Based on Mark 6:14-28 (New King James Version)
“Now King Herod heard of Him, for His name had become well known. And he said, ‘John the Baptist is risen from the dead, and there-fore these powers are at work in him.’ Others said, ‘It is Elijah.’ And others said, ‘It is the Prophet, or like one of the prophets.’ But when Herod heard, he said, ‘This is John, whom I beheaded; he has been raised from the dead!’ For Herod himself had sent and laid hold of John, and bound him in prison for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife; for he had married her. Because John had said to Herod, ‘It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.’ Therefore Herodias held it against him and wanted to kill him, but she could not; for Herod feared John, knowing that he was a just and holy man, and he protected him. And when he heard him, he did many things, and heard him gladly. Then an opportune day came when Herod on his birthday gave a feast for his nobles, the high officers, and the chief men of Galilee. And when Herodias’ daughter herself came in and danced, and pleased Herod and those who sat with him, the king said to the girl, ‘Ask me whatever you want, and I will give it to you.’ He also swore to her, ‘Whatever you ask me, I will give you, up to half my kingdom.’ So she went out and said to her mother, ‘What shall I ask?’ And she said, ‘The head of John the Baptist!’ Immediately she came in with haste to the king and asked, saying, ‘I want you to give me at once the head of John the Baptist on a platter.’ And the king was exceedingly sorry; yet, because of the oaths and because of those who sat with him, he did not want to refuse her. Immediately the king sent an executioner and commanded his head to be brought. And he went and beheaded him in prison, brought his head on a platter, and gave it to the girl; and the girl gave it to her mother.”
When a person does not have God in first place in their life, they commit great and fatal errors. And unfortunately, this is a very common problem. The issue that God needs to be first is not about fulfilling God’s whim. If we understand how things were really made, and how they work in the universe, we can then understand that it is not a whim or something like that. The issue is that everything was created and made a certain way, and everything works as it is established. That is why Truth is not relative or dependent on the perspective of a person. The universe is much larger than we are, and the universe does not adjust to our way of thinking. And of course, the argument that I will always make (with God’s grace) as long as I live is that the only One that knows how things work, and Who we need to pay attention to is God and His instruction can only be found within the Holy Bible, the Word of God. And that is why He needs to be first, if we truly desire what is best here, but more importantly, what is best for eternity. And a sane and logical person understands that. So, it is not even something that has to do with feelings, although we have an overabundance of reasons if we understand God’s love and what He has done for us.
So then, God’s counsel, what is written, explains to us what needs to happen so things can work for our good in our lives. The Bible teaches us this: “You shall have no other gods before Me. You shall not make for yourself a carved image—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. For I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me, but showing mercy to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My commandments.” Exodus 20:3-6. The commandment was given for our wellbeing, so that we can avoid the disasters that come as a result of disobedience. And of course, God explains it with reasons that have to do with love and consequences because He is the Heavenly Father and God Almighty. God has to use the concept of a commandment so that it can be understood that it is something urgent, essential, and critical; that it is not something that should be taken lightly, because again, doing the opposite would be disastrous; not for God though, but rather, for man. So, we cannot put anything neither as a priority before God, nor anything else around us that can disturb our direct relationship with Him.
Now then, what else can we understand of why it is so critical to have God in first place? The issue is that as much as God exists, Satan exists as well, and Satan will not rest in his effort to deviate us. If we don’t understand that, then we will fail miserably, and we will not even notice when we are completely off the Lord’s path, and on our way to death. The Bible tells us this: “Now the serpent was more cunning than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said to the woman, ‘Has God indeed said, ‘You shall not eat of every tree of the garden’?’ And the woman said to the serpent, ‘We may eat the fruit of the trees of the garden; but of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God has said, ‘You shall not eat it, nor shall you touch it, lest you die.’’ Then the serpent said to the woman, ‘You will not surely die. For God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.’” Genesis 3:1-5. Satan continually tries to deviate us, at every moment, and through different things, through very subtle things, things that may even seem good. That’s why we need to be very careful. If Adam and Eve would have had God in first place, they would not have paid attention to Satan, and we would not be in the situation we are in today. But, let’s not be too harsh on them, because all of us would have done just as bad or worse. That’s why we are having this discussion.
What is the prime concern we should have? If we do not have God in first place in our life, then we will be obeying sin and Satan himself, and this is happening way too often. This is what we see in the Word: “From that time Jesus began to show to His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised the third day. Then Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him, saying, ‘Far be it from You, Lord; this shall not happen to You!’ But He turned and said to Peter, ‘Get behind Me, Satan! You are an offense to Me, for you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men.’” Matthew 16:21-23. When we don’t put God in first place, we will accomplish Satan’s will. That’s the grave danger, and that is why it is so disastrous, because Satan will never ever take you to do something that is good for you. There is no room for grays because there is no in between. And that is why God also counsels us in the following manner: “Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever? And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said: “I will dwell in them and walk among them. I will be their God, and they shall be My people.” 2 Corinthians 6:14-16. Herod got involved with someone evil (Herodias). So, we need to surround ourselves with people that help us to keep the Lord first.
So then, do you understand that it is imperative to put the Lord in first place, for your own good? Lord bless! John