Isaiah 2:22 Cease ye from man, whose breath is in his nostrils: for wherein is he to be accounted of?
Oh Friends, one thing we’ve inherited from our forefathers is a hard headed stubbornness. Isaiah said those words thousands of years ago, and over time, there’s been numerous instances showing man’s frailty and untrustworthiness, yet we still insist on placing him on pedestals, looking up to him as a shining star and guiding light, of which he’s not worthy. Just take a look at the cult of celebrity we’ve built. People with little or no intrinsic value are continually held up as role models or pillars of society, even though everyday another one is found sadly wanting, either through constant debauchery or criminal activity. Isaiah alluded to this in Chap.2:11-12. ‘The lofty looks of man shall be humbled, and the haughtiness of men shall be bowed down, and the Lord alone shall be exalted that day. For the day of the Lord of hosts shall be upon everyone that is proud and lofty, and upon everyone that is lifted up, and he shall be brought low.’ Oh people, why can’t we remember that and shelve our overreaching and arrogant pride. We do need to have pride in ourselves and our accomplishments, but there’s a certain level, a fine line when it becomes too much, gets out of hand, and we start thinking we are the be all and end all, thus losing sight of our frailties and imperfections. Friends, that’s when we get in trouble. And remember one thing; in our mad rush for glory, we all do things that we’re not proud of, and we’d like to remain in the dark, but in scrapping and scratching to reach the top of the ladder, these unsavoury things are liable to become public knowledge, especially with the current invasive and intrusive nature of the news media. Jesus said that anything done in darkness will eventually come to light. And sadly, some of the deeds aren’t so bad, they wouldn’t even be noticed if done by an ordinary person, but because of the high profile, the esteem and awe in which the so-called celebrities are held, it substantially detracts from their superior image and status. Lest we forget, mankind takes greater pleasure in destroying, than creating, not only things, but people too. So the small burr is usually great fodder for the masses. They’ll pull you down even quicker than they put you up. That’s why the ‘Prince of Prophets’ warns: ‘Cease ye from man.’ And Jeremiah adds. ‘Thus saith the Lord; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the Lord.’ (Jer.17:5) Yes Friends, we are only flesh and bones, easily blown away like a leaf in the wind; here today, gone tomorrow; ‘whose breath is in his nostrils.’ We should be saying like Job: ‘All the while my breath is in me, and the spirit of God is in my nostrils.’ (Job 27:3) It’s the spirit of God that should be in our nostrils while we’re alive. ‘For wherein is he to be accounted of?’ So true Friends: Who is man, why should he be so esteemed eh? Esteem the Lord thy God, who made us, cares for us, and provided us with salvation and everlasting life through His Son, Jesus Christ, Our Saviour. Man couldn’t do what He did for us. Much LOVE!…trust not in man…for he withers like the vine.
Oh Friends, one thing we’ve inherited from our forefathers is a hard headed stubbornness. Isaiah said those words thousands of years ago, and over time, there’s been numerous instances showing man’s frailty and untrustworthiness, yet we still insist on placing him on pedestals, looking up to him as a shining star and guiding light, of which he’s not worthy. Just take a look at the cult of celebrity we’ve built. People with little or no intrinsic value are continually held up as role models or pillars of society, even though everyday another one is found sadly wanting, either through constant debauchery or criminal activity. Isaiah alluded to this in Chap.2:11-12. ‘The lofty looks of man shall be humbled, and the haughtiness of men shall be bowed down, and the Lord alone shall be exalted that day. For the day of the Lord of hosts shall be upon everyone that is proud and lofty, and upon everyone that is lifted up, and he shall be brought low.’ Oh people, why can’t we remember that and shelve our overreaching and arrogant pride. We do need to have pride in ourselves and our accomplishments, but there’s a certain level, a fine line when it becomes too much, gets out of hand, and we start thinking we are the be all and end all, thus losing sight of our frailties and imperfections. Friends, that’s when we get in trouble. And remember one thing; in our mad rush for glory, we all do things that we’re not proud of, and we’d like to remain in the dark, but in scrapping and scratching to reach the top of the ladder, these unsavoury things are liable to become public knowledge, especially with the current invasive and intrusive nature of the news media. Jesus said that anything done in darkness will eventually come to light. And sadly, some of the deeds aren’t so bad, they wouldn’t even be noticed if done by an ordinary person, but because of the high profile, the esteem and awe in which the so-called celebrities are held, it substantially detracts from their superior image and status. Lest we forget, mankind takes greater pleasure in destroying, than creating, not only things, but people too. So the small burr is usually great fodder for the masses. They’ll pull you down even quicker than they put you up. That’s why the ‘Prince of Prophets’ warns: ‘Cease ye from man.’ And Jeremiah adds. ‘Thus saith the Lord; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the Lord.’ (Jer.17:5) Yes Friends, we are only flesh and bones, easily blown away like a leaf in the wind; here today, gone tomorrow; ‘whose breath is in his nostrils.’ We should be saying like Job: ‘All the while my breath is in me, and the spirit of God is in my nostrils.’ (Job 27:3) It’s the spirit of God that should be in our nostrils while we’re alive. ‘For wherein is he to be accounted of?’ So true Friends: Who is man, why should he be so esteemed eh? Esteem the Lord thy God, who made us, cares for us, and provided us with salvation and everlasting life through His Son, Jesus Christ, Our Saviour. Man couldn’t do what He did for us. Much LOVE!…trust not in man…for he withers like the vine.
SCRIP-BITS 