Have you ever looked at the ingredients on some of the food you eat? If you’re like me, you can’t pronounce most of them let alone know what they are. When you taste something with artificial ingredients, it doesn’t taste the same as the real stuff. The same goes when we start to add things to God’s Word that weren’t there originally. It feels fake. We are drawn those products that say “All Natural no artificial ingredients needed.”
Deuteronomy 4:2, 24
You must not add anything to what I command you or take anything away from it, so that you may keep the commands of the Lord your God I am giving you….“For the Lord your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God.
The Subtle Trap
False teaching permeates the church. It’s subtle, but some of what Christians say just isn’t supported by Scripture. Take for instance, “God helps those who help themselves.” Sounds Biblical and right on but it’s not found anywhere in the Bible. In fact, God helps those who can’t help themselves. No one can save themselves only Jesus can.
No Artificial Ingredients Needed
We are to take God’s word for what it is. We cannot edit it or add to it. We can’t remove a verse that we disagree with or embellish a verse that we cherish. God’s word is perfect as it is. Either we accept the whole Bible, or we reject it all. Some churches like to add traditions and regulations on top of God’s word. God tells Moses not to add anything to His Word so that people can obey him. If we change it at all, we run the risk of sinning against God.
Consuming Fire
God also told Moses that he is a consuming fire, a jealous God. Moses is making a point that if God didn’t spare him when he sinned, he wouldn’t spare them if they turned to other idols. God is jealous for us. He doesn’t want to compete with idols. He will take action to remove them from our lives so that our communion can be pure.