Perhaps you have seen some of the signs posted in cities and on highways that are attributed to God. All of the signs have caused me to ask: “Why do we have to have such comments attributed to God when they are statements men might ask?” However, one spotted recently caused me to question just what the statement implied. It stated: COME BY MY HOUSE BEFORE THE GAME. –GOD. Just think for a moment what this implies. Perhaps I’m wrong, but this seems to imply that God will take that which is second best. It implies that God knows that “the game” is most important in the minds of so many for that day; however, if God could get at least a little bit of their time before the game then He would be pleased. It implies that God will take man’s “leftovers.” Friend, brethren, nowhere does God even imply that He will accept second place in the life of anyone. In fact, the very opposite is true; God will take second place to none. (Matthew 6:33) “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” We humans seldom  realize that anything or anyone we put before the True God becomes a “god” to us, even ball teams and ball games. Let me say that I have no problem with someone attending a ball game on Sunday afternoon unless it does hinder his being at worship services Sunday morning and Sunday
evening. The statement above obviously implies that God is pleading with those who are not putting Him first, BUT if they would give God just a little of their time God would overlook their attitude toward Him. It also implies that if one is in just the Sunday morning worship, then he is O.K. with God. Besides, it implies that if one only “comes by God’s house before the game,” after that he can do what he wants. God forbid! Since we are apt to worship so many “gods” let us consider what God has to say about the matter. The Israelites of Isaiah’s day worshiped just about everything but
Almighty God, and God had a lot to say about their rebellion. For sure, God taught these Israelites that He would never stand for “second place” in their lives. Notice the following REAL statements made by God: (Isaiah 46:5) “To whom will ye liken me, and make me equal, and compare me, that
we may be like?” (Isaiah 45:21) “…there is no God else beside me; a just God and a Saviour; there is
none beside me.”  (Isaiah 46:9-10) “Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me, {10} Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I WILL do all my pleasure:” (Isaiah 44:6) “Thus saith the LORD the King of Israel, and his redeemer the LORD
of hosts; I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God.” (Isaiah 45:22-23) “Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else. {23} I have
sworn by myself, the word is gone out of my mouth in righteousness, and shall not return, That unto me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear.” Neither of these verses imply that God will accept anything but first place in our hearts and lives. In fact, these statements were spoken in harsh rejection to the plight of the Israelites who were putting God second in their lives. These statements are not in any way kin to those “poppycock” statements shown on signs around our country. God is dead serious about our servitude to Him: (Matthew 4:10) “Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.”
It is not the case that God will be pleased with just a little of our time so we can go to ball games, fishing, to visit, to rest, to recreate or to do anything else man might decide to put before God.
—John D. Cotham Shady Valley, TN