In The Last Days...

In the last days, the mountain of the LORD’s house will be the highest of all—the most important place on earth. It will be raised above the other hills, and people from all over the world will stream there to worship. People from many nations will come and say, “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of Jacob’s God. There he will teach us his ways, and we will walk in his paths.” For the LORD’s teaching will go out from Zion; his word will go out from Jerusalem. The LORD will mediate between peoples and will settle disputes between strong nations far away. They will hammer their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will no longer fight against nation, nor train for war anymore. Everyone will live in peace and prosperity, enjoying their own grapevines and fig trees, for there will be nothing to fear. The LORD of Heaven’s Armies has made this promise! Though the nations around us follow their idols, we will follow the LORD our God forever and ever. [Micah 4.1-5]

Regardless what one thinks or believes about where the world as we know it currently lies on the timeline of the Bible, we have Micah's writing above that gives a clear picture of what the last days will look like for those who are truly God's own people.

The number one takeaway from the passage above is that the LORD’s house will be distinguished from the world. The LORD's house can only be God's Kingdom - God's people. And, what we learn from Micah's prophecy is that the LORD's house will be ground-zero for God's Word - His ways and His paths. The undeniable fact is that in the last days, God's people and God's Word will be so synchronized that they are effectively synonymous. 

The number two takeaway form the passage above is that in the last days and in the LORD's house (people), human defenses will be converted to human dependence upon God ALONE. In contrast, the world will continue to depend upon its idols.

In the context of Micah's prophecy, "following the LORD" is manifested in retiring all self-defensiveness and replacing it with God-dependence. "Self-defense" represents every idol that the world depends on. God-dependence, in contrast, is depending on God alone for everything. It must remain understood however that God-dependence cannot be achieved apart from synchronization with His Word.

So faith comes from hearing, that is, hearing the Good News about Christ. [Romans 10.17]

Jesus Christ is the Living Word of God. The faith (dependence) necessary to be truly "God-dependent" comes only from God's Word. Jesus Christ, God's Living Word, then, distinguishes God-dependent people from self-dependent people of the world.

Self-dependence is most easily recognized in Bible history in military terms - articles of warfare (swords, shields, horses, chariots, etc.). However, there are other Bible references to self-dependence that have nothing to do with military defenses (King Asa comes to mind). It should be understood here that self-dependence is not only dependence upon oneself individually, but dependence upon the cumulative abilities and accomplishments of mankind corporately, independent of God. The idols then of self-dependence cover a broad range human needs - not just military protection. As anyone familiar with this author would come to expect, the needs of mankind where self-dependence is commonplace today are broadly defined as the world's popular idols of finance, insurance, medicine and technology.

For God's people to be distinguished, something must be distinguishable in their lives! God is distinguished in people's lives only if distinction is made IN WHAT THEY DEPEND ON that separates them from the world. God simply demands that His people depend ONLY UPON HIM.

“I am the LORD your God, who rescued you from the land of Egypt, the place of your slavery. “You must not have any other god but me. [Exodus 20.2-3]

To depend on anything other than, or in addition to, God ALONE is idolatry. In the last days...

Though the nations around us follow their idols, we will follow the LORD our God forever and ever. [Micah 4.5] 

And, why will we do what Micah 4.5 says? Because we have returned to the Word of God as the most important thing God has given to us and have made it our only priority in life. “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of Jacob’s God. There he will teach us his ways, and we will walk in his paths.” For the LORD’s teaching will go out from Zion; his word will go out from Jerusalem.

So... Let's go ahead and make this conversation about Jesus...

The written Word of God is manifest in Jesus Christ. Jesus, as the Living Word of God, gave simple clarity to this fact:

“You search the Scriptures because you think they give you eternal life. But the Scriptures point to me! [John 5.39]

What is it then that distinguishes one as a follower of Christ?

If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me. [Matthew 16.24 (also, Mark 8.34 & Luke 9.23)] 

The similarities between Jesus' words above and Micah 4.5 are no coincidence! 

Though the nations around us follow their idols, we will follow the LORD our God forever and ever. [Micah 4.5] 

Finance, insurance, medicine and technology will never self-identify as idols. And, you know what? Neither will religion! In fact, more often than not, man-made religion defends finance, insurance, medicine and technology! They are all however, inescapably the works of man - his idols.

But in the last days, God's people will be distinguished from the world by breaking away from (giving up) the world's idols even if it kills them (taking up their cross) to follow Jesus. However, we should not be so foolish as to think this will be popular or widely publicized. In fact, Jesus said it would be just the opposite:

“You can enter God’s Kingdom only through the narrow gate. The highway to hell is broad, and its gate is wide for the many who choose that way. But the gateway to life is very narrow and the road is difficult, and only a few ever find it. [Matthew 7.13-14]

The life of any "true believer" then "in the last days" should be spent in becoming one with God's Word (Jesus) and getting rid of every idol. And, for the record, anything a "believer" is compelled to "defend" out of "self" awareness that is NOT DISTINGUISHABLY TRUST IN GOD ALONE, is an idol.

Father, thank You for Your written and Living Word. Thank You that You have given us every resource we need in Your Word - in Jesus - to be distinguished from the world and its idols. May Your Word, at the conviction of the Holy Spirit, lead us out of our idolatry and into distinguishable dependence upon You ALONE as we give up our own way, take up our cross, and follow Jesus. So be it.

Why Jesus Quoted Isaiah

Look, a righteous king is coming! And honest princes will rule under him. Each one will be like a shelter from the wind and a refuge from the storm, like streams of water in the desert and the shadow of a great rock in a parched land. Then everyone who has eyes will be able to see the truth, and everyone who has ears will be able to hear it. [Isaiah 32.1-3] 

If ever there was a prophecy about Jesus and His followers, this is certainly it! Isaiah's writing, as it so often does, points to Jesus.

As important as it is that we understand Isaiah's revelation of Jesus, we must also understand Isaiah's revelation of idolatry. Isaiah 30-31 provides a detailed look at idolatry and the sin it festers. This idolatry starts off with Judah's dependence upon Egypt.

What sorrow awaits my rebellious children,” says the LORD. “You make plans that are contrary to mine. You make alliances not directed by my Spirit, thus piling up your sins. For without consulting me, you have gone down to Egypt for help. You have put your trust in Pharaoh’s protection. You have tried to hide in his shade. But by trusting Pharaoh, you will be humiliated, and by depending on him, you will be disgraced. For though his power extends to Zoan and his officials have arrived in Hanes, all who trust in him will be ashamed. He will not help you. Instead, he will disgrace you.” [Isaiah 30.1-5]

Now, for those who are telling themselves that this article is just another product of the "idolatry fixation" of the author, Isaiah also describes them clearly: 

They tell the seers, “Stop seeing visions!” They tell the prophets, “Don’t tell us what is right. Tell us nice things. Tell us lies. Forget all this gloom. Get off your narrow path. Stop telling us about your ‘Holy One of Israel.’” [Isaiah 30.10-11] 

Isaiah's warning against idolatry was met with naysayers who are identified in prophetic revelation just the same as Isaiah identified Jesus and idolatry:

This is what the Sovereign LORD, the Holy One of Israel, says: “Only in returning to me and resting in me will you be saved. In quietness and confidence is your strength. But you would have none of it. You said, ‘No, we will get our help from Egypt. They will give us swift horses for riding into battle.’ But the only swiftness you are going to see is the swiftness of your enemies chasing you! [Isaiah 30.15-16] 

I have had people tell me, "You can't expect people to just give up debt, insurance, medicine and technology!" when I point them out as today's idols by the Biblical definition of trusting them instead of (or in addition to) God. I've even had a very close and dear family member confidently and 'smartly' tell me, "I am just not willing to take that risk... (to give up debt, insurance, medicine and technology)" as if he was smarter than God and His Word.

No, people are more committed to the hustle and bustle of the world and its ways (even "good church people") than they are to the salvation rest of trusting only in the quiet and confident strength of God.

THINK!!! Why did Jesus quote Isaiah so much? Why did Jesus use the terms "eyes to see and ears to hear"? He did so to point back to Isaiah and his teachings!

His disciples came and asked him, “Why do you use parables when you talk to the people?” He replied, “You are permitted to understand the secrets of the Kingdom of Heaven, but others are not. To those who listen to my teaching, more understanding will be given, and they will have an abundance of knowledge. But for those who are not listening, even what little understanding they have will be taken away from them. That is why I use these parables, For they look, but they don’t really see. They hear, but they don’t really listen or understand. This fulfills the prophecy of Isaiah that says, ‘When you hear what I say, you will not understand. When you see what I do, you will not comprehend. For the hearts of these people are hardened, and their ears cannot hear, and they have closed their eyes—so their eyes cannot see, and their ears cannot hear, and their hearts cannot understand, and they cannot turn to me and let me heal them.’ [Matthew 13.10-15]

In light of Isaiah 30.10-11 quoted above, should we not also understand Jesus' reference to that passage also?

“You can enter God’s Kingdom only through the narrow gate. The highway to hell is broad, and its gate is wide for the many who choose that way. But the gateway to life is very narrow and the road is difficult, and only a few ever find it. [Matthew 7.13-14] 

The only reason people do not "see" this today is because they are willfully ignorant of God's Word. They "cherry-pick" God's Word for passages that make them comfortable because they are unwilling to take the time to read and understand the rest of the Bible. Greed, materialism, and lust for life have, in their eyes, rendered Jesus' call to singular trust in Him alone unreasonable and therefore meaningless:

If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me. [Matthew 16.24 (also, Mark 8.34 & Luke 9.23)]

What's worse is that modern "Christianity" has twisted "grace" to make their stubborn idolatry all okay. Oh, it sounds good... much the same as Satan's words sounded good... "Has God really said...?" and "You won't die..." But as Satan's lie was revealed then, so it is revealed in all the rest of the Bible! Trusting in anything instead of, or in addition to, God ALONE is IDOLATRY and manifests in all manner of uncontrollable sin. It did in Isaiah's time, and it still does today. Man cannot "trust Jesus" and hold on to his idols - the world's ways. Man cannot "trust Jesus" and hold on to his life, the most important thing "in the world."

This author struggles with "reason" just like everyone else. But the Truth is the truth: God's Word is no lie, and it will prove faithful for eternity - whether we believe it (enjoying heaven) or not (suffering in hell).

Father in heaven, as Your Word reveals Jesus, it reveals our idolatry and the sin it fosters. May we KNOW Your Word and trust You ALONE - specifically trusting Jesus ALONE - that we might indeed be Yours. May we, in all fullness and thoroughness, give up our own way, take up our cross, and follow Jesus. So be it.

Peace Is Our Guide

You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you! [Isaiah 26.3] 

Peace is conditional. Period.

The absence of peace declares unbelief in God. In this way, peace is our guide to God.

If we see this through, we will understand the significance of the first three of the Ten Commandments:

“I am the LORD your God, who rescued you from the land of Egypt, the place of your slavery. “You must not have any other god but me. “You must not make for yourself an idol of any kind or an image of anything in the heavens or on the earth or in the sea. You must not bow down to them or worship them, for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God who will not tolerate your affection for any other gods. I lay the sins of the parents upon their children; the entire family is affected—even children in the third and fourth generations of those who reject me. But I lavish unfailing love for a thousand generations on those who love me and obey my commands. “You must not misuse the name of the LORD your God. The LORD will not let you go unpunished if you misuse his name. [Exodus 20.2-7]

If we can see it then, God's commandments regarding singular trust in Him ALONE are commandments of peace. 

What's more amazing is that the 4th Commandment regarding observance of the Sabbath, Who is Jesus, is all about rest. Peace and rest go together perfectly.

Now, contrast what is said above with the restrictive interpretation of these commandments we have had for so long. It is worthy of a long "ponder..."

Furthermore, think about all the turmoil associated with life these days particularly as it relates to man's do-it-for-himself systems of finance, insurance, medicine and technology... and even religion. These industries all purport to make "life" better, but do they? Rarely, if ever, are these industries praised for bringing peace to anyone. And, that is precisely why God demands that we trust Him ALONE instead of these idols! Idols cannot bring peace.

Peace comes only from trusting God, and that, in particular, from trusting God ALONE. God graciously refined this trust even further when He came to earth in the flesh and the angels made their declaration:

That night there were shepherds staying in the fields nearby, guarding their flocks of sheep. Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord’s glory surrounded them. They were terrified, but the angel reassured them. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David! And you will recognize him by this sign: You will find a baby wrapped snugly in strips of cloth, lying in a manger.” Suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of others—the armies of heaven—praising God and saying, “Glory to God in highest heaven, and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased.” [Luke 2.8-14]

And then, Jesus Himself defined it clearly as well:

I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.” [John 16.33]

In perfect harmony with the Ten Commandments, Jesus gave us the exact recipe for peace:

If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me. [Matthew 16.24 (also, Mark 8.34 & Luke 9.23)] 

Father in heaven, for all that I have ever understood of Your Commandments, I see today that when I fully embrace them, they bring me peace. I see that when I give up my own way, take up my cross, and follow Jesus, there is peace.

The Unpardonable Sin Revealed

The LORD will strike Egypt, and then he will bring healing. For the Egyptians will turn to the LORD, and he will listen to their pleas and heal them. [Isaiah 19.22] 

In today's One Year Chronological Bible reading, Isaiah is giving prophecies to different regions. In his message to Egypt, we find the passage above. Isaiah 19.22 reveals much about God's character that should not be overlooked (see What Is God Like? from 2021).

Isaiah's prophecy over Jerusalem, starting in Isaiah 22, reveals their actions when they too are struck by the LORD for their sin. Their response is much different than Egypt's:

Oh, what a day of crushing defeat! What a day of confusion and terror brought by the Lord, the LORD of Heaven’s Armies, upon the Valley of Vision! The walls of Jerusalem have been broken, and cries of death echo from the mountainsides. Elamites are the archers, with their chariots and charioteers. The men of Kir hold up the shields. Chariots fill your beautiful valleys, and charioteers storm your gates. Judah’s defenses have been stripped away. You run to the armory for your weapons. You inspect the breaks in the walls of Jerusalem. You store up water in the lower pool. You survey the houses and tear some down for stone to strengthen the walls. Between the city walls, you build a reservoir for water from the old pool. But you never ask for help from the One who did all this. You never considered the One who planned this long ago. [Isaiah 22.5-11]

In their suffering, Egypt turned to the LORD. In contrast, Jerusalem, when struck by God, set out to resourcefully remedy their situation for themselves:

You run to the armory for your weapons. You inspect the breaks in the walls of Jerusalem. You store up water in the lower pool. You survey the houses and tear some down for stone to strengthen the walls. Between the city walls, you build a reservoir for water from the old pool. [Isaiah 22.8b-11a]

I was speaking to a family member just yesterday - a professing "Christian" - who actually said, "God helps those who help themselves..." 

It should be understood from all that the Bible teaches about God, that the unbiblical cliché quoted above by my family member reveals the exact same attitude Jerusalem had - a sin that would never be forgiven:

At that time the Lord, the LORD of Heaven’s Armies, called you to weep and mourn. He told you to shave your heads in sorrow for your sins and to wear clothes of burlap to show your remorse. But instead, you dance and play; you slaughter cattle and kill sheep. You feast on meat and drink wine. You say, “Let’s feast and drink, for tomorrow we die!” The LORD of Heaven’s Armies has revealed this to me: “Till the day you die, you will never be forgiven for this sin.” That is the judgment of the Lord, the LORD of Heaven’s Armies. [Isaiah 22.12-14]

Why would this sin never be forgiven? Because it is the sin of idolatry which means a person is not trusting in God ALONE. Only when a person trusts God ALONE (turning away from every other god/provider - i.e. repentance) is God's bountiful resource of heaven opened to them. Repentance means to turn away from idolatry and its sin and turn to God.

When Jesus began His earthly ministry, as should be expected if what Isaiah said is true, He made the following demand:

From then on Jesus began to preach, “Repent of your sins and turn to God, for the Kingdom of Heaven is near.” [Matthew 4.17]

To be very clear, and, in stark contrast to the "DEI" mentality that prevails today (even found in leading churches), Jesus' offer of salvation is of no consequence to an unrepentant human being.

Based on the teaching of the entire Bible, the unpardonable sin, blasphemy against the Holy Spirit (Luke 12.10), is to ignore the conviction of the Holy Spirit, the Advocate, Who, Jesus said does the following:

But in fact, it is best for you that I go away, because if I don’t, the Advocate won’t come. If I do go away, then I will send him to you. And when he comes, he will convict the world of its sin, and of God’s righteousness, and of the coming judgment. The world’s sin is that it refuses to believe in me. [John 16.7-9]

The world that "refuses to believe in me" believes instead in itself - its idols. And, that is precisely what Isaiah warned Jerusalem of doing - trusting in themselves, their remedies, their own ways - to take care of themselves instead of calling out to God ALONE.

The unpardonable sin is unrepentance. Unrepentance is refusing to turn away from trusting idols (at the conviction of the Holy Spirit) to trust God ALONE. Now, it is perfectly clear why Jesus demanded absolute fearless faith and undivided loyalty to Himself:

If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me. [Matthew 16.24 (also, Mark 8.34 & Luke 9.23)]

What is said here up to this point may (because it should) invoke a hopeless feeling that wonders, "How can anyone be saved then?" Let's just further compound that hopeless feeling with Jesus' own words:

“You can enter God’s Kingdom only through the narrow gate. The highway to hell is broad, and its gate is wide for the many who choose that way. But the gateway to life is very narrow and the road is difficult, and only a few ever find it. [Matthew 7.13-14]

Trusting in anything instead of, or in addition to, Jesus Christ renders one "hopeless."

Question: If idols are as big a deal as this author suggests, why is Jesus not on record of ever having even used the word "idol"? 

Answer: Because, as God in the flesh, Jesus would naturally only point to Himself as the "hope" of the world: “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me. [John 14.6]

When we finally understand the scope of "giving up our own way, taking up our cross, and following Jesus," we will experience the conviction of the Holy Spirit... There is only one proper response to this conviction: to turn (repent) from our own ways (everything we trust instead of God ALONE) with absolutely no concern for our own life (taking up our cross), to follow Jesus. 

We can KNOW we have effectively given up our own ways when the ways of Jesus replace them:

“I tell you the truth, anyone who believes in me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works, because I am going to be with the Father. [John 14.12]

Religion will not teach this. Denomination will not teach this. The world certainly will not teach this. In fact, most of us are probably "choking" at this point. But, what we are choking on is our own pride - our refusal to give up our own ways - our idols - so that we might follow God - specifically, Jesus - ALONE with no regard whatsoever for our own well-being (taking up our cross) because we have decidedly given that responsibility to God:

“So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need. “So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today. [Matthew 6.31-34]

The grace of God is not for idolaters because the grace of God does not "cover" the unpardonable sin against the Holy Spirit - the conviction to give up our own ways, take up our cross, and follow Jesus. 

God, help us to believe today, not according to our definition of "believe," but according to Your definition of, and conviction to, "believe": to give up our own way, take up our cross, and follow Jesus. So be it.

The Big Lie

Give thanks to him who alone does mighty miracles. His faithful love endures forever. [Psalm 136.4] 

Perhaps the biggest, most glaring lie circulating among God's people today is the lie that God "uses" whatever thing we decide is not an idol in place of Him even though the Bible gives every indication that it is. This is indeed The Big Lie.

For example:

"God uses man's financial system (debt)."

"God uses man's insurance."

"God uses man's medicine."

"God uses man's technology."

These are ALL lies. In fact, in today's One Year Chronological Bible reading, there is another passage from the Psalms that confirms what is said here:

He takes no pleasure in the strength of a horse or in human might. No, the LORD’s delight is in those who fear him, those who put their hope in his unfailing love. [Psalm 147.10-11]

God is not pleased with man's substitutes for His miraculous provision. 

As would be expected of God, if He takes delight in something, He seeks it out: 

The eyes of the LORD search the whole earth in order to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him. [2 Chronicles 16.9a]

In plain English, God is searching for people who will refute (or, disprove) "The Big Lie" that He is limited to using man's devices and industries to accomplish His purpose and will in the earth. 

But of course, no good-standing Christian (leader or otherwise) today would ever say, "God is limited to using only man's ways..." Instead, they say, "God chooses to use man's ways." What's even more blasphemous (and dangerous)  is that they give the benefits of these ways of man, consequently, the label of "miracles."

The problem with saying, "God uses other things..." is that it is simply not true and it is simply not Biblical. It is all part of "The Big Lie" that Satan would have God's people believe. God never took pleasure in Israel seeking another nation's help. NEVER!

The Church today pathetically wallows in powerless religion - and the world is watching (and laughing). It doesn't matter what denomination (or "non-denomination") they are, the miraculous power of God demonstrated by Jesus is all but absent from the Church today. It's like God's people "wonder" why irrefutable "God-only" miracles are so few and far between all the while they are "cloaked" in the protective blanket of their own idols of debt, insurance, medicine and technology (not to mention their idol of unbiblical religion).

The only way to even "test the waters" of God's miraculous power is to throw off the protective blanket of man's idols. The Bible is chock-full of examples of believers who literally made themselves vulnerable to allow God's power to prove itself. 

"Yeah, but what if I die, or a miracle does not manifest?"

The Bible has that covered too!

How much more do I need to say? It would take too long to recount the stories of the faith of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, and all the prophets. By faith these people overthrew kingdoms, ruled with justice, and received what God had promised them. They shut the mouths of lions, quenched the flames of fire, and escaped death by the edge of the sword. Their weakness was turned to strength. They became strong in battle and put whole armies to flight. Women received their loved ones back again from death. But others were tortured, refusing to turn from God in order to be set free. They placed their hope in a better life after the resurrection. Some were jeered at, and their backs were cut open with whips. Others were chained in prisons. Some died by stoning, some were sawed in half, and others were killed with the sword. Some went about wearing skins of sheep and goats, destitute and oppressed and mistreated. They were too good for this world, wandering over deserts and mountains, hiding in caves and holes in the ground. [Hebrews 11.32-38]

"Faith" does not always manifest through physical life or material gain. Sometimes, "faith" dies or suffers loss (refusing to turn from God in order to be set free). Don't stop reading just yet...

Faith that is only validated by human physical or material gain is conditional faith - and, as such is not faith at all. The cross of Jesus demonstrated this fact and His followers are called to their own cross as well:

If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me. [Matthew 16.24 (also, Mark 8.34 & Luke 9.23)]

God-pleasing faith is not about whether we live or die, or, prosper or suffer loss. Faith is about trusting God ALONE for His desired outcome. The Bible supports this kind of faith with many more examples of living and prospering than dying and suffering loss, but again, God-pleasing faith is the goal, not living or dying.

This Biblical truth runs contrary to both stereotypical "Baptist-like" as well as "Word of Faith-like" promotions (I won't call them doctrines or theologies, because they are not).

God ALONE does mighty miracles. But most alleged Christians today do not genuinely believe this statement. They only believe it IF they get their desired outcome (God's will be-damned). Never mind the fact that the Bible is full of undeniable miracles where God preserved earthly life and property, false Christians quickly resort to idols so they might be self-assured of their own earthly self-preservation. And then, in blatant violation of the 3rd Commandment, they call their own methods of self-preservation (their idols) "gifts from God."

And yet... We still have the brazen audacity to question why the Church today does not enjoy the same mountain-moving power Jesus demonstrated and demanded of His followers! 

Yeah, well... ignorance of God's Word is NOT bliss!

My people are being destroyed because they don’t know me. Since you priests refuse to know me, I refuse to recognize you as my priests. Since you have forgotten the laws of your God, I will forget to bless your children. [Hosea 4.6]

What is the most important thing we can know about God? It would naturally be the 1st Commandment:

“I am the LORD your God, who rescued you from the land of Egypt, the place of your slavery. “You must not have any other god but me. [Exodus 20.2-3] 

This is what the subject verse from Psalm 136.4 is telling us too!

Give thanks to him who alone does mighty miracles. His faithful love endures forever. [Psalm 136.4] 

The Big Lie would simply have us remove the word "alone" from Psalm 136.4 and completely ignore "You must not have any other god but me" in the 1st Commandment. No big deal, right? WRONG!

Father, may our faith be in You alone on Your exact terms: that we give up our own way, take up our cross, and follow Jesus. So be it.

Contrast To God's Name And Fame

Your name, O LORD, endures forever; your fame, O LORD, is known to every generation. For the LORD will give justice to his people and have compassion on his servants. [Psalm 135.13-14] 

I wonder how it would be if God's people really felt this way about Him? The Psalmist here is pretty excited and confident about who and what God is.

But then, the Psalmist gives a contrast to the greatness of God:

The idols of the nations are merely things of silver and gold, shaped by human hands. They have mouths but cannot speak, and eyes but cannot see. They have ears but cannot hear, and mouths but cannot breathe. And those who make idols are just like them, as are all who trust in them. [Psalm 135.15-18]

We should understand from this passage that idols all have certain characteristics. We should take those characteristics to heart allowing the Holy Spirit to enlighten us to their presence among us today. Let's go over them...

First off, idols and silver and gold are never far apart. Silver and gold represent money. Where there is money then, is where we should be on cautious lookout for idols. Criminal investigations often start by "following the money" and so, idol identification should start there too. Money does not guarantee the presence of idols, but the event of idolatry, like crime, is much higher where money is involved.

Next, idols are almost exclusively "shaped by human hands." In the broadest understanding of this phrase, it should be understood that idols are the result of man's effort. "Shaped by human hands" indicates man's undeniable involvement with idols.

Then, the Psalmist gives physical characteristics that represent the lifelessness, and therefore, the powerlessness, of idols. Mouths that cannot speak, eyes that don't see, ears that don't hear, and mouths that cannot breathe all speak of the lifelessness of idols. Without man's input, idols can do nothing.

Going further, the makers of idols are identified. Those makers of idols are just as lifeless and powerless as the idols they make. This is important! The makers of idols are simply "cash machines" - they are in it only for the money. Under the guise of "helping," their real goal is the financial "bottom line."

And finally, those who trust in idols are identified: they too are lifeless and powerless just like the makers of idols and the idols they make.

This all makes a certain degree of antiquated sense but, it becomes a "smoking gun" when we compare these characteristics to the modern idols of man's making. 

Man's industries of finance, insurance, medicine and technology all perfectly display every characteristic listed above! These industries' lifeblood is money - and lot's of it. These industries are all the ingenious inventions of man. These idols have no life or power of their own, but depend on man's operation of them. The men who make idols are as lifeless and powerless as the idols they make in that they have only one machine-like goal: money. While these idols all promise "life and power" benefits to those who trust in them, they do so to the demise of those who trust in them, taking their eyes and ears off God, the Source of Life and Power, rendering them as lifeless and powerless then as the idols they trust.

Do we dare also review the modern Church for these characteristics? Compared to the early Church described in the New Testament, and, regardless all the hype otherwise, the modern Church is lifeless and powerless... Should we not at least wonder why? Should we not associate the Church's participation in the lifeless and powerless idolatry of finance, insurance, medicine and technology as the very reason the Church is lifeless and powerless? And, what about the industry of the institutionalized "church"?

And, speaking of a "smoking gun," Jesus could not have made it more clear:

For the hearts of these people are hardened, and their ears cannot hear, and they have closed their eyes— so their eyes cannot see, and their ears cannot hear, and their hearts cannot understand, and they cannot turn to me and let me heal them.’ [Matthew 13.15]

Question: What makes man blind and deaf? Answer: Trusting in blind and deaf idols! 

The disciples walked in, because they walked with, life and power in Jesus Christ. Jesus followed Matthew 13.15 with this:

“But blessed are your eyes, because they see; and your ears, because they hear. [Matthew 13.16]

What did the disciples' eyes see? Miracles. What did their ears hear? The truth. Why? Because they had given up their own way and were fixated on the name, fame, justice, and power of God - Jesus Christ - in strict accordance with His demand:

If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me. [Matthew 16.24 (also, Mark 8.34 & Luke 9.23)]

How will our eyes see today? How will our ears hear today? How will we realize life and power today? Only when we turn to and trust in Jesus, giving up our own way (our trust in man-made idols), taking up our cross, and following Him.

No explanation for the lifelessness and powerlessness of the Church today is as clear and simple. As long and the Church continues its wholesale trust in idols along with the world, it will remain blind and deaf ...and powerless. As long as the Church today religiously justifies its participation in idolatry with complicated doctrines and theologies (including unfulfilled "faith" teachings), it will never comprehend the words of the Psalmist:

Your name, O LORD, endures forever; your fame, O LORD, is known to every generation. For the LORD will give justice to his people and have compassion on his servants. [Psalm 135.13-14]

God's name and His fame distinguish His people from the world. Or, at least, they should...

Father, may Your name and Your fame be seen in me as I give up my own way - the way of idolatry, take up my cross - the way of Jesus, and follow Him. So be it.

A Mountain Is A Mountain

I look up to the mountains—does my help come from there? My help comes from the LORD, who made heaven and earth! [Psalm 121.1-2] 

I wonder if Jesus might have been thinking of Psalm 121.1-2 when He spoke about faith?

I tell you the truth, you can say to this mountain, ‘May you be lifted up and thrown into the sea,’ and it will happen. But you must really believe it will happen and have no doubt in your heart. [Mark 11.23]

A mountain is a mountain. Let me explain...

Let's say a "mountain of need" stands before you. How are you benefited if that mountain of need is simply transformed into a "mountain of debt?"

Likewise, let's say a "mountain of vulnerability" stands before you. How are you benefited if that mountain of vulnerability is transformed into a "mountain of insurance premiums?"

Or, let's say a "mountain of sickness" stands before you. How are you benefited if that mountain of sickness is transformed into a "mountain of expensive medicine?"

And finally, let's say a "mountain of inconvenience" stands before you. How are you benefited if that mountain of inconvenience is transformed into an endless "mountain of must-have gadgetry?"

Indeed, a mountain is a mountain! Trading one mountain for another is both counterintuitive and counterproductive to Psalm 121.1-2 and Mark 11.23.

Debt, insurance, medicine and technology are just as much "mountains" as are the "mountainous" problems  they remedy. The Psalmist said our help does not come from mountains! Jesus said to tell mountains to get out of the way! To trade one mountain for another is just plain foolish. The goal is to eliminate "mountains" altogether, trusting entirely in God.

Father in heaven, help us to see that trading one mountain for another is not help and still leaves another mountain in the way because "a mountain is a mountain." Help us to see that Your desire and demand is that we trust only You. Help us to see that our "help" is not in the mountains, but only in You. So be it.