“In this life, we can do only a few things really well; I think it’s a good idea to make certain that one of those things is what Jesus says is most important.” –Brian Mavis
I think we can all agree that’s true. In this life, we can only do a few things well. With that in mind, why wouldn’t one of those things be what Jesus says is most important? If you’re not a follower of Christ, then it doesn’t matter. But if you are a follower of Christ…
“Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” –Jesus Christ, Matthew 22:36-39
(From the book The Art of Neighboring, by Jay Pathak and Dave Runyon)
Image via Leland Francisco – Creative Commons
Indeed, the first five represent our relationship with our Creator; the last five represent our relationship with mankind, and the rest of the story is in Genesis.
And yet, thanks to Mr. & Mrs. Adam we fall short of the glory of God, (I hate when I sin!) but the good news is that one day we shall have glorified bodies again just like they did before they sinned, if we continue to love the Father and hold to the testimony of His Son as asked of us (the first 5 commandments), and to love people as ourselves (the last 5 commandments).
Rev 12:17 And the dragon was wroth with the woman and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.
The end (book of Revelation) clarifies the beginning (book of Genesis) when it says:
“And he (Joseph) dreamed yet another dream, and told it his brethren, and said, Behold, I have dreamed a dream more; and, behold, the sun and the moon and the eleven stars made obeisance to me. And he told it to his father, and to his brethren: and his father rebuked him, and said unto him, What is this dream that thou hast dreamed? Shall I and thy mother and thy brethren indeed come to bow down ourselves to thee to the earth?” Genesis 37:9,10
In Rev. 12:1 the woman (Israel) is described as a “great sign in heaven, a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head twelve stars (12 tribes).
Rev 12:17 And the dragon was angry against the woman (Israel): and went to make war with the rest of her seed, who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.