What Is Your Mindset?

“I, yes I, am the one who comforts you. So why are you afraid of mere humans, who wither like the grass and disappear? [Isaiah 51.12]

God argues a great point here. Why would we fear humans when we have God on our side?

Herein lies revelation about the futility of idol worship. At the time of Isaiah's writing, idols were mostly objects of man's fabrication. As with any design, idols can only reflect the capacities of their designer. So, if God says humans are so limited (no reason to fear them), what good then can the fabrications of humans be (and, especially when compared to God)?

There is a mindset that God has as Supreme Ruler of everything. That mindset is seen throughout the entire Bible (and is even see in Jesus the Messiah). In fact, the entire Bible indicates that God's people are encouraged by God to have His mindset. God constantly reminds His people that He is the One Who is in control AND SO we should not fear... In other words, we should have the same mindset as God - because He is God and we are His.

Carrying this idea further, let's discuss the futility of idol worship in more depth. If we are to fear neither man nor his fabrications, does it not make perfect sense, especially considering man's fabrications as "idols," that we are to trust neither man nor his fabrications? 

Why can't we trust in idols? Because they were made by man!

This is interesting.

Does this mean that anything made my man cannot be trusted?

Think of it this way, nothing but faith pleases God.

And it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him. [Hebrews 11.6]

If there is just one thing that pleases God, does it not make pretty good sense to reserve that one thing for God alone? If faith (trust) is the one thing that God desires from mankind, shouldn't our God-consciousness be alerted when we give that one thing to something/someone else?

Fearing anything is the same as trusting in it. Think about that for a while. Does it not make perfect sense then that we are told clearly in the Bible to fear only God?

Fear of the LORD is the foundation of true knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline. [Proverbs 1.7]

Jesus also made an interesting statement that fully supports what is said here:

“Don’t be afraid of those who want to kill your body; they cannot touch your soul. Fear only God, who can destroy both soul and body in hell. [Matthew 10.28]

Fear of something is faith that that thing has power over us. God indeed has power over us, but man and his fabrications do not. This is the mindset God wants us to have. This is the mindset we see so evident in Jesus and a few Bible characters off and on throughout the Bible.

In this day when men fear so much, I hear God calling His people to decidedly distinguish themselves from the fear of (trust in) man and instead fear only (trust only) God.

What will that look like? Jesus!

Father, thank You for Your Word and Your faithfulness to bring us to faith through it! Forgive us for fearing (trusting) anything but You. May our resolve be to fear/trust You alone and make it evident to the world in which we live!