“For the LORD spoke thus to me with His strong hand upon me, and warned me not to walk in the way of this people, saying: ‘Do not call conspiracy all that this people calls conspiracy, and do not fear what they fear, nor be in dread. But the LORD of hosts, Him you shall honor as holy. Let Him be your fear, and let Him be your dread. And He will become a sanctuary and a stone of offense and a rock of stumbling to both houses of Israel, a trap and a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem.'” Isaiah 8:11-14
Devotional Thought For The Day
The world, those who are determined to live in freedom from God, rebellion against God, and ignorance of God, have always endeavored to put a great deal of pressure on those who are determined to remain faithful to God. Their goal is to bring us around to their way of thinking, believing, and behaving, so that we “walk in their way.” We often hear and think of the importance of our “evangelizing” the world. We don’t always think about the myriad of ways in which the world is attempting to influence us and recruit us to their way of thinking. In this time of massive “communication,” the world has numerous ways in which to influence us: radio, television, internet, email, text messaging, and there are still newspapers and magazines and billboards. And really, in virtually all of our conversations we see and feel the influence and pressure of godless thinking, calling us to agree and to join in.
It is interesting how ancient much of the influence is – warnings about “conspiracy” on the part of those who honor God’s Word, various “fears” about what will happen if we do not adopt their peculiar [wicked] wisdom, and even threats from them if we do not conform and agree with them. Always the effort is to press reason against the ways of God, and to present empirical concerns against faith in God. All of the “social engineering” of the past 40 years falls into the first category, and much of the ecological movement [which has no place for God and His Word in its foundation or logic] falls into the second category. With the adoption of evolution and a “godless” universe as foundational presupposition for human thought and conversation, virtually all of the major discussions today occur within a virtually atheistic context. Those outside of the church do not think any consideration of God, His will, His power, His control, to be worthy of concern. It doesn’t even hit their mental radar.
In this text from God’s Word, He addresses this reality with Isaiah. Truly, He provides all of His prophets and spokesmen with the same warning and encouragement. And His spokesmen are to preach and teach this same warning and admonition to all believers, all of His dear children. We are not to agree with the evil and wrongful assessments of the unbelieving around us. Nor are we to allow their “fear-mongering” tactics to persuade us or dissuade us from placing our faith and trust in God. We are not to fear them or even what they fear, and we are not to be in dread of anything of this created world. Rather, our fear and respect is reserved for God alone – and we know and believe and trust that He will indeed be our sanctuary. There is no compelling human reason or empirical evidence that this will be so, and the world will consider us imbeciles for continuing our faith and trust in God – they don’t believe He is real, that He exists. But His Word to us, His gracious promises, are clear, sure, and certain. This is the difference between faith and unbelief, the world and the people of God. And when it comes to theology, values, morals, and devotion, the two ways of being have nothing in common.
So it is that the LORD of hosts, God Almighty, the only True and Living God is either “a sanctuary” or “a stone of offense and a rock of stumbling” to all people living on the face of the earth. Jesus applies this verse to Himself [Matt. 21:42-44], and Peter also applies it to Christ and to disobedience of His Word [1 Pet. 2:7,8]. Christ is the Lord of hosts, God Almighty, come in human flesh to be our Savior from all sin and from all of its harm. Because of human sin and unbelief, He causes division wherever He is – between those who have Him as “sanctuary,” as Savior, Redeemer, Lord, and King, and those who reject Him in unbelief and rebellion [Matt. 10:34-38]. So we too must understand this reality, this division, and the forces and influences that bombard us each day, and we must take heed to the instruction and encouragement of the LORD. We simply cannot acquiesce to the demands and threats of the unbelieving and rebellious; we revere, respect, and take sanctuary in God alone, heeding His Word, the Holy Scripture, the Bible. Every generation, including Isaiah’s, is ultimately provided with evidence of the wisdom of trusting in God alone. In every generation, even with empirical evidence and impeccable logic in favor of faith in God, the majority has declined His invitation and rejected Him. May God enable us to resist every such temptation, and keep us as His own dear children!
Prayer For The Day
Dear Lord Jesus, thank You for the warnings You have provided from antiquity for all of Your people, in regard to threats, temptations, and influence that come from the unbelieving and godless. Keep us warned and mindful that these same pressures exist today so that we may identify and reject them. By the power and warmth of Your love keep us in Your sanctuary and continue to provide for our sanctification. Be our strong comfort and companion when it seems we are alone in our devotion to You. Amen.