“Who among you fears the LORD and obeys his servant? If you are walking in darkness, without a ray of light, trust in the LORD and rely on your God. But watch out, you who live in your own light and warm yourselves by your own fires. This is the reward you will receive from me: You will soon fall down in great torment.” (Isaiah 50:10–11, NLT)
Two types of people are represented in the scripture above. The first type of person is found in the first verse, Isaiah 50:10. This person “fears the Lord” and “obeys God’s servant”. This person may “walk in darkness” during difficult times in life. This person may have moments of deep sorrow, times of distress and temptation, seasons when things are falling apart. But during those dark times, this first type of person will “trust in the Lord”. Despite spiritual darkness and trial and pain and the loss of connection with God, this person will “rely on God”. This person’s faith will seek God’s light in the midst of darkness, trusting that God will watch over him or her. One day, this person will find God’s warmth, bask in God’s light, and feel God’s grace.
The second type of person is typified in the very next verse of our scripture for today. In Isaiah 50:11, this person is described as one who “lives in their own light”. They don’t trust in God’s light; they make their own light. They don’t trust in the warmth of God’s loving arms, they “warm themselves by their own fires”. This person could easily be described as a humanist who has no room for God in life. During any dark times in life, they do not trust in God. Instead, they trust in themselves. They trust in their own smarts, money, or connections. They do not pray to God for deliverance. They do what it takes to make it on their own. They have no room for God in life. Even when they should trust God in dark days, they are so prideful that they will only rely on their own weak abilities. Not trusting in God’s power, they use their own strength to take care of themselves. In the end, this person will fail. They will “fall down in great torment”. They will suffer alone, without God’s help or grace or warmth or peace.
I am continually amazed by those who refuse to believe in God. They go about their blessed lives as if the world, the universe, their possessions came out of nowhere. We know that if the earth were like practically every other planet in the universe, it could not sustain life. If the sun were just a bit older or younger, the earth would not be inhabitable. If the earth had not been formed the perfect way it was, there would be no water. If the earth had been in the place of every other planet in our solar system, the conditions would be either too hot or cold or arid or poisonous to sustain life as we know it. Yet, these atheists refuse to admit that God had a hand in this creation! What do they presume caused life on this earth? They say it was luck or coincidence or chance. Where is their proof?
Decades ago, a friend told me about a conversation he overheard between a physicist and a reporter. The physicist was asked about the probabilities of life on earth causing human beings. Being a non-scientist, the reporter needed a concrete example of the odds of life on earth coming to be. The physicist thought for a bit, then replied, “If you blew up a car and all the parts came back together by themselves in perfect working order, that would be about the equivalent of life on earth forming out of the chaos of the universe by itself (without divine intervention).”
A while back, an atheist made comments about the lack of proof for God. He was trying to make me out as a person who relied on outdated beliefs and misguided faith. Being a communist, he saw religion as an “opiate of the people” used by leaders to control the masses. He did not believe there was ever any God. Deities were made-up fantasies by weak-minded people. I gave him examples of God’s work. I explained how hundreds saw the resurrected Jesus alive. I told him how I personally experienced God’s actions and miracles and grace. He simply waved off my “weak arguments”. Feeling his self-assured confidence in anti-God rhetoric, I turned the tables on him. I asked, “OK, you won’t believe any of the proof I have for God. What proof do you have that God does not exist?”
He replied, “I can’t prove that something does not exist! That’s a logical fallacy!”
I answered, “That is only true if something doesn’t exist. I contend God does exist. I have found proof. You can find proof, but you refuse to do it!” He gave no further arguments…. because he had none.
Recently, a long-time atheist came back to Jesus. He was baptized. After the baptism, he confided in those closest to him that “I felt something special. I felt this peace. I felt this connection with God like never before.” You and I have felt God’s hand. We have felt the grace from a loving God. We have been awed by the actions of our Savior on the cross at Calvary.
Despite the darkness of this world, you have experienced God’s light. You have seen and felt the hand of God. The gospel has enlightened your soul. Jesus has saved you. The Holy Spirit speaks to you even now……. if you are a child of God.
Know that the darkness will come in this life. Know that dark times will engulf this world. Satan will make sure of that. Liars and manipulators will attempt to darken the blessings around you. God will continually seek to bring light and hope and peace and grace. Do not fall victim to the darkness. Hold on to the heavenly, wonderful, blessed, eternal light provided by God in Christ. Soon enough, you will meet your Lord seated at a place of honor in eternal light!
The second type of person is typified in the very next verse of our scripture for today. In Isaiah 50:11, this person is described as one who “lives in their own light”. They don’t trust in God’s light; they make their own light. They don’t trust in the warmth of God’s loving arms, they “warm themselves by their own fires”. This person could easily be described as a humanist who has no room for God in life. During any dark times in life, they do not trust in God. Instead, they trust in themselves. They trust in their own smarts, money, or connections. They do not pray to God for deliverance. They do what it takes to make it on their own. They have no room for God in life. Even when they should trust God in dark days, they are so prideful that they will only rely on their own weak abilities. Not trusting in God’s power, they use their own strength to take care of themselves. In the end, this person will fail. They will “fall down in great torment”. They will suffer alone, without God’s help or grace or warmth or peace.
I am continually amazed by those who refuse to believe in God. They go about their blessed lives as if the world, the universe, their possessions came out of nowhere. We know that if the earth were like practically every other planet in the universe, it could not sustain life. If the sun were just a bit older or younger, the earth would not be inhabitable. If the earth had not been formed the perfect way it was, there would be no water. If the earth had been in the place of every other planet in our solar system, the conditions would be either too hot or cold or arid or poisonous to sustain life as we know it. Yet, these atheists refuse to admit that God had a hand in this creation! What do they presume caused life on this earth? They say it was luck or coincidence or chance. Where is their proof?
Decades ago, a friend told me about a conversation he overheard between a physicist and a reporter. The physicist was asked about the probabilities of life on earth causing human beings. Being a non-scientist, the reporter needed a concrete example of the odds of life on earth coming to be. The physicist thought for a bit, then replied, “If you blew up a car and all the parts came back together by themselves in perfect working order, that would be about the equivalent of life on earth forming out of the chaos of the universe by itself (without divine intervention).”
A while back, an atheist made comments about the lack of proof for God. He was trying to make me out as a person who relied on outdated beliefs and misguided faith. Being a communist, he saw religion as an “opiate of the people” used by leaders to control the masses. He did not believe there was ever any God. Deities were made-up fantasies by weak-minded people. I gave him examples of God’s work. I explained how hundreds saw the resurrected Jesus alive. I told him how I personally experienced God’s actions and miracles and grace. He simply waved off my “weak arguments”. Feeling his self-assured confidence in anti-God rhetoric, I turned the tables on him. I asked, “OK, you won’t believe any of the proof I have for God. What proof do you have that God does not exist?”
He replied, “I can’t prove that something does not exist! That’s a logical fallacy!”
I answered, “That is only true if something doesn’t exist. I contend God does exist. I have found proof. You can find proof, but you refuse to do it!” He gave no further arguments…. because he had none.
Recently, a long-time atheist came back to Jesus. He was baptized. After the baptism, he confided in those closest to him that “I felt something special. I felt this peace. I felt this connection with God like never before.” You and I have felt God’s hand. We have felt the grace from a loving God. We have been awed by the actions of our Savior on the cross at Calvary.
Despite the darkness of this world, you have experienced God’s light. You have seen and felt the hand of God. The gospel has enlightened your soul. Jesus has saved you. The Holy Spirit speaks to you even now……. if you are a child of God.
Know that the darkness will come in this life. Know that dark times will engulf this world. Satan will make sure of that. Liars and manipulators will attempt to darken the blessings around you. God will continually seek to bring light and hope and peace and grace. Do not fall victim to the darkness. Hold on to the heavenly, wonderful, blessed, eternal light provided by God in Christ. Soon enough, you will meet your Lord seated at a place of honor in eternal light!
The video for today speaks about Russell Brand's baptism. He's trying to explain how Christ's presence made every difference....click below to hear it!