Living Faithfully For Jesus

Hebrews 13:1-8

Often when an older child leaves the family home to go off and attend college, or they move out on their own with a job, their parents will give them some final thoughts and words of advice.  We also see this at high school and college graduation events, where a commencement speaker gives his thoughts and words of advice for the graduates, setting off to start a new life.  Our Scripture today from the final chapter of the Book of Hebrews is similar, as the author gives some final thoughts and words as he concludes his letter.  Let’s take a quick look at the several different instructions he gives.

Our Scripture begins with an admonition to show love to our fellow Christians (vs. 1).   The Greek word the author used here is “philadelphia”, which means brotherly love, and which is where we get the name for the large city in Pennsylvania.  That city was named for the ancient city of Philadelphia located in modern day Turkey, and also mentioned in the Book of Revelation (Revelation 3:7).  Love for our fellow Christian brethren is not optional.  It is a command, as we are all members of the Body of Christ.  Sometimes it might not be easy, as when personalities clash, but God’s Word doesn’t give exceptions.  When we show this love, it is evidence of genuine conversion (John 13:35).

The author next reminds believers to be hospitable to others, including those we might not know (vs. 2).  He gives us the example of Abraham, when he hosted three strangers, who unbeknown to him at the time, were heavenly visitors (Genesis 18).  Is there a new family at your church?  Invite them to have lunch together afterwards.  Do you have a new neighbor?  Get to know them, and then you might have the opportunity to witness to them about the Lord or invite them to church.  Open your home and heart to others, especially fellow believers or those in need.  This can give God the opportunity to work in their lives.  When we welcome all people openly and with Christ-like love, we reflect our Savior’s love and compassion.

We are further instructed to remember those who are imprisoned and persecuted, especially for their faith (vs. 3).  The Church is one body, and when one member suffers, we all suffer (I Corinthians 12:26).  We should all be praying for persecuted believers.  Also we can support ministries that care for the imprisoned and afflicted.  The more we reach out and minister to prisoners, we can show them the love of Jesus, witness to them, and lead them to salvation, changing their life around.

Next we have an instruction regarding marriage (vs. 4).  Marriage is a divine institution, not just a cultural ceremony.  Sexual purity is commanded throughout God’s Word, and He tells us here that He will judge immorality.  Believers need to uphold the sanctity of Biblical marriage and reject all worldly distortions.

The next two verses show us that we can and should trust in the Lord to provide for our needs (vs. 5-6).  Covetousness is idolatry (Colossians 3:5).  When we are content with what we have in life, it shows our trust in God and His provisions.  In verse 6, the author quotes Psalm 118:6.  God’s presence in our life should eliminate all fear.  When we face uncertain times, whether it is financial strain, persecution, or anything else, we can rest in God’s help.  No experience at any time in our lives compares with knowing Jesus.  Don’t be tempted to choose what Satan has to offer.  Jesus is there for us, and He has promised us that He will never leave us or forsake us.  We know that we cannot say that about everyone, but we can trust in God.  We are never alone.  Jesus is always with us!

Our next Scripture here reminds us to remember our spiritual leaders (vs. 7).  Spiritual leadership is ordained by God.  Those who preach God’s Word properly and truthfully deserve respect and remembrance.  If their example is a godly one, that should encourage us to a deeper relationship with God, and we should remember to pray for them.

In our final verse of this passage, we are told that Jesus never changes.  The world around us is always changing, including people.  However, God never changes (Malachi 3:6).  The fact that Jesus is unchangeable and unalterable is foundational.  He is eternally trustworthy, unlike the shifting cultural norms or theological trends today.  Because Jesus is unchangeable, He deserves our complete confidence.  When we fix our hope in Jesus Christ, we can be sure that our anchor will hold.  He isn’t moving, changing, or leaving.  He is the same as He always has been.

As we look back at these several verses, we see that they provide sound doctrine for our daily life.  As Christians we are called to live out our faith with integrity, love, and confidence in God’s unchanging nature.  We can live faithfully for Jesus in a shifting world.

Do You Want To Be Blessed?

Psalm 112

Being a part of some groups or organizations often comes with certain benefits or rewards.  Some people will often try to join those groups just so that they can reap these rewards.  When someone accepts the Lord Jesus as their Savior, they become a child of God, a part of God’s family.  If they obey His Word the Bible, following closely in the footsteps of Jesus, there are also many blessings, rewards, and benefits that He will provide.  Psalm 112, our psalm for this week, highlights some of these blessings.

Psalm 112 is one of the “orphan psalms”, psalms whose author is unknown.  In the first verse, the author tells us of the promise that God makes to bless those who fear Him, and who obey His commandments and His Word.  The remainder of the psalm describes some of these blessings and rewards that God will give us if we do as He has said.  This is a portrait of a righteous believer, one who is closely following the Savior, showing the blessings of godly living, and the impact it can have on the generations that follow.

Our psalm begins by stating that these blessings come to those who fear the Lord and obey His commands in His Word (vs. 1).  We read in multiple places in the Bible of how important it is to have a godly fear of the Lord.  This is not the same type of fear that we might have of some criminal lurking in a dark corner of the street at night, or of some bully.  This is having a reverent awe and a godly respect and honor due to God.  We don’t have a flippant or casual attitude towards Him, but give Him the honor and respect that He is due.  Having a proper fear of the Lord will lead us to being obedient to His Word with joyful submission, not reluctant duty.

Those who are not only believers, but are ones who fear the Lord and obey His Word are much more likely to also train and instruct their children and grandchildren in His ways, and thus their families are more likely to follow the Lord in their own life (vs. 2).  Our walk with God impacts our children and grandchildren.  God honors generational faithfulness, which we see in His promise given by Moses in Deuteronomy 7:9.  Righteous living leaves a legacy.

As we continue, we read about wealth and riches (vs. 3).  Material riches are not a guarantee for every believer.  However, God has promised us that He will provide for all of our needs (Philippians 4:19), and we do not need to fear when bad economic times hit.  God will not leave His children who are faithfully obedient to Him lying in the dust (Psalm 37:25).  True wealth is not just financial, it is enduring righteousness and spiritual fruit that outlasts earthly riches.

The Lord also provides a guiding light for the believer (vs 4).  When we are closely following the Bible, we find that He will direct our paths throughout life.  Not only that, when we are blessed by the Lord, we will reflect God to others in our life.  Our life becomes a beacon to others.  Another mark of a person whose life is blessed by the Lord is that he is generous and is a good steward of all that He has blessed him with (vs. 5).  We see in verse 6 that the Lord will uphold the righteous, and they shall not be moved.  When things around us in society and the world are falling apart, the Lord will hold us secure.  We can stand firm and secure, as God remembers our faithfulness.

Are there things happening in the world, whether political, natural disasters, or wars, that bring fear to you?  There are some people who nearly collapse in fear when disturbances such as these happen.  However, as Christians who are walking with the Lord in our life, we do not need to be afraid (vs. 7-8).  If we, as believers, crumble in fear when bad news comes, we are acting no different than the unsaved.  They do not have Jesus to run to, but we do!  If we have a heart that is fixed or anchored in God’s promises we do not need to panic when bad news comes.  Our faith should dispel any fear.  We have His faithfulness, we have a living hope.  Take courage and rely on the faithfulness of God.

As we close this psalm we see that we can trust in the Lord to fight our battles (vs. 8-10).  We don’t need to seek revenge on the wicked who come against us, as God will vindicate us.  Let Him bring a resolution in His time.  Instead, be generous, as God honors those who care for the poor and who live uprightly.  God never grows too tired or weary to carry our burden.  He is always available for us when we surrender and cry out for help.  God’s justice will prevail.  We don’t need to envy the wicked, as their path ends in frustration and ruin, while ours will lead to eternal reward.

Bow or Burn

Daniel 3

Today’s Scripture is one that you might recall having heard in Sunday school when you were young, or in children’s church when you were a child.  However, the message here is definitely not just for children.  As adults, we can learn from today’s Scripture from the Book of Daniel, a message of standing strong for what we believe in, and not giving in to peer pressure, or any other pressure to do what we know is wrong.  Let’s take a fresh look at this Biblical account.

As our chapter in Daniel begins we read of King Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon, setting up a tall golden statue of himself, and ordering the people to worship it (vs. 1-7).  Nebuchadnezzar was king of the Babylonian Empire from 605 BC - 562 BC.  He was the king who led the overthrow of the Kingdom of Judah, the destruction of Jerusalem, and the captivity of the Jewish people.  Like many kings, he had an inflated opinion of himself, and like many in the ancient world, he started to want his people to worship him as one of their many deities.  Thus he set up a large, 90 foot statue of himself, and told the people to bow down towards the statue whenever they heard a certain musical song played.  The punishment for disobedience was to be thrown into a burning furnace.  This was a direct order to break one of God’s Ten Commandments, that against worshiping someone or thing other than God, and worshiping idols.  Would God’s people bow or would they burn?

The Babylonian Empire had no problem with raising qualified people from the lands they had conquered to important positions within the empire, as long as they blended in with society.  If they were good-looking and bright, intelligent young men, they were trained and placed into positions.  Among them was Daniel and his friends, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.  These four, though, despite rising in rank, did not forsake or abandon their strong faith in God.

At the time that this idol was set up, and the order to worship it was given, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego had a decision to make.  (Daniel was probably out of the capital city on some business, and was thus not a part of this situation.)  Would they bow and save their lives, or not bow and burn?  The three didn’t even need to stop and ponder for a moment.  They had already decided they would never bow to a pagan deity, no matter what the cost.  Immediately enemies were there, ready to report these believers to the authorities (vs. 8-12).  Satan always has his people around to try and bring God’s people down.  They were reported and Nebuchadnezzar was furious.  He brought the three to himself and gave them one last chance.  Would they bow or would they burn? (vs. 13-15).

Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego did not give in to peer pressure or to political pressure.  They responded with boldness and courage.  They boldly gave testimony to their faith in God by stating that He was able to deliver them from the fiery furnace.  But even if He didn’t save them, they would not dishonor, disobey, or betray Him by worshiping an idol (vs. 16-18).  As we read, the three were thrown into the furnace, heated seven times hotter (vs. 19-23).  However, as the king observed, they did not die, and a Fourth Man was walking there with them.  This is believed to be a Christophany, a pre-incarnate appearance of Jesus (vs. 24-25).  Nebuchadnezzar called the three out of the furnace, and began praising Yahweh for His great miracle in saving His servants who trusted in Him.  He then made a decree that no one is allowed to say anything against Yahweh (vs. 26-30).

What would you do today if faced with a similar scenario?  Would you bow to save your life?  Would you give in to the commands society makes, even though you know it goes against God’s Word?  Would you save your life for just a quick bow?  Would you save your job, your standing in your community just so you don’t look like you are going against what society today says is right, though you know it is against God and His Word?  These faithful men of God could have chosen to bow before an idol to save their own skin, but they had faith in the only true God, and knew the right thing to do.  It may not be easy to fight for what you know is right, but God will reward you for standing up in His Name and refusing to yield to evil.

These three had no assurance that God would spare their lives, yet they were fully committed to die a painful death.  Even if God didn’t rescue them from the fire, they chose to trust in His plans.  Even though God is able, we can trust Him when He doesn’t do what we think should be done.  Even if God’s plans for our lives aren’t what we hoped for, learning to trust God is part of His good plan,

God desires that we cling to Him - even if our loved one isn’t healed, even if we lose our job, even if we are persecuted.  Sometimes God rescues us from danger in this life, and sometimes He doesn’t.  The God we serve is able.  He loves us and is with us in every fiery trial.  Do not bend, do not bow, and look for the Fourth Man in the fire with you!

The Narrow Gate

Luke 13:22-30

How many people will be in heaven?  Is the number a large one, or not as many as some might think?  Just how many people are saved, how many in my city, in your city, in your country?  Maybe these questions have crossed your mind at one time or another, or maybe not.  They came to the mind of one person who was in the crowd of people who were listening to Jesus teach in our Gospel reading for today.  Why did he ask that question?  Did he want to feel good about himself, that he was part of that “in-crowd”?  Whatever his reasons for asking might have been, the answer that Jesus gave was probably not the one he was expecting or looking for.  Let’s see what Jesus had to say.

As we begin our Scriptures, this fellow asked Jesus the question of whether there will only be a few people who are saved (vs. 22-23).  I’m sure that he felt that he would be part of that group, him and his friends.  Surely not all of this riff-raff!  Did he genuinely care that people everywhere get saved, or only concerned that he and his friends were?  Jesus responded by telling him and all who were listening that they need to strive to be sure that they were, as not everyone who thinks they are will be entering heaven (vs. 24).

Jesus tells us here that we need to strive to enter in through the narrow gate.  The Greek word “strive” that was used in this verse is “Agonizomai” which means to agonize, to struggle, to endeavor with strenuous zeal, striving to obtain.  This isn’t something that we just casually attempt, but something that we earnestly pursue and undertake to obtain.  No one just automatically gets into heaven.

Jesus then continues by saying that the gate is narrow (vs. 24).  There are some who teach and preach that everyone gets to heaven, that no one is left out, almost as if it was a super, twenty-lane highway into heaven.  God’s Word tells us here that the gate is “narrow”.  This represents the exclusivity of salvation, that it is through Jesus Christ alone.  As we read in the Gospel of John, no one comes to God except through Jesus (John 14:6).  Not through any other religion, any other great religious leader, or great philosophy, only through Jesus.  No other name will bring salvation (Acts 4:12).  Salvation is by grace through faith in Jesus alone (Ephesians 2:8-9).  No other way leads to eternal life.

He then proceeds to give the picture of a homeowner who closes the door.  Those outside may knock, even pound on the door asking to be let in.  However the homeowner responds by telling them to leave, as he doesn’t know them (vs. 25-27).  Jesus tells us that this is what will happen on the final day.  There will be people who think that they belong in heaven, that they knew about Jesus, even ate and drank in His presence, but they do not get in.  There are many who are familiar with Jesus, but not truly saved by Him.  They may stand in a pulpit and preach using the Name of Jesus, but are not truly saved.  They may quote Bible verses, but are not saved.  And Jesus says that once the door is shut, it is too late.  This reminds us of Noah’s Ark.  When God shut the door, then judgment fell.

Jesus proceeds by describing the condition of those who are left out, that it is weeping and gnashing of teeth (vs. 28).  This is a clear reference to eternal separation from God in hell, a place of sorrow and torment.  Again, the Words of Jesus, the words of the Bible contradicts what many teach when they say that there is no hell, and that everyone gets to heaven.  Jesus teaches us that hell is real, it is eternal, and it is reserved for those who reject the Lord Jesus Christ.  Since we do not know when that door will be closed, people need to repent now, and turn to Jesus, accepting Him as their Savior.

Our Scripture concludes by saying that there will be those from all four corners of the globe in God’s kingdom, and that those who thought they would be first will be last, and those who thought they were last will be first (vs. 29-30).  The Gospel of salvation is for all nations, for all people, regardless of their color or nationality.  It is not limited by geography, ethnicity, or background.  Anyone who has accepted Jesus is welcomed.

Rather than wondering how many people would be in heaven, that person should have been wondering if he was going to be there.  It is something that you should be asking yourself - are you going to be among the saved?  Don’t be one of those who somehow miss out because they never made an actual relationship with Jesus.  They thought that by occasionally going to church, or that because their parents were Christians, or that they were a “cultural Christian” was good enough, but they never personally themselves accepted Jesus as their Savior.  Proximity to truth is not salvation.  Church attendance, religious rituals, or cultural Christianity do not save.  Only a personal, repentant faith in Christ does.  Strive to enter through the narrow gate!

Mount Sinai or Mount Zion

Hebrews 12:18-29

When we were school-age children, one quick lesson that was taught in grade school was between comparing two or more items, and contrasting them.  Comparing focuses on the similarities between them, while contrasting focuses on the differences.  In our Scripture for today from the Book of Hebrews, the author takes a little time to contrast for us the differences between Mt. Sinai and Mt. Zion, the Old Covenant and the New Covenant, and why one is superior to the other.  Let’s see what he has to say, and why this is important for us.

As we read through this Scripture, we need to know what each of these places are, and what they represent here.  Mt. Sinai is a real, actual mountain located in the southern Sinai peninsula, in eastern Egypt.  Shortly after fleeing Egypt, the people of Israel journeyed to Mt. Sinai where they camped while Moses climbed the mountain.  It was from there that he received the Ten Commandments and the other Mosaic Laws from God.  It has been a very sacred place from then on.  In this passage, Mt. Sinai represents the Old Covenant, with its laws, judgment, and fear (vs. 18-21).  This mountain was a place that evoked fear in the people, as it was marked by fire from God, darkness, tempest, and the Voice of God that caused even Moses to tremble.

It was on Mt. Sinai that God gave Moses, and thus to the people, the Old Covenant laws.  While Moses was upon the mountain, the people were sternly warned that they were to keep a good distance away, and neither come near nor touch the mountain.  Access to God was restricted.  These laws revealed God’s holiness, along with man’s sinfulness.  However, they did not offer any permanent solution for mankind’s sin.

In contrast, Mt. Zion in this context is not a physical mountain, but a spiritual reality for believers.  It represents the New Covenant, along with grace, access to God, and joyful worship (vs. 22-24).  It is from this Mt. Zion that we are welcomed into the heavenly Jerusalem, and we find Jesus, our Mediator, whose Blood brings forgiveness, not vengeance.

While Moses was on Mt. Sinai, the people were warned to keep their distance.  Afterwards, when the Tabernacle was made, and later the Temple, the people could only enter the outer courts.  Only the priests could go further, and only the High Priest could enter the Holy of Holies, and then only once a year.  However, with Mt. Zion believers are declared righteous, our sins are forgiven through Jesus, and He brings us near to God the Father.  His Blood brings us a New Covenant.  Our position in Zion is secure, not based on the Law, but on grace.  We can rejoice in our spiritual position, as we are not under wrath, but under grace.

As the author of this epistle continues, he tells us that God still speaks to us through the Holy Spirit and His Word, the Bible (vs. 25-27).  Those who did not listen when God spoke through Moses and the Law did not escape judgment.  Today no one will escape judgment if they do not follow and listen to Jesus.  Just as God shook the earth at Mt. Sinai, He will shake heaven and earth again, and all that is not built on Jesus will be removed.  Only what is built on Christ will endure.  Those who have come to God through the Blood of Jesus have inherited a kingdom that cannot be moved.  It cannot be shaken or fall apart.  It is going to endure.  We need to build our life on the sure foundation of the Word of God.  When everything around us is being shaken, we will remain standing.

Our Scripture concludes with a call to worship the Lord God (vs. 28-29).  Grace leads us to reverence.  True worship flows from gratitude, not fear, however it is still marked by reverential awe.  God’s nature hasn’t changed.  He is still holy, still consuming in His purity.  Grace does not make God less majestic.  It does make our access to Him through Jesus more miraculous.

The author warns us that we need to serve God with reverence and godly fear, as He is a consuming fire (vs. 29).  God is not a pussy cat.  Though He is our Friend and loving Father, He is not a casual buddy.  He is not an over-indulgent gray-haired old man who lives in the sky.  We should be warned to not hide behind the grace of God and continue to live in secret sin.  Some boast that God loves them, and yet they continue to practice sin and condone things condemned in the Bible.  God is loving, but He is also a consuming fire.  He will never condone evil!

In closing, we need to come to God in worship and service with sincere reverence and awe.  Grace does not mean casual worship.  God is still an all-holy God.  We need to still listen to His Word, and not ignore His Voice.  We need to consider where we will be spending eternity and prepare for it.

Our Help In Times Of Trouble

Psalm 46

Massive earthquakes, category five hurricanes and tornadoes, extensive wildfires, rivers flooding way beyond their banks.  These are some of nature’s fury.  Then we have the destruction and death caused by wars, crime-ridden cities where people are afraid to even leave their homes, economic collapses causing great depressions, loss of jobs, and hunger.  These are disasters caused by man.  Either one can bring us to our knees in fear and despair.  Where can we turn for sure help when these events happen in our world?  Where can we go for refuge when we see such an event looming in the near future?  Our psalm for today gives us the answer.

Every so often we hear of some disaster that has happened somewhere on the globe.  You wake up and are browsing the news headlines and read of a strong, possibly massive earthquake somewhere.  There are hurricane warnings throughout the summer and early fall in the Caribbean and eastern coast of North America.  Wildfires throughout western North America.  You read of torrential rains that bring flooding rivers around the world, and read of ongoing war and death in various parts of the world.  There is so much trouble everywhere!  Is there any place we can turn to for help?  The Sons of Korah, the author of today’s psalm, had the answer.  The very first sentence of our psalm tells us - “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.”

There are some religious beliefs that hold that God is a distant God who does not get involved in the lives of mankind.  Whatever happens here on earth happens, and He just sits out there in the universe, impassively observing everything that happens.  That is not the truth, as we read in nearly every page of the Bible.  God is near, and is our Protector.  He is intimately involved in our life.  Even if the earth shakes or the mountains fall, we do not need to fear (vs. 1-3).

The psalmist then gives a picture of a river that flows through the City of God (vs. 4-6).  This is not a raging river which is overflowing its banks and flooding everyone out of their homes.  Instead, this is a calm, peaceful river, prophetically pointing to the New Jerusalem (Revelation 22:1), which symbolizes life, peace, and divine provision.  As we read throughout the Bible, God dwells with His people, not as an uninvolved deity out somewhere in the universe.

When the “nations rage” (vs. 6), and there are wars and political upheavals, we can turn to the Lord as our refuge.  People question where God is in all of this.  He is right there in the midst.  He is not passive.  God will actively judge all nations and will bring peace, if not soon, then definitely when Jesus returns (vs. 8-9).

The psalm continues with the Lord telling us to be still and trust in Him, knowing that He is God, all-knowing, all-powerful, and all-caring (vs. 10).  Practice being silent in God’s presence.  Not with New Age meditating practices of emptying the mind of thoughts and connecting with one's “inner self”, which can allow demonic powers to enter, but instead with quiet reflection on Jesus and His Word.  God wants us to be quiet, stop arguing or crying, and listen to what He has to say.  Let Jesus calm your mind and heart.  Like Jesus told the storm and waves to be quiet and be still (Mark 4:39), He tells us, as well.

When we hear about volcanoes and earthquakes, remember that God is in control.  He is always in control.  God is our refuge, a safe place to hide.  He is a refuge when war breaks or terrorists attack.  He is our help when the bridge falls, the tunnel caves in, or the plane crashes.  The Lord, who sent His Son to save us, is not going to leave us or forsake us.  He will always, because of the Savior’s sacrifice, do what is right and best for us.

As we look back over Psalm 46, we are reassured that God is both near and involved in our life.  Nothing that happens on earth ever takes Him by surprise, as He rules over nature and nations.  When anything happens, we can trust in Jesus, and take refuge in Him.  Jesus is a fortress for His people.  We can have faith and confidence in God that whatever happens in our life, He is in the midst of it all.

A False Security

Isaiah 28:14-22

Our Old Testament Scripture this week from the Lectionary of the Book of Common Prayer is a short, relatively obscure passage from the Book of Isaiah.  Though written over 2,700 years ago, and referring to events from back then, there are still lessons that we can apply to our own lives here today.  Let’s take a look and see what God’s Word can teach us.

When we read our Bible, it is always helpful to have the historical context, to know what was going on at the time.  Isaiah was a prophet who ministered to the people of the Southern Kingdom of Judah between 740 BC - 686 BC.  His ministry was during the reigns of four of Judah’s kings, including that of King Hezekiah.  It was during Hezekiah’s reign that the Northern Kingdom of Israel fell and was conquered by the Assyrian Empire.  The Assyrian emperor, Sennacherib, then set his eyes on Judah, and prepared to attack them.  It is with this background that our Scripture passage takes place.

The Northern Kingdom of Israel, Judah’s “sister” country, had recently been conquered by Assyria.  That empire was rapidly taking over and conquering nation after nation in the Middle East, and it was now perched and ready to begin its assault on Judah.  Naturally the people, including King Hezekiah and his political counsellors and leaders, were very nervous.  They were much smaller, and militarily no match for Assyria.  Who could or would help them?  There was talk by the political counsellors of the king to make an alliance with Egypt, and get their help, as they had a bigger and stronger army.  Where or who do you turn to when big, insurmountable troubles come your way?

The prophet Isaiah stepped in when he saw that the political and religious leaders were talking about turning to Egypt, to fellow humans for help rather than to God (vs. 14-15).  He called this a “covenant with death”, a metaphor for trusting in worldly alliances instead of God.  They may have thought that a political alliance with such a powerful nation as Egypt was a good idea, however Isaiah told them that it was a false security.  Egypt may help them this time, but they would be burdened with an alliance that may exact a heavy financial burden in money, grain, etc., and may turn on them themselves.  Plus, they were a pagan nation that worshiped a myriad of false idols.  Instead, they should turn to God who would bring them divine protection from their enemies.  Do we trust in worldly systems such as in our government, what wealth we can amass, or in human wisdom?  God wants our faithful love and trust to be in Him.  We must reject compromise and instead stand on Biblical truth.

Next Isaiah gives one of the many prophecies he made about the forthcoming Messiah (vs. 16).  The Lord Jesus is that precious Cornerstone, and our sure Foundation.  Both the apostles Peter and Paul make mention of this verse in their epistles (I Peter 2:6; Romans 9:33).  The actual physical salvation that the people of Judah needed from Assyria could only be found in God.  Today, our spiritual and eternal salvation is found only in the Lord Jesus.  He is the foundation of righteousness and justice, and we need to build our lives on Him alone, not on shifting cultural philosophies or political ideologies.

Isaiah used the word-picture of a builder to show how God measures truth and exposes the lies of false teachers and leaders (vs. 17).  These false doctrines and deceitful leaders, both then and now, will be swept away by God’s judgment.  How can we know false teachings from the truth?  We do so by testing all teaching with what is said in the Bible (Acts 17:11).  God’s Word is the true plumb line.

King Hezekiah did turn to the Lord for His help, and the Assyrian army turned away.  However, the people would continue to resist God’s truth, turning instead to false idols, and the nation of Judah would later be overthrown by the Babylonians (vs. 18-19).  When we reject God’s truth, we invite confusion and destruction.  Only repentance and faith in Jesus will bring peace.

Human wisdom is inadequate (vs. 20-22).  It cannot provide rest or protection.  God’s Word warns us to repent before judgment becomes irreversible.  Trusting in the Lord God is the only way we can find security, rest, and salvation, both now and in eternity.

Are you trusting in the Lord Jesus Christ alone, or on worldly wisdom and philosophies?  Jesus is the only true foundation for salvation and righteousness, while everything else you may trust in is a false security.  Be vigilant against all false leaders and their words.  Measure everything that you are taught by the Bible.  Finally, don't delay in repentance.  Judah listened that time, but later they failed to listen and repent, and their judgment fell.  God’s warnings are His acts of mercy.  Turn to Him before the coming judgment falls.