“…Have no other gods before me… Do not make for yourself any idols… Do not misuse the name of the Lord your God… Remember the Sabbath and keep it holy… Honor your mother and father… Do not murder… Do not commit adultery… Do not steal… Do not give false testimony… Do not covet…” Exodus 20: 3-17

Here in, Europe, we use the common “color coded” system to indicate the conditions on the road. Condition “green” means “ideal conditions.”  The “Amber” warning means “hazardous conditions.” While “Red” means “only mission and emergency essential vehicles” can be on the road. Finally “Black” is the most dangerous and means that only emergency vehicles should be on the road.

Sometimes it seems as if there is some margin of subjectivity as to when these conditions change and what they indicate on a given day. The last two mornings the road conditions here have been “amber.”   However this week that appears to mean “Black ice will be prevalent. Your anti-lock brakes will go off consistently. But we hope you don’t have an accident or slip and break your rump as you skate to formation.”

God’s Warnings

While it may be perplexing sometimes to discern how conditions are determined to gauge our safety on the road, there is no confusion as to God’s warnings regarding unsafe routes. The verses above reflect the Ten Commandments that God gave to Moses. Many people think of the Commandments as restrictions from God to limit human freedom, but nothing could be further than the truth.

God gave these Ten Commands to tell us where the dangers are on the road of life. As a chaplain, I have never counseled a problem or witnessed a Soldier in a relational or disciplinary issue that did not relate to a violation of one of these commands. By violating the command, the person walked, and sometimes ran, unsafely down the path of life. Soon they found themselves in the town of Trouble in the province of Pain.

The commands don’t restrict freedom. Instead they ensure it by articulating the boundaries in which life can be safely lived and enjoyed. Living outside these boundaries will inevitably cause one to slip and fall. As you set out on the course of your life today, ensure your travel plans are within the safety zone articulated by God’s commands. They were given for your safety and to ensure your real fulfillment and enjoyment of this life!