For almost a half-century, by God’s enabling Spirit, I have been faithful to the calling of Jesus Christ. By His grace alone I have been able to remain in one pastorate for forty-four years; tending, as it were, to His sheep on the backside of a desert, as Moses did in the land of Midian. For these many years the Lord has been pleased to enable me to remain faithful to the proclamation of the truth; mind you, not ‘some true things,’ but “all the counsel of God” (Acts 20:27). I have sought to declare nothing but that ‘gospel’ that glorifies Christ alone. Man’s misconception of the God of Holy Scripture is evident as we look about us. Men think God is impressed with magnificent buildings and religious centers, recreation facilities, ceremonial worship and such. Not so, nothing of man impresses God, “Thus saith The Lord, the heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool: where is the house that ye builded unto me? and where is the place of my rest?” (Isaiah 66:1). That these things are unimpressive to Him is clear. What ‘impresses’ God He states in Isaiah 66:2, “…But to this man will I look, even to him that is poor (spiritual) and of a contrite spirit, and TREMBLETH at my Word.” In the third verse God expresses how offensive religious ceremonies are to Him. In those days Israel had become proud of their temple and gloried in their ceremonial offerings. Jehovah told them that when they offered an ox they might as well have slain a man and when they offered a lamb it just as well had been a dog. That language can very well apply to the religious pride of today and to many churches in our communities. Those who will not humble their hearts and bow their spirits down into the dust of repentance might as well offer human sacrifices and butcher dogs in their elaborate services. Their formal ceremonies are a stench in the nostrils of the Holy God. He concludes verse three saying, “Yea, they have chosen their own ways, (not God’s, which is humility, contrition, respect, reverence, and the Holy honor of His Word) and their soul delighteth in their abominations.” And then He warns, “I also will choose their delusions…”(v.4). Paul brings this same idea over into New Testament Christianity and applies it to the apostasy of the final days “And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: That they all might be damned who believed not the TRUTH, but had pleasure in unrighteousness” (II Thessalonians 2:11-12). It was for this cause that they “received not the LOVE OF THE TRUTH” that He turned Satan loose on them with all his lying wonders to deceive them. A final word from Isaiah 66:5, a word of encouragement is given to those that tremble at His Word, (who respect, honor and proclaim it, refusing to substitute anything in its place). “…He shall appear to your joy…” But to those who glory in their ceremonial religion, He shall appear to their shame.
Older
Top
