I am the Lord your God … You shall have no other gods before me. Exodus 20:1

When we had a light fixture fitted above the counter in our kitchen it came with a set of instructions:

Important safety information: Turn off power supply at the fuse or circuit breaker box before you install fixture. This fixture is designed for use in a 120 volt fused circuit. If unsure about your wiring consult a qualified electrician.

1. Mount fixture to ceiling using fasteners appropriate for the ceiling construction involved. Do not attempt to hang the fixture only from the wiring box.
2. Pull circuit leads down through access opening and make wire nut connections. White to white and black to black. Secure ground wire to green ground screw.
3. Install wire way/ballast cover.
4. Install fluorescent bulbs carefully.
5. Carefully replace the light panel with a “tilt and shift” motion into the light box fixture.
6. Replace fuses and/or throw circuit breaker to “On” position and test fixture.
7. To reduce initial, excessive ballast hum, please leave fixture on for 48 hours.
8. Use warm water with a mild dish soap to clean panel.
9. If you need more instructions please visit our Web Site.

Now why on earth am I sharing these instructions with you? Is it because the Association of Manufacturers in North America pay me a commission on every publication of a product’s instructions? Is it because I’m a detail person and want everybody else to get hooked on details? Or is it because I’ve got a malicious streak in me and want to get back at all those people who never read the instructions before they install or use a new appliance? If you answered none of the above, you’re correct. If you answered yes to one of the three options, I’ll deal with you later!

The reason I share these instructions is to make a simple point. The light won’t work unless it’s wired and mounted according to the instructions. If I were to disregard the instructions and just go about installing it my own way I would run the risk of blowing a fuse, starting a fire, or having the fixture fall down and injure someone. I can’t join the white wire to the black wire or the ground wire to the white wire because I’m feeling creative or because I’m tired of doing things like everyone else. Nor can I ignore one of the instructions because I’d prefer to have nine instructions instead of ten. Failure on my part to do what the manufacturer expects me to do will lead to failure. For the only way the light can shine is when it’s correctly wired to the source of power.

It’s no different in life. You will only shine when you’re correctly wired to the Source of power – the Father in Heaven. Failure on your part to follow instructions will lead to despair or disaster. You can’t decide for yourself. You can’t say I’m going to do whatever I want regardless. And you can’t say you don’t need someone else to tell you what’s right and wrong. For if you do, if you ignore God’s instructions, then your light isn’t going to shine as God intended.

So pay attention and follow God’s instructions today. Read Exodus 20:1-17 below and be sure to act on every command:

“And God spoke all these words: ‘I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. You shall have no other gods before me. You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing love to thousands who love me and keep my commandments. You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God, for the Lord will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name. Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. Six days you shall labour and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your manservant or maidservant, nor your animals, nor the alien within your gates. For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy. Honour your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you. You shall not murder. You shall not commit adultery. You shall not steal. You shall not give false testimony against your neighbour. You shall not covet your neighbour’s house. You shall not covet your neighbour’s wife, or his manservant or maidservant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbour.’”