9. You Shall Not Lie. Can anyone say that they have never lied? Everyone has done it. But that doesn’t make it less serious. When we lie, we contradict the very character of God, who is Truth (Jn. 14:6). We are all liars as far as God is concerned.
10. You Shall Not Covet. This means that you should not jealously desire something that does not belong to you. This is a strong motivator in our materialistic culture. Are you motivated by greed? Are you more concerned for material things than the things of God?
Can you see, as you examine yourself by the Law of God, that we are all guilty? Let’s look at what the Bible says will happen to those who break His laws. Revelation 21:8 says, “All liars will have their part in the lake of fire (hell).” 1 Corinthians 6:9-10 tells us that no thief or adulterer will enter heaven. This text also says that idolaters and murderers will not enter heaven. The Bible also tells us that God ‘will not hold him guiltless who takes His name in vain.’
Galatians 3:10 says that all who do not obey the Law are cursed! Friend, by these standards, you are in big trouble. Judgment day is soon coming (Heb. 9:27)! He’s coming to judge the world by His standard of righteousness (Acts 17:30-31), not ours. That’s the bad news.
The good news is that Jesus lived a perfect, sinless life (Heb. 4:15). He is God in the flesh (Jn. 1:1). The Bible says that He literally “became sin for us” that we might become “the righteousness of God in Him” (2 Cor. 5:21). You cannot stand before God in your own righteousness. That kind of righteousness is repulsive to God (Is. 64:6)! He offers those who will come to Him His own righteousness so that you will be clothed in it on the day of judgment, and not in your own. An exchange must take place; you must somehow lose your sins and gain His righteousness. Romans 5:8-9 tells us that “God demonstrated His love for us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then being justified by His blood we shall be saved from wrath through Him.” He paid your ‘court fine’ so that you could go free. This is wonderful news.
So, how do you receive this new life? Acts 17:31 says, “God commands all men to repent (turn from all you know to be sin) because He has appointed a day in which He will judge the world in righteousness.” Friend, that day is closer than you think! You need to not only repent, but also to place your faith and trust in Jesus to save you.
Faith is not believing in a creed or believing in things that aren’t real, like Santa Claus or the tooth fairy. Biblical, saving faith is trusting in Someone who is trustworthy. Jesus is trustworthy. Abandon yourself to Him for He is the only One who can save you. All other ground is sinking sand.
If you want to get right with God, go to Him in your own words and cry out to Him for mercy. Tell Him what you have done against Him, how you have broken His Law. Turn from those sins and abandon yourself to what Christ has done for you. Commit to following Him as Lord, or Master of your life. If you need help praying to trust Christ, we suggest using Psalm 51 as a guideline. Open your Bible there and pray it to God.