DON’T ADD TO IT NOR TAKE AWAY FROM IT

Deuteronomy 4:1-2 Now therefore hearken, O Israel, unto the statutes and unto the judgments, which I teach you, for to do them, that ye may live, and go in and possess the land which the Lord God of your fathers giveth you. Ye shall not add unto the Word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the Lord your God which I command you.

Deuteronomy 12:32 What thing soever I command you, observe to do it: thou shalt not add thereto, nor diminish from it.

Revelation 22:18 -19 I give fair warning to all who hear the words of the prophecy of this book: If you add to the words of this prophecy, God will add to your life the disasters written in this book; if you subtract from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will subtract your part from the Tree of Life and the Holy City that are written in this book.

In the book of Deuteronomy, in chapters 4 and 12, Moses spoke to the children of Israel concerning the commandments, statutes, and judgments that God gave them to follow. Additionally, in Revelation, the last book and the last chapter in the Bible, John, the writer, warns the readers of the consequence of adding and taking away from what they read in this book. Both of these men whom God inspired to share the Word knew from experience what happened to the disobedient and were sounding an alarm for all to hear.

We are presently living in a time where people interpret God’s Word in a manner that allows them to do things that God opposes. Like the Israelites in the book of Judges, every man is doing what is right in their own eyes (Judges 17:6). Sadly, like the Israelites who experienced the consequences of following their own dictates, those who manipulate and take lightly the Word will ultimately come to regret doing so.

God loves everyone and desires all to be saved, and no one perish, but God is also a God of order and holiness. He knows what is best, and He gives all the opportunity to decide which path they will follow.

Jesus in Matthew 7:13-14 King James Version states, “Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.” Additionally, I am sharing this exact text in two more versions just in case you did not understand what you read. First, The Living Bible, “Heaven can be entered only through the narrow gate! The highway to hell is broad, and its gate is wide enough for all the multitudes who choose its easy way. But the Gateway to Life is small, and the road is narrow, and only a few ever find it.” Second the Message Bible, “Don’t look for shortcuts to God. The market is flooded with surefire, easygoing formulas for a successful life that can be practiced in your spare time. Don’t fall for that stuff, even though crowds of people do. The way to life—to God!—is vigorous and requires total attention.”

As these verses point out, it is easy and inviting to go along with the crowd; however, choosing the narrow way requires discipline and sacrifice. The eternal yield from doing so will prove to be a person’s best life decision. So, in closing, I recommend not adding to the Word nor taking away from it but choosing to simply follow it.