It seems that the God of the Bible, upon whom our nation’s founding fathers based our founding documents, has been replaced by a different god. I didn’t say a new god, because it isn’t. He’s a god who destroyed many past civilizations, but apparently many believe that won’t happen to us.

The first commandment of the Ten Commandments states, “Thou shalt have no other gods before me.” Those who believe that they will enter paradise by their good deeds, by obeying the Ten Commandments, do not realize that God established them to show us that man is not fundamentally good, but evil in heart, and does not can’t even keep 10 simple commandments.

Maybe they can jump, in their minds, to a kinder, gentler Jesus, who had only two commandments, the first being, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul. , and with all your mind. .” The second: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself. Fail, fail.

Who is this god to whom our nation has surrendered? I know, you think I’m going to say Aphrodite, the goddess of sex, since society as a whole seems to be eaten away by sexuality, homosexuality, transgender, abortion (the by-product of sex), voyeurism and other things that I forgot or am fortunately not aware of.

They are all simply lustful desires of what the Bible calls our flesh. 1 John 2:15-17 tells us, “Love not the world or the things of the world. If someone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but of the world. And the world passes away, and its lust; but he who does the will of God abides forever.

I believe we have become our own gods. If we presage any semblance of religiosity or spirituality, we do so by obeying rules that the god we have created in our own minds would have us live by. This god does not require holiness, just kindness to those we love and who agree with us.

Galatians 5:19-26 tells us that those who practice the works of the flesh, and there is a complete list here, will not inherit the kingdom of God. Is it important to you? Or would you rather get what you can here and not worry about the future?

I don’t know where you are today, but I remember the day I admitted there was no lasting satisfaction from all my worldly pursuits and asked Jesus to forgive my sins and to give me a new life. I had tried to be a drag king (no, not that kind of drag racing). But he became my king and gave me a pass to enter his kingdom.

Today is the day. Invite him into your life and watch what happens.

Reverend Noel Reese is the pastor of Calvary Chapel Rio Vista. He can be reached at www.calvarychapelriovista.com.

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