THE FIRST COMMANDMENT IS LOVING GOD ABOVE ALL, BECAUSE ONLY ONE CAN RULE YOUR HEART: THE WORLD OR GOD?
For God’s love to truly impact our lives, we must love Him and give Him first place in everything. This is not a suggestion—it is the first and greatest commandment. To honor God in this way, our focus must remain firmly on Him. We are called to see the world not through the lens of human ambition, but through the eyes of God.
If we give more importance to success, prosperity, wealth, popularity, or any other material pursuit, our hearts will drift away from God. The moment we prioritize worldly desires over our relationship with Him, we shift our focus—and our allegiance.
“Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them.” —1 John 2:15
You cannot serve both God and the world. You must choose. That is why God tested Abraham, to see whether his love for God surpassed everything else—even his deep love for his only son, Isaac, and his wife, Sarah. God asked Abraham to offer Isaac as a sacrifice—not because He desired human sacrifice, but to test Abraham’s heart. With a heart pierced by anguish, Abraham obeyed.
Yet God, seeing Abraham’s faith and obedience, stopped him and provided a ram instead. Abraham’s willingness to surrender everything impressed God, and in return, God showered him with spiritual blessings. This is the kind of devotion God expects from each of us. We must understand that even our children do not truly belong to us—they belong to God. We are only their caretakers.
Jesus echoed this profound truth:
“If anyone comes to Me and does not hate (love less) his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even his own life—he cannot be My disciple. And whoever does not carry his cross and follow Me cannot be My disciple.”—Luke 14:25–27
We must surrender self-glory and the lust for material things to become true disciples.
BECOMING BORN AGAIN: THE TRUE CHANGE
The change we need begins with the heart. We must seek God with all our heart and become born-again—a new creation. This is not a symbolic gesture; it is a spiritual transformation. To be born again, we must come to know the one true, living God.
There is only one God, one Name, one Truth, and one Gate through which humanity can enter God’s eternal kingdom—and that is through His Son, Jesus Christ.
THE FALL AND THE CURSE
When Adam and Eve disobeyed God by listening to Satan, they were expelled from Paradise. Not only were they cursed, but Satan (Lucifer), who had sinned against God, was also cast down from Heaven to Earth along with his fallen angels. Ever since, this world has been under the influence of Satan, a being far more powerful than humans.
This is why we see so much evil, injustice, deception, and spiritual corruption in our world today.
THE RESTRAINING POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
If the world still functions in spite of all this evil, it is only because of the restraining power of the Holy Spirit, whom Jesus promised to His followers. The Holy Spirit is currently protecting God's people and will continue to do so until the Rapture. When the Holy Spirit takes Christ’s followers away, the world will descend into chaos, tribulation, and destruction. Only then will people fully realize how much the Holy Spirit held back the powers of darkness.
THE PURPOSE OF LIFE: TO CHOOSE GOD
The true purpose of human life is to discern good from evil, God from Satan, and to exercise our God-given free will to choose God over Satan, Heaven over Hell, and eternal life over eternal damnation.
This responsibility falls not only on clergy but on every believer. Every Christian must become a watchman on the wall, warning others and leading them to salvation.
Ezekiel 33:6“But if the watchman sees the sword coming and does not blow the trumpet... his blood I will require from the watchman's hand.”
THE COST OF DISCIPLESHIP
Being a follower of Christ is not easy. It is the most difficult path in this world. Without the Holy Spirit, it is impossible to follow Christ. Jesus even said our faith is not even as large as a mustard seed!
Take Peter, for example. On the night of Jesus’ arrest, he boldly declared:
Luke 22:33–34“Lord, I am ready to go with You to prison and even to death.”But Jesus replied, “Peter, before the rooster crows today, you will deny three times that you even know Me.”
And that’s exactly what happened. In fear, Peter denied Jesus three times before the rooster crowed.
GOD’S UNIVERSAL LOVE & OUR RESPONSE
God’s love is universal and everlasting. But it is we, frail humans, who deny, disown, and reject Him. Knowing this, God sent His Son to become sin for our sake, so that through faith in Him, we could inherit eternal life.
Salvation is not based on our merit—it is based on the merit, love, sacrifice, and grace of Jesus Christ.
RELIGION VS. RELATIONSHIP
There’s a difference between being religious and being spiritual. Jesus did not come to establish a religion. He never instructed anyone to create or follow a religious system. He simply said, “Follow Me.”
Following religion means following man-made doctrines. Following Christ means walking in His commandments, being born again, and living through His Holy Spirit.
You become spiritual when you detach from this world and place your faith, trust, and hope in Christ and His finished work on the cross.
ARE YOU READY TO SURRENDER ALL FOR JESUS?
Are you willing to give up everything—this world, its pleasures, and even your own life—for the sake of Christ and eternal life?
The battle is between Jesus and Satan, but your role is critical. You must choose to reject Satan, even if it means persecution or death, and embrace Jesus as Lord and Savior.
This isn’t easy—it requires help from the Holy Spirit.
The Holy Spirit is your Comforter, Friend, Guide, and Helper in this journey to eternity in the physical absence of Christ.
RELIGIOUS DOGMA CANNOT SAVE YOU
Let go of religious mindsets. Jesus Himself was crucified by the religious establishment, not sinners. And today, religious bigots may try to force their doctrines on you—or even persecute you—just as they did to Jesus.
But remember Jesus’ words:
Matthew 10:28“Do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, fear Him who can destroy both soul and body in hell.”
John 16:33“These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In this world you will have tribulation. But take heart—I have overcome the world.”
Amen.
