5Thus says the LORD; Cursed be the man that trusts in man, and makes flesh his arm, and whose heart departs from the LORD.
6For he shall be like the shrub in the desert, and shall not see when good comes; but shall inhabit the parched places in the wilderness, in a salt land which is not inhabited.
7Blessed is the man that trusts in the LORD, and whose hope the LORD is.
8For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreads out its roots by the river, and shall not fear when the heat comes, but its leaf shall be green; and shall not be anxious in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit.
Do you think this curse is still in effect? Look around and you tell me. How many Christians tell you during (s)election season that you have to vote in order to make a difference? They give you a hundred reasons why you have to vote for devil A over devil B because of 1, 2, 3 etc. Where is their trust? Where is their hope? Where in the Word does it tell us to be part of the world systems and kingdoms in order to make a difference? When did Jesus vote in the Roman system? Where did Paul go to vote?
Whats the point? People trusting in mankind leads to a curse. Why? Our trust and hope is to be in the Lord our God. We are strangers and aliens here:
| ... Beloved, I urge you as aliens and strangers to abstain from fleshly lusts which wage war against the soul. |
Many of us need miracle power. We need constant miracles and prayers answered just to survive day to day. Show me the miracles the world offers you? I do not know of any. What has hoping in this world gained anyone? It has gained them a curse....
What did the Lord say?
7Blessed is the man that trusts in the LORD, and whose hope the LORD is.
We need prayers answered and we need miracles, we must trust and hope in our Lord alone. He is our source, He is our provider, He is our shelter, He is our protector, He is our peace, He is everything and anything we need when we need it. Apart from Him we have nothing
| I say to the LORD, "You are my Lord; apart from you I have no good thing." . |
He is our treasure in heaven and He is our treasure here on earth. He Himself is all these things and apart from Him we have nothing. So where should our trust and our hope be?
Why is this world spiraling around the drain of destruction? Why are the systems of this world falling apart? Why is there no peace? Why are there lies and deceit everywhere we turn?
| ... There is no peace for the wicked," says my God. |
Men have turned to men for their salvation. This is not a new story, it is one repeated time and again throughout history. Each and every time has resulted in decay and destruction.
In a world like this, and with a view on history, what type of people should we be if we hope to escape such destruction?
1 Thess 5
4But you, brothers and sisters, are not in darkness so that this day should surprise you like a thief. 5You are all children of the light and children of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness. 6So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be awake and sober. 7For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, get drunk at night. 8But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet. 9For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. 10He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him.11Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.
Putting on faith? Yes, faith. Faith in who or what? Faith in the Lord our God whose presence and power answers every need for those of us who belong to His kingdom. We are in this world but not of this world.
| Jesus said, "My kingdom is not of this world. |
This is a message of encouragement. The curse on this world is obvious for those with eyes to see, but we are not of this world. Let us put our full hope and trust in our Father, the Lord Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit which are One, the only One who can deliver as the world implodes around us.
grace and peace
