Man a Mere Mortal

Shall mortal man be more just than God? shall a man be more pure than his maker? Job 4:17.
Man is only mortal, and while he feels himself too wise to accept Jesus, he will remain only mortal.
Physical life is … not eternal or immortal; for God, the Life-giver, takes it again. Man has no control over his life.
The Word of God nowhere teaches that the soul of man is immortal. Immortality is an attribute of God only.
Upon the fundamental error of natural immortality rests the doctrine of consciousness in death—a doctrine, like eternal torment, opposed to the teachings of the Scriptures, to the dictates of reason, and to our feelings of humanity…. What say the Scriptures concerning these things? David declares that man is not conscious in death. “His breath goeth forth, he returneth to his earth; in that very day his thoughts perish.” Psalm 146:4….
When, in answer to his prayer, Hezekiah’s life was prolonged fifteen years, the grateful king rendered to God a tribute of praise for His great mercy. In this song he tells the reason why he thus rejoices: “The grave cannot praise thee, death can not celebrate thee: they that go down into the pit cannot hope for thy truth. The living, the living, he shall praise thee, as I do this day.” Isaiah 38:18, 19. Popular theology represents the righteous dead as in heaven, entered into bliss, and praising God with an immortal tongue; but Hezekiah could see no such glorious prospect in death….
Peter, on the day of Pentecost, declared that the patriarch David “is both dead and buried, and his sepulchre is with us unto this day.” “For David is not ascended into the heavens.” Acts 2:29, 34. The fact that David remains in the grave until the resurrection, proves that the righteous do not go to heaven at death. It is only through the resurrection, and by virtue of the fact that Christ has risen, that David can at last sit at the right hand of God.
The Faith I Live By p. 174
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Prayer Requests
—-Terry’s father is not doing good. His body is shutting down. Hospice I has been called. We need your prayers. Yolande
—-Prayers requested for my daughter Jody and family. Many things going on. Gods mercy and guidance. And help in all situations. Debra
—-my aunt passed away this morning..Please pray for my immediate family. Eva
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Dear Friends,
Today, as we are facing temperatures of over one-hundred, my thoughts turn to the various weather types we get here in Kansas. Tornadoes and Kansas seem to be synonymous, but there are other weather challenges including high summer temperatures. One weather challenge we have not had for quite a few years is an ice storm. The times when everything that the icy rain touches is soon coated with ice cause havoc almost as if a tornado had touched down. The trees soon become burdened with such a thick covering of ice that it makes them bend over toward the ground. As I drove to work after one such storm some years ago, I marveled at how different the trees looked. Those once beautiful trees groaned under their overcoat of ice. Many of them split in half, others lost limbs large and small until they no longer stood proud and tall but looked just as ugly as when a tornado strikes. Those falling limbs and branches caused misery for many thousands of people, as they pulled down power lines leaving homes and businesses without electricity.
One thing I noticed, however, is that the evergreens, although covered with the same coating of ice, were still as tall and complete as they were when the sun was shining and the temperatures were comfortable. I did not see one branch fallen upon the ground. Not one of them had a trunk that split. When I brushed against one of those pines, it was still supple. What a contrast there was between the two types of trees.
How often we are like those deciduous trees. The freezing rain of sinful habits and desires have weighed us down to the ground. It is as if we, too, are covered with a thick ice-coat. We feel as if we are at the breaking point ready to split apart in every direction. The iciness of the evil one has overwhelmed us just as thoroughly as the thick coating of ice did to all of the deciduous trees. Often we become alarmed and try to do what is right, but we can no more rid ourselves of sin than can the trees rid themselves of that ice that is weighing them down. Soon we are ice-coated again and more sinful than before.
Our only hope is the warm love of the Son of Righteousness. Only He can deliver us from the evil one who has burdened us through his many temptations. “Make haste, O God, to deliver me; make haste to help me, O LORD. Let them be ashamed and confounded that seek after my soul: let them be turned backward, and put to confusion, that desire my hurt. Let them be turned back for a reward of their shame that say, Aha, aha. Let all those that seek thee rejoice and be glad in thee: and let such as love thy salvation say continually, Let God be magnified. But I am poor and needy: make haste unto me, O God: thou art my help and my deliverer; O LORD, make no tarrying.” Psalm 70
Only Jesus can change us into an “evergreen” which stands straight and tall no matter how much “ice” the devil heaps upon us. Only Jesus can preserve us amid the storms of life. We are helpless to do it ourselves. “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Sp! irit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance.” Eph 6:12-18
Let us stay so close to our Dear Saviour, that we will never become coated with the iciness of sin. Let us keep our mind constantly focused upon Him and His Great Love. Let us hide His Word in our heart that we will not stray from the One Who loves us so. (Ps 119:9-11)
Rose