Jeremiah 17:5 Thus saith the Lord; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the Lord.
And then there was rain! Yes Friends, in the northern climes, in the middle of the mighty month of March, it’s pouring rain, and is expected to do so all weekend too. Now I’m not complaining, just somewhat mystified by the unnatural proceedings, for I’ll take the liquid water any day over the frozen stuff. (smile) Anyhow, please remember that the Sabbath is upon us, and we need to rest, to fellowship and get ourselves right with God so we’ll be ready for battle come Monday morning. Let us not be like Judah, whom Jeremiah was prophesying against: ‘Thus saith the Lord; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm…’ Oh Friends, putting our trust in the frail strength of man is certainly not a wise idea, for more reasons than one. The first being as Psalm 146 extols: ‘Put not your trust in princes, nor in the son of man (a human being), in whom there is no help (salvation). His breath (spirit) goeth forth, he returneth to his earth: in that very day his thoughts perish.’ (Ps.146:3-4) That’s so obvious my people. Every man, regardless of his physical, economic or political power is only here at the Lord’s largesse. He could be gone in the blink of an eye, if the Lord so desires, and none of knows when our time will come. Remember Jesus’ parable about the rich man who figured he had so much earthly possessions he’d tear down his barns and build bigger and better, then take it easy for the rest of his life. But what happened? God called him home that very night. (Luke 12:16-20) And that type of situation was forcefully brought home to me last week, where a friend holidaying in Tobago, eating curry crab and dumpling, had a sudden heart attack and died. As far as I know he’d never had any heart problems, but when your name and number is called up yonder, you have no choice but to go. So why put our serious and very important life trust in those who can go at anytime, without any warning? Isaiah said it too. ‘Cease ye from man, whose breath is in his nostrils: for wherein is he to be accounted of?’ (Is.2:22) Very good question mih people. Why should man be esteemed when he has no control over his own life span or what happens to him afterwards? Job realized the difference when he declared: ‘All the while my breath is in me, and the spirit of God is in my nostrils; My lips shall not speak wickedness, nor my tongue utter deceit.’ (Job 27:3-4) His human breath was secondary to that of God, which brings us to the second reason that it’s foolish to put our trust in the frail and feeble strength of men; because it takes us away from God, ‘and whose heart departeth from the Lord.’ My people, that’s the biggest mistake we can ever make, because just using simple logic, He is our Creator, Provider, Protector and safe haven, so why should we walk away from all that eh? Why turn away and believe in men who can’t help us in the truly important things that matter both in life and death. Isaiah saw this problem when his people turned to Egypt for help. ‘Woe to the rebellious children, saith the Lord, that take counsel, but not of me; and that cover with a covering (devise plans), but not of my spirit, that they may add sin to sin. That walk to go down into Egypt, and have not asked at my mouth (my advice); to strengthen themselves in the strength of Pharaoh, and to trust in the shadow of Egypt.’ (Is.30:1-2) And Isaiah follows up the warning by making it quite clear in Chapter 31 that it’s God, not Egypt who will defend Judah. ‘Woe to them that go down to Egypt for help; and stay (rely) 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! Yet he also is wise, and will bring evil (disaster), and will not call back his words; but will arise against the house of the evildoers, and against the help of them that work iniquity. Now the Egyptians are men, and not God; and their horses flesh, and not spirit. When the Lord shall stretch out his hand, both he that helpeth shall fall, and he that is holpen (helped) shall fall down, and they shall all fall (perish) together.’ (Is.31:1-3) Oh Friends, it seems like our society is also headed that way. We have apparently lost faith in God and are now turning to men, who are not only frail but also evil. But this should not be so. Note the Lord’s promises in the passage above; He will bring calamity on both the helped and the helper. My people, the same thing applies to all societies that turn away from God. Now I can’t say for sure that all the unfortunate stuff that’s happening in our world today is because we’ve been cursed for our ungodliness, but it certainly won’t do us any harm to think it, and therefore consider changing our wicked, ungodly ways. Life would be much better anyhow if we followed the Psalmist’s advice. ‘Happy is he that hath the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in the Lord his God: Which made heaven, and earth, the sea, and all that therein is: which keepeth truth for ever.’ (Ps.146:5-6) My Friends, that is the ultimate wisdom of life; continually seeking our Creator and abiding by His rules, so that in the day of calamity, we will have a strong, steadfast arm to lean on, and when the grave calls, as it surely will, a heavenly home waiting for us. Living any other way is foolish and unwise. So please, let’s wisely turn to the Lord, give Him the honour and glory that He deserves, so we can be blessed and not cursed. Much LOVE!…all men are alike…feeble and limited…only God is different…omnipotent and immortal…
And then there was rain! Yes Friends, in the northern climes, in the middle of the mighty month of March, it’s pouring rain, and is expected to do so all weekend too. Now I’m not complaining, just somewhat mystified by the unnatural proceedings, for I’ll take the liquid water any day over the frozen stuff. (smile) Anyhow, please remember that the Sabbath is upon us, and we need to rest, to fellowship and get ourselves right with God so we’ll be ready for battle come Monday morning. Let us not be like Judah, whom Jeremiah was prophesying against: ‘Thus saith the Lord; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm…’ Oh Friends, putting our trust in the frail strength of man is certainly not a wise idea, for more reasons than one. The first being as Psalm 146 extols: ‘Put not your trust in princes, nor in the son of man (a human being), in whom there is no help (salvation). His breath (spirit) goeth forth, he returneth to his earth: in that very day his thoughts perish.’ (Ps.146:3-4) That’s so obvious my people. Every man, regardless of his physical, economic or political power is only here at the Lord’s largesse. He could be gone in the blink of an eye, if the Lord so desires, and none of knows when our time will come. Remember Jesus’ parable about the rich man who figured he had so much earthly possessions he’d tear down his barns and build bigger and better, then take it easy for the rest of his life. But what happened? God called him home that very night. (Luke 12:16-20) And that type of situation was forcefully brought home to me last week, where a friend holidaying in Tobago, eating curry crab and dumpling, had a sudden heart attack and died. As far as I know he’d never had any heart problems, but when your name and number is called up yonder, you have no choice but to go. So why put our serious and very important life trust in those who can go at anytime, without any warning? Isaiah said it too. ‘Cease ye from man, whose breath is in his nostrils: for wherein is he to be accounted of?’ (Is.2:22) Very good question mih people. Why should man be esteemed when he has no control over his own life span or what happens to him afterwards? Job realized the difference when he declared: ‘All the while my breath is in me, and the spirit of God is in my nostrils; My lips shall not speak wickedness, nor my tongue utter deceit.’ (Job 27:3-4) His human breath was secondary to that of God, which brings us to the second reason that it’s foolish to put our trust in the frail and feeble strength of men; because it takes us away from God, ‘and whose heart departeth from the Lord.’ My people, that’s the biggest mistake we can ever make, because just using simple logic, He is our Creator, Provider, Protector and safe haven, so why should we walk away from all that eh? Why turn away and believe in men who can’t help us in the truly important things that matter both in life and death. Isaiah saw this problem when his people turned to Egypt for help. ‘Woe to the rebellious children, saith the Lord, that take counsel, but not of me; and that cover with a covering (devise plans), but not of my spirit, that they may add sin to sin. That walk to go down into Egypt, and have not asked at my mouth (my advice); to strengthen themselves in the strength of Pharaoh, and to trust in the shadow of Egypt.’ (Is.30:1-2) And Isaiah follows up the warning by making it quite clear in Chapter 31 that it’s God, not Egypt who will defend Judah. ‘Woe to them that go down to Egypt for help; and stay (rely) 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! Yet he also is wise, and will bring evil (disaster), and will not call back his words; but will arise against the house of the evildoers, and against the help of them that work iniquity. Now the Egyptians are men, and not God; and their horses flesh, and not spirit. When the Lord shall stretch out his hand, both he that helpeth shall fall, and he that is holpen (helped) shall fall down, and they shall all fall (perish) together.’ (Is.31:1-3) Oh Friends, it seems like our society is also headed that way. We have apparently lost faith in God and are now turning to men, who are not only frail but also evil. But this should not be so. Note the Lord’s promises in the passage above; He will bring calamity on both the helped and the helper. My people, the same thing applies to all societies that turn away from God. Now I can’t say for sure that all the unfortunate stuff that’s happening in our world today is because we’ve been cursed for our ungodliness, but it certainly won’t do us any harm to think it, and therefore consider changing our wicked, ungodly ways. Life would be much better anyhow if we followed the Psalmist’s advice. ‘Happy is he that hath the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in the Lord his God: Which made heaven, and earth, the sea, and all that therein is: which keepeth truth for ever.’ (Ps.146:5-6) My Friends, that is the ultimate wisdom of life; continually seeking our Creator and abiding by His rules, so that in the day of calamity, we will have a strong, steadfast arm to lean on, and when the grave calls, as it surely will, a heavenly home waiting for us. Living any other way is foolish and unwise. So please, let’s wisely turn to the Lord, give Him the honour and glory that He deserves, so we can be blessed and not cursed. Much LOVE!…all men are alike…feeble and limited…only God is different…omnipotent and immortal…
SCRIP-BITS 