Exodus 20:3-6

You shall have no other gods before Me. You shall not make for yourself a carved image—any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth; you shall not bow down to them nor serve them. For I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me, but showing mercy to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My commandments.
Exodus 20:3-6

Imagine our highways without traffic laws. There would be utter chaos, more road rage, more accidents, and, as a result, more deaths. Many of the traffic laws we abide by, serve the good of the people driving them because it creates a safer, consistent, and more enjoyable drive that keeps you alive. That’s what the 10 Commandments accomplish. If everyone were to abide by the 10 Commandments, everyone would be safe from each other, property would be protected, and life would be enjoyable.

That means there are certain laws that actually protect our freedom versus take from it. That’s exactly what the 10 Commandments do, they provide freedom and liberation by protecting both our souls and our humanity. So when God says, you shall have no other gods before Me and to not make for yourself a carved image, that means this will enhance your life and protect your soul.

The reason this is true is because, if you were to worship other gods you would be putting yourself into bondage to something that 1) can’t save you and 2) can’t satisfy the longings of your heart. You were created for God and by God and to entangle your affections for other, lesser things would be robbing yourself of a joy and peace that can only be found in YAHWEH.

How awesome is it that God created laws that both bring Him glory and liberate us to live a more joy-filled life.

Pastor Jason Witt