Rules supply the framework of the world we live in. We have an interesting thought about who the rules apply to though. Many think the rules are something for us to take into consideration.  I am pretty confident the Ten Commandments weren’t intended to be the ten suggestions. Greetings in the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

There is said to be a golden rule; the man with the gold rules. It is very true in racing, the one with the deepest pockets has the ability to search and find the latest and greatest technology that pushes the envelope of the rules looking for an advantage. That is the nature of the beast, winning! When they find an advantage the rules are revisited and usually adjusted to level the playing field. And the chase is on.

Sometimes the real race is finding the advantage and holding it for as long as you can before others catch on. Take a walk through the garage area and you’ll see cars that have covers on certain parts. Did the team find something and they don’t want you to see it? Maybe they didn’t but they want you to think they did. Ever notice when something is hidden you want it even more.

In the beginning God created the Garden of Eden, a wonderful place for Him and his creation, us, to spend time together and live. He only had one rule; don’t eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Just one tree in all of paradise. You have everything you need in abundance but there was that tree. God does not constrain us from making decisions on our own and as it is recorded Adam and Eve were tempted and succumbed to the temptation of eating from that tree. And the rest is history!

I think it is like that sign; Wet Paint; you just have to go over and touch it. Racers know all too well, when they are told something is off limits they are drawn to wonder why. But they don’t stop there, racers wonder if it really means what it says. Furthermore, how close can we get without crossing the line? I’m pretty sure Adam and Eve were like racers, that tree had no chance. Let’s just see what all this forbidden fruit is all about. That’s the deal, they make rules we find a way around them.

Well, when it comes to these ten rules I am pretty sure of what the consequences are for disobedience; disqualification! Thank God for Jesus and forgiveness. But these rules have more to them than just obedience, they come with the promise of blessing, God’s blessing. I haven’t met too many people who do not want God’s blessing. There is a catch, God’s blessing comes when we live a life that honors God. That is to say we live within the framework of His rules. Don’t misunderstand, there is forgiveness for our disobedience, but forgiveness doesn’t remove the consequences our disobedience created. Our decisions affect others and not necessarily in a good way. We are reminded;

1Corinthians 10:23-24; NLT; You say, “I am allowed to do anything” —but not everything is good for you. You say, “I am allowed to do anything”—but not everything is beneficial. Don’t be concerned for your own good but for the good of others.

We need to be conscious of how our actions influence others. I’ve heard it said, “Do as I say, not as I do” but that isn’t an effective way to show people the right way to live. So much so that we even have a living example in the life of Christ on how to live in a way that honors God. The Ten Commandments provide the foundation on which to build a life that recognizes God and honors Him.

Let’s dig in, here’s the simple list and I’ll expand on each one when we get there.

The 10 Commandments:

  1. You shall have no other gods before Me.
  2. You shall not make idols.
  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 your 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.

Let’s take a look at the top of the list.

Exodus 20:1-2; NLT; “I am the Lord your God, who rescued you from the land of Egypt, the place of your slavery.

“You must not have any other god but me.

Deuteronomy 5:2-6; NLT; “The Lord our God made a covenant with us at Mount Sinai. The Lord did not make this covenant with our ancestors, but with all of us who are alive today. At the mountain the Lord spoke to you face to face from the heart of the fire. I stood as an intermediary between you and the Lord, for you were afraid of the fire and did not want to approach the mountain. He spoke to me, and I passed his words on to you. This is what he said:

“I am the Lord your God, who rescued you from the land of Egypt, the place of your slavery.

“You must not have any other god but me.

This one sets up all the rest, There is one God, the God of creation revealed in the Holy Scripture. Without this belief and understanding nothing in the world He created will make sense. There has to be a creator, unlike what some believe we didn’t get here by accident, or by some man-devised thought process of evolution. How can we be sure of this?

Go into your shop, grab a bolt, a nut and a washer, any one. Put them in a bag and shake them until the washer goes on the bolt and the nut threads itself. How long will it take? If they are not a matched set, never, but if you think about putting in a matched set you prove my point, you are choosing what goes in the bag, you become god of the bag, you are the creator. Are you starting to see the point? Nothing comes together without an outside force making some creation decisions.

“I am the Lord your God…you must have no other god but me.”

Rules to live by, I am looking forward to exploring them further. Until next time, remember God loves you and Jesus is Lord over Auto Racing! God Bless. Remember, that your prayerful support helps us continue this ministry. Thank You.