“Worship the Lord, Your God”
“The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the Soul;” Psalms 19:1
“God has seen fit in this manner to bring the minds of His people to His word, to give them a clearer understanding of it. The word of God is sufficient to enlighten the most beclouded mind and may be understood by those who have any desire to understand it. But notwithstanding all this, some who profess to make the word of God their study are found living in direct opposition to its plainest teachings. Then to leave men and women without excuse, God gives plain and pointed testimonies, bringing them back to the word that they have neglected to follow…” – 5T – 633.
Here, in the continent of Asia, especially in India, they have a custom among the people which is to bow down and respect the elders just like God. Once upon a time the people worshiped kings and officers during slavery; now the people worship the world’s political leaders. We can say this is fraud and an act of deception. But if we worship the Lord only with true faithfulness, we can receive everlasting benefits. We must remember this, always and in every moment in our lives. The Holy Bible says, “You shall not make for yourself any carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth; you shall not bow down to them nor serve them…” Exodus 20: 4, 5.
So, we know, if anyone worships or bows down to any carved image, or any likeness of anything or worship a dead person, it is called idol worship. The same way, there is no permission for human beings to worship any livestock, that is, animals, birds, trees or mankind. Why? This is a very dangerous sin.
Serve the Lord your God:
“Jesus was led up by the spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil…. the devil took Him upon an exceedingly high mountain, and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory, And he said to Him, ‘All these things I will give you if you will fall down and worship me.’
Then Jesus said to him, ‘Away with you, Satan! for it is written, you shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve.’” Matthew.4: 8–10. [ Deuteronomy 6:13; 10:20 ]. We must think of these words always. Because this warning is not only to Satan, but to all mankind. Idol worship is one of the greatest sins in the world. This kind of worship is spreading now everywhere to every corner of this world. Satan is deceiving the people through this kind of sin. Why? Satan knows very well, his time will close very soon. Our loving Saviour Jesus Christ is coming soon as the King of King and the Lord of Lords.
Faithful Accountant Worshiped Jesus:
“After the death of Moses, Joshua was to be the leader of Israel to conduct them to the Promised Land. He had been prime minister to Moses during the greater part of the time the Israelites had wandered in the wilderness. He had seen the wonderful works of God wrought by Moses, and well understood the disposition of the people. He was one of the twelve spies who were sent out to search the Promised Land, and one of the two who gave a faithful account of its richness and who encouraged the people to go up in the strength of God to possess it. He was well qualified for this important office. The Lord promised Joshua to be with him as He had been with Moses, and to make Canaan fall as easy conquest to Him, provided he would be faithful to observe all His commandments…
“The children of Israel had passed over Jordan and dry land. The passage of the Israelites over Jordan was to be miraculous. “As Joshua withdrew from the armies of Israel, to meditate and pray for God’s special presence to attend him, he saw a man of lofty stature, clad in warlike garments, with his sword drawn in his hand. Joshua did not recognize him as one of the armies of Israel, and yet he had no appearance of being an enemy. In his zeal he accosted him, and said, ‘Art thou for us, or for our adversaries? And He said, Nay; but as captain of the host of the Lord am I
now come. And Joshua fell on his face to the earth, and did worship, and said unto Him, What saith my Lord unto His servant?
And the Captain of the Lord’s host said unto Joshua, Loose thy shoe from off thy foot; for the place whereon thou standest is holy. And Joshua did so.’ This was no common angel. It was the Lord Jesus Christ, He who had conducted the Hebrews through the wilderness, enshrouded in the pillar of fire by night and the pillar of cloud by day. The place was made sacred by His presence.” – The story of Redemption. pp.175, 178.
“No stain rested upon the holy character of Joshua. He was a wise leader. His life was wholly devoted to God… Joshua was loved and respected by all Israel.” What wonderful advice he gave to the children of Israel. “Now therefore, fear the Lord, serve Him in sincerity and in truth,… And if it seems evil to you to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve,… But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” – The story of
Redemption, pp. pp,181, 182., Joshua. 24 : 14, 15.
Abraham – the friend of God!
“Then Abraham fell on his face, and God talked with him, saying:” Genesis 17:3, 17.
“Abraham, ‘the friend of God,’ set us a worthy example. His was a life of prayer. Wherever he pitched his tent, close beside it was set up his altar, calling all within his encampment to the morning and evening sacrifice. When his tent was removed, the alter remained. In following years, there were those among the roving Canaanites who received instruction from Abraham; and whenever one of these came to that altar, he knew who had been there before him; and when he had pitched his tent, he repaired the altar, and there worshiped the living God.” – PP, p.128.
“God conferred great honor upon Abraham. Angels of heaven walked and talked with him as friend with friend…” PP, p.138. “Of Abraham it is written that ‘he was called the friend of God,’ ‘the father of all them that believe.’ James 2:23; Romans 4:11. The testimony of God concerning this faithful patriarch is, ‘Abraham obeyed My voice, and kept My charge, My commandments, My statutes and My laws.’ And again, ‘I know him, that he will command his children and his house hold after him, and they shall keep the way of the Lord, to do justice and judgment; that the Lord may bring upon Abraham that which He hath spoken of him.’ It was a high honor to which Abraham was called, that of being the father of that people who for centuries were the guardians and preservers of the truth of God for the world—of that people through whom all the nations of the earth should be blessed in the advent of the promised Messiah.” – PP, pp. 140, 141.
So, what we are learning from the life of our ancestor, prophet Abraham?
“Abraham had honoured God, and the Lord honoured him taking him into His counsels, and revealing to him His purposes. ‘Shall I hide from Abraham that thing which I do?’ said the Lord…” PP, p.139. The above same words repeated again from another prophet, Samuel, “Therefore the Lord God of Israel says… for those who honour me I will honour, and those who despise me shall be lightly esteemed.” – I Samuel 2:30.
Shall We Worship the Angels?
Here in India, people are worshipping everything in nature. For example: the rain is called Varuna Bhagavan, Fire – Angi Bhagavan, Air – Vayu Bhagavan; in different names, they are worshipping trees, animals, birds, heaven and earth. (Bhagavan means God) So, they are thinking everything is God. But we know God created everything perfectly and beautifully in this world for the happiness of mankind. Livestock fears man, yet man surrenders in front of them and worships them. For example, the ram, ox, and chicken fear man, so he killed and ate these kinds of animals and birds. Man fears the tiger, lion, rain, snake, fire, thunder. Yet, he worshipped them anyway, though worship of nature is sin. The Bible says, “Who makes His angels spirits, His ministers a flame of fire.” – Psalm 104:4; Hebrews 1: 7.
So, we can understand the people in Asia worshipping angels also, especially the Hindu people. They worship water, earth, fire, air and heaven and many things included in the above five. For many years this has been the custom of the Asian people.
I am your fellow servant:
So, there is no permission in the Bible for worshipping the Angels. One of Jesus’ disciples, Apostle John, tried to worship the Angel. But the Angel said to him, “…see thou do it not! I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God!…” Rev. 19:10 Again Apostle John tried to worship the Angel, as written in Revelation 22:8, 9, “And I John saw these things, and heard them. And when I had heard and seen, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel which showed me these things. Then saith he unto me, ‘See thou do it not, for I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren the prophets, and of them which keep the sayings of this book: worship God.” So we can conclude that the worship of angels also sin.
We know that angels are our friends, they are always helping us, teaching us heavenly things. Sister E.G. White says to us, “We need never feel that we are alone. Angels are our companions,” – M.H.p.249, “Are they not all ministering spirits sent forth to minister for those who will inherit salvation?” – Hebrews 1:14.
I myself am also a man:
“And as Peter was coming in, Cornelius met him, and fell down at his feet and worshipped him. But Peter took him up, saying, ‘Stand up; I myself also am a man.’” – Acts 10:25, 26.
“As Peter entered the house of the Gentile, Cornelius did not salute him as an ordinary visitor, but as one honored of Heaven, and sent to him by God. It is as eastern custom to bow before a prince or other high dignitary, and for children to bow before their parents who are honored with positions of trust. But Cornelius, over whelmed with reverence for the apostle who had been delegated by God, fell at his feet and worshiped him.
“Peter shrank with horror from this act of the centurion, and lifted him to his feet, saying, ‘Stand up; I myself also am a man.’ He then commenced to converse with him familiarly, in order to remove the sense of awe and extreme reverence with which the centurion regarded him.
“Had Peter been invested with the authority and position accorded to him by the Roman catholic church, he would have encouraged, rather than have checked the veneration of Cornelius. The so called successors of Peter require kings and emperors to bow at their feet, but Peter himself claimed to be only an erring and fallible man.” – The story of redemption. p. 287.
So, we could also not worship mankind. According to the word of our Saviour Jesus Christ, “you shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve.” – Matthew 4:10.
“From every Christian home a holy light should shine forth. Love should be revealed in action. It should flow out in all home intercourse, showing itself in thoughtful kindness, in gentle, unselfish courtesy. There are homes where this principle is carried out – homes where God is worshiped and truest love reigns. From these homes morning and evening prayer ascends to God as sweet incense, and His mercies and blessing descend upon the suppliants like the morning dew.” – PP.p.144.
“…God shows no partiality. But in every nation whoever fears Him and works righteousness is accepted by Him.” – Acts, 10:34, 35. May God abundantly bless all those who are reading this article and who faithfully worship the Lord our God.
Amen.
S. Raj Israel, India
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