salvation and restoration.

No matter how your life has been laid down by the domino sin or any sin it can be restored. God loves you. He wants you to know Him and his love. God's love and redemption will never be more fully explained than that moment when a person makes a choice, takes a chance and finally yields to the greatest love that will ever pursue them. The greatest minds will never know God through logic or finite reasoning. God is infinite. He cannot be measured.

Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth and the life. No man comes to the Father except through Me." (John 14:6)

It is my hope that you will consider Jesus and be transformed by the love God offers so freely through Him. Put away your dominoes and embrace a love that is greater.

~Many blessings to you all~