Hope Not In Men
Good Morning,
Mankind has many weaknesses, and men do mess up life a great deal. I find it amazing how easily men can recognize the foolish actions of another, but, when the tables are turned, they fail to see the error in their own ways. The fact is, when we are removed from a situation, we often see more clearly.
One reason for this, if not the main reason, is self-trust.
Hosea 10:13 “Ye have plowed wickedness, ye have reaped iniquity; ye have eaten the fruit of lies: because thou didst trust in thy way, in the multitude of thy mighty men.”
When men trust in their own strength or their own assets, they tend to make poor judgments. The constant urging in the Scriptures to “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart…” (Proverbs 3) points us to the solution to all of life — trust God!
2 Chronicles 20:20 “…Believe in the LORD your God, so shall ye be established; believe his prophets, so shall ye prosper.”
2 Timothy 3:15 “And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.”
When men turn from self-confidence to rest in the Bible, they find peace, direction, hope, and blessing. God has no intention of letting men HE CREATED, living on a planet HE CREATED, eating food HE CREATED, using brains HE CREATED to study a world HE CREATED get away with denying Him. He will not allow men to prosper while they pretend that the God Who created them does not exist or has no knowledge, or that they (created beings) have better ideas.
Hosea said the Israelite people would have trouble “…because thou didst trust in thy way, in the multitude of thy mighty men.” I hope that Bible-believing people are not trusting in their president. Praying for God to guide him is commanded. Honoring our national leaders is also a command, but may none of us sit back and rest in the wisdom of any president.
Psalm 20:7 “Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the LORD our God.”
Isaiah 31:1 “Woe to them that go down to Egypt for help; and stay on horses, and trust in chariots, because they are many; and in horsemen, because they are very strong; but they look not unto the Holy One of Israel, neither seek the LORD!”
Our only hope is in the Lord. Praying for God to have mercy on our sin-sick nation is our hope. Begging for mercy is our hope. Seeking the Lord, reading His Word, and praying often to Him are actions that may turn the hand of God towards us and bring continued mercy. A leader is of no value unless God moves, stemming the tide of evil and holding back the angry mobs of shameful people in the streets, in the newsrooms, and on Capitol Hill. Without the Lord, we are hopeless.
Hosea 8:14 “For Israel hath forgotten his Maker, and buildeth temples; and Judah hath multiplied fenced cities: but I will send a fire upon his cities, and it shall devour the palaces thereof. “ (Sounds like our twin towers!)
Hosea 9:1 “Rejoice not, O Israel, for joy, as other people: for thou hast gone a whoring from thy God, thou hast loved a reward upon every cornfloor.”
Those verses sound as if men rejoice in financial gain more than the knowledge of God. Did you see the statement, "as other people?" Others may act as though there is no God, but we have enjoyed His presence. We received the blessing of God in His founding of our land; and as such, we owe Him more. We cannot do what other nations do.
May we pray for help for our land. May we not read anything unless our Bible has preeminence in our reading. Fox, CNN, Twitter, and Instagram have nothing but hopeless words from sinful men. The Word of God is eternal, spiritual, and Divine!
Pastor