Reveration Blog
7/18/2020 1 Comment Self-DependentThe prophet Isaiah uttered an oracle against Jerusalem. God’s problem with Israel was her self-dependence. She relied on her own weapons and strategy for defense at the expense of depending upon God. Nationally, she was full of pride and pocked with evil.
Whenever a nation turns its back on God it is always because she relies on herself to succeed. In America we believe we have the technological knowhow to fix any problem. We have the resources to overcome failure. We have the education and thinking to solve challenges. We have the resiliency to withstand adversity. We are large and in charge. We don’t need God. The culmination of humanism is we don’t even believe in Him. This is what pride does—it denies the obvious to embrace the obscene. The self-dependent mock faith and rationalize accomplishment. Theirs is the disease of the affluent and spoiled. In materials they trust. They venerate the fruit of their own inventions. They trumpet science while denying the Creator of it. They applaud any terror that torments their enemies. Externally they celebrate their own achievements while internally they rot. Their policies are self-directed—so naturally churches are restricted from meeting but abortion clinics are open for business; schools are closed but anyone can buy alcohol. Inalienable rights viewed as threatening are dubbed expendable. Up is down and right is wrong—so is sung their fleshly song. The self-dependent are good at hiding behind masks so why not make everyone wear them? There is no room for dissent or tolerance for conflicting data. The pride-filled leader is not concerned with solution when his true goal is power. Therefore he fixates on controlling his preferred problem while ignoring the fact that his solution causes far worse effects. When the worship of God is adversely ballyhooed chaos becomes the religion of choice. Hannah rightly prayed, “Do not boast so proudly, or let arrogant words come out of your mouth, for the LORD is a God of knowledge, and actions are weighed by Him” (1 Samuel 2:3). There is no favor from heaven when the prideful sit on thrones. There is no peace and blessing from God when god is man and his solutions are deified. So what should those who follow Him do? Trust Him, obey Him and call on His name! A discouraged Jeremiah, while in prison, heard God’s voice, “Call to Me and I will answer you and tell you great and incomprehensible things you do not know” (Jer. 33:3). God promised to restore and heal an evil, besieged Jerusalem. What He did for that self-dependent city He can do again for our self-dependent nation. May we humble ourselves and pray—especially for those who are lost in their own self-made darkness. Inspiration Pride leads to every other vice: it is the complete anti-God state of mind.—C.S. Lewis in Christian Behaviour ©2020 Daniel York ARR. Reveration is the weekly devotional ministry of First Cause. If you would like to receive these devotionals go to www.firstcause.org and click on the “Click here to receive weekly devotionals” box. Unlimited permission to copy this devotional without altering text or profiteering is allowed subject to inclusion of this copyright notice. Ecclesiastes 12:10-The Teacher sought to find delightful sayings and to accurately write words of truth. (Holman CSB)
1 Comment
Peter DeMarco
7/18/2020 07:36:18 pm
Excellent article, Dan, and timely!
Reply
Your comment will be posted after it is approved.
Leave a Reply. |
Categories
All
|
Photo from Rachel Maxey Miles