As we see the signs of the end times as prophesied in scripture, manifesting around us, it is important to heed God's repeated warning to His people. We say that we trust in God, but there are many indications, even among believers, that we are relying and trusting in the wrong things in these challenging times. This is the admonition of the LORD:
"The LORD hear thee in the day of trouble; the name of the God of Jacob defend thee...in the name of our God we will set up our banners: the LORD fulfill all thy petitions. Now know I that the LORD saveth his anointed; he will hear him from his holy heaven with the saving strength of his right hand. Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the LORD or God. They are brought down and fallen: but we are risen and stand upright..." Psalm 20 (excerpt)
This psalm of David tells us that the name of the LORD is a greater defense and power than the military might of men and nations. Military strength, alliances and defensive walls do not guarantee safety and security. Our trust and hope cannot rely upon them. There is a warning associated with this kind of dependence on natural strength. Again the LORD says:
"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." Isa. 31:1
At the time, Egypt was the strongest military might on earth, much as the United States is today. Israel would make alliances with Egypt, depending upon Egypt to protect them from attack. If we are looking to "Egypt" for protection, we are not looking to the LORD.
Often we in the church depend upon political leadership, or political parties, to solve the terrible problems that are plaguing our nation. The LORD warns against this false reliance:
"Put not your trust in princes, nor in the son of man, in whom there is no help. His breath goeth forth, he returneth to his earth; in that very day his thoughts perish. 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 therein is: which keepeth truth for ever...the way of the wicked he turneth upside down." Ps. 146:3-6, 9
Jeremiah elaborates on the curse associated with trusting men for safety and prosperity in this fashion, and the contrasting blessing for those whose trust is in God:
"Thus saith the LORD; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the LORD. For he shall be like the heath in the desert, and shall not see when good cometh; but shall inhabit the parched places in the wilderness, in a salt land (ruined, permanently barren land which cannot support life) and not inhabited. Blessed is the man that trusteth in the LORD, and whose hope the LORD is. For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful (anxious, concerned, fearful) in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit."
Jer. 17:5-8
Jer. 17:5-8
We must guard against the trusting of men rather than God. When we do this, we are departing from our relationship with God. It is an easy trap to fall into, because Jeremiah tells us that our hearts, being wicked, can deceive us in this matter, but the LORD sees exactly where we have placed our trust (v. 9-10).
While we may understand the pitfalls of placing our trust in man and his words and might, there is another danger we may not consider. Man places trust in his religious systems. The LORD placed Jeremiah at the door of the house of the LORD to proclaim to those who were entering to worship:
"Trust ye not in lying words, saying, The temple of the LORD, the temple of the LORD, The temple of the LORD, are these." Jer. 7:4
The LORD said that only if the people thoroughly amended their ways and their doings, could they continue to dwell in their place (v. 3, 5). The people of Judea and Jerusalem depended on the fact that the temple of God being there in their city would protect them from the threatening enemy. However, they continued to live in whatever fashion they chose. A building, even one dedicated to God, cannot save. A religious system, and religious traditions and rituals, cannot save. Salvation is received through a personal relationship with God by the atoning blood of Christ. God had this relationship with man in the beginning before sin destroyed it, and He gave His Son in order to provide a way of restoring this broken personal relationship. Recently, at a conference of leaders representing the various world religions, the Pope made the statement that all of the religions represented there worship the same God. This is not the truth. There is only one way and one name, Jesus Christ, Yeshua haMashiach, by which we may be saved. The Church is not a building. It is the living body of Christ, the "ekklesia", the called out assembly of God's people: called out from darkness and into His light, called out from death into life. The LORD is calling His people to thoroughly amend their ways. Jeremiah wept over the condition of the people of God, calling them an adulterous assembly of treacherous men (Jer. 9:2). The LORD said:
"...they bend their tongues like their bow for lies: but they are not valiant for the truth upon the earth; for they proceed from evil to evil, and they know not me...through deceit, they refuse to know me." Jer. 9:3-6 (excerpt)
The LORD is calling His people to return to him, because He is merciful:
"Only acknowledge thine iniquity, that thou hast transgressed against the LORD thy God, and hast scattered thy ways to the strangers under every green tree, and ye have not obeyed my voice, saith the LORD. Turn, O backsliding children, saith the LORD; for I am married unto you: and I will take you one of a city, and two of a family, and I will bring you to Zion." Jer. 3:13-14
The LORD promised that He will provide pastors, according to His heart, which shall feed His people with knowledge and understanding (v. 15).
This pastor has had the same message for many years. That message is from 2 Chron. 7:14:
"If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land."
In God we trust - or do we? We are being called by God to search, and thoroughly amend our hearts.
*The above is based upon the 2/10 message to the Church from Dr. Kenneth Stevenson.
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Prayer of Salvation for all who desire to receive Jesus as their Savior: Lord Jesus, I desire to know You, and to know Your salvation. I believe that You died for me, and that You were resurrected for me. Forgive me of my sins. Come into my heart, change me, fill me with Your righteousness. Inscribe my name in the Lamb's book of life. Baptize me in Your Holy Spirit, so that I can learn the truth of Your Word and ways, and be strengthened in my walk all the days of my life. You are the hope of my life, and You are my eternal life. I place my trust in You, Lord, for myself, and my whole household. Use me to do the will of the heavenly Father, Who sent You, in Whose name You came. In Your name, and in thanks and praise I pray, Amen.
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