The Most Important Commandments (Part 1): The Lord is One

The Most Important Commandments (Part 1): The Lord is One

“One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating.  Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him, “Of all the commandments, which is the most important?”

“The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.  Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’  The second is this: ‘Love your neighbour as yourself.’  There is no commandment greater than these.”” (Mark 12:28-31)

 

Many people believe there is more than one God, so they worship whoever they want.  In ancient times, people even made a statue of someone or something, and they worshipped it.  Nowadays, some people claim to be God in the flesh, so they encourage others to worship them, telling them there would be no more sickness, suffering and death if they worship whoever claims to be God.  Nonetheless, human idol is also known as god.  Human idol is something that centres someone wholly like money or fame, or something that people find addicting like addictive games.  There is also “god” level in some games, which can be reached if people are expert at them that they rarely lose.  I believe “god” level comes from the fact that God is omniscient, who is the most powerful and can do anything.

However, the truth about God is that there is only one God.  God is the Creator of everything and everyone, and heavenly Father to those who are willing to accept Jesus Christ as their Lord and Saviour (Genesis 1:1-31; 2:1-24; John 1:1-51).  God is also the very jealous God, who wants our love and loyalty in entire devotion, because He has created everyone to be in His image and does not want anyone to perish at the end of our physical lives (Exodus 20:3-11).  Instead, God desires us to have and taste eternal life through faith in Christ on earth, so that when Jesus returns to the earth again, we can head to the Kingdom of Heaven with Him in our spiritual bodies (John 3:16-18; Philippians 3:7-21; 2 Peter 3:8-14). 

We can taste the eternal life by having an intimate relationship with Jesus Christ by knowing Him and God continually after accepting Him as our Lord and saviour (John 17:3).  Through knowing Jesus, God reveals Himself to us and we can know Him too with the guidance of the Holy Spirit, as Jesus represents God in the flesh, and is mediator between humanity and God (Colossians 1:15; Hebrews 1:3). To put this simply, God and Jesus are so united that they are considered as One.  As God’s presence dwelled in temples, and people had to carry these everywhere to be with Him in ancient times (c.f. Exodus 40:34-38).  However, due to Christ’s sacrifice and resurrection, humans have become God’s living temple (1 Corinthians 3:16-17; Ephesians 2:19-22).  God’s presence has become accessible and available to everyone anytime and anywhere. 

Meditate on Exodus 20:3-7 and ponder this question: “Have I placed something over God, and how do I place God over it?”