Their idols are silver and gold, the work of men’s hands…. They that make them are like unto them; so is every one that trusteth in them. Psalm 115:4-8.
In the days of Noah a double curse was resting upon the earth in consequence of Adam’s transgression and of the murder committed by Cain. Yet this had not greatly changed the face of nature…. The human race yet retained much of its early vigor. But a few generations had passed since Adam had access to the tree which was to prolong life; and man’s existence was still measured by centuries. Had that long-lived people with their rare powers to plan and execute, devoted themselves to the service of God, they would have made their Creator’s name a praise in the earth…. But they failed to do this….
Not desiring to retain God in their knowledge, they soon came to deny His existence. They adored nature in place of the God of nature…. Extensive groves, that retained their foliage throughout the year, were dedicated to the worship of false gods…. Men put God out of their knowledge and worshiped the creatures of their own imagination; and as the result, they became more and more debased.
The men of that generation were not all, in the fullest acceptation of the term, idolaters. Many professed to be worshipers of God. They claimed that their idols were representations of the Deity and that through them the people could obtain a clearer conception of the divine Being. This class were foremost in rejecting the preaching of Noah. As they endeavored to represent God by material objects, their minds were blinded to His majesty and power; they ceased to realize the holiness of His character, or the sacred, unchanging nature of His requirements.
Man will rise no higher than his conceptions of truth, purity, and holiness. If the mind is never exalted above the level of humanity, if it is not uplifted by faith to contemplate infinite wisdom and love, the man will be constantly sinking lower and lower. The worshipers of false gods clothed their deities with human attributes and passions, and thus their standard of character was degraded to the likeness of sinful humanity.
Conflict and Courage p. 32
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Prayer Requests
—– Prayers needed for a close friend who ‘s father is in the hospital. Wanda
—— Please pray for a situation with my brother. He needs a mountain moved today! I know God is able! Dana
—–Please continue to pray for Emma as we ended up in the ER again yesterday morning. Turned out she has an ear infection which kept her up all night which brought on some seizure-like activity but not a real seizure thankfully. Rose
—– Please pray for me. Today 1:30-5 pm I will be taking a certification test. I get test anxiety need to be calm and trusting that the Lord will calm me down and bring all the knowledge to memory. Praising him! Thanks. Yasmin
—–Please pray for B who needs a better job and healing of mind. L
—– Please pray for my son Kris. He’s in ICU with severe burns over 65% of his body. Jack
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Dear Friends,
One year, when we lived out in Washington state, there were fires in the area where we lived. The news called it “firestorm.” As the fire spread, we could see the flames leaping high into the sky over a distant hill. We lived in a rural area and could see many miles. We were not sure if those flames would come any closer, so we hurriedly packed a backpack full of necessities and put it beside the door in case we had to leave. Thankfully, the fires never got that close to us.
Sadly, the flames did burn the Gray’s property. This older couple was very dear to our children and to us. Occasionally, we would visit them. They were always delighted. We often laughed at their habit of each carrying on a different conversation with us at the same time. It was quite a mind exercise to keep track of and answer them, but we rather enjoyed it. Lester’s health was not as good as it once was as he had some sort of rare lung condition, but he still taught in Pathfinders as he had for many years. He was very good with children and made a big impression on Ronnie Jay especially. He often thinks of Lester. In fact, because of Lester’s memory, Ronnie Jay was a Pathfinder counselor until he went to college
When the fire began burning Lester’s property, some church members came to help him fight the fire. During the time when he was trying to save his outbuildings and home, Lester inhaled too much fire and smoke. His wife said that when he came inside, he was quite short-tempered, something very unusual for him. Finally, he admitted that he could hardly breathe and needed to go to the hospital. Quickly she drove him to the emergency room. One look at him and they admitted him to a room and put him on a respirator. His already weakened lungs could not recover, however, and he died within a few days. He was greatly missed by all.
This life is very uncertain. How quickly everything that have been worked for all our lives can vanish away. Our Dear Saviour advises, “Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” Matt 6:19-21 How important it is, then, that we keep the things we own in proper perspective. We must never “trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy.” 1 Tim 6:17
All around us we can see that Bible prophecy is being fulfilled. The end of all things is at hand.” 1 Peter 4:7 James speaks of this time. “Go to now, ye rich men, weep and howl for your miseries that shall come upon you. Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are moth-eaten. Your gold and silver is cankered, and the rust of them shall be a witness against you, and shall eat your flesh as it were fire. Ye have heaped treasure together for the last days.” James 5:1-3 So many have amassed great wealth, but their treasure will not save them. They are like the man in the parable, “The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully: And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits? And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater, and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods. And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years, take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry. But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided? So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.” Luke 12:16-21
We all should, of course, provide for our families, but this should not be the primary focus, the whole driving force of the life. Jesus is coming soon, then all will be swept away. Only those who have “washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb” Rev 7:14 will stand. Only those who have given “diligence to make calling and election sure” <2 Peter 1:10 > will be ready. We must put “first things first.” We must “work out [our] own salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God which worketh in [us] both to will and to do of his good pleasure.” Phil 2:12, 13 Time is short. Life is uncertain. We must put our focus when our focus belongs—on eternal realities.
May we focus on our Dear Saviour making our walk with Him the most important thing in our life. May He be first and last and always in our life. May we so walk in Him that He will take us to His everlasting kingdom which shall never be destroyed.
Rose
God or Idols?