Persuasive Words, Philosophy, and Traditions of Men - Isaiah 34-36 and Colossians 2
In order to follow God's will and to be a part of what He is doing in the world, we must understand that His ways and His plans are not at all like the plans and ways of man. God designed the universe in His wisdom, and His wisdom is not the wisdom of man. He is running the world by His plans, and He will bring it to an end in His way. Our problem is that we tend to listen to the human reasoning instead of listening to what God is saying. Since God works behind the scenes to do His will, and we can't see Him directly, it is easy for us to be swayed by the things we can see. That is always the wrong way, though. We must look to the Lord, instead of trusting in persuasive words, philosophy, or traditions of men.
Isaiah told the people over and over that God would judge the nations for their sins and bring destruction. In fact, he refers to a great time of tribulation that will happen in the future. Israel had a difficult time believing this because they did not understand the holiness of God. They were just focused on the world around them. They did not think the sins of the pagan nations was so bad, and they seemed to accept the ways of the nations as being as good as the ways of God. Therefore they dismissed God's words about judgment against sin. When God spoke of a time of restoration and peace in the future, they did not seem to accept that either, because it seemed too good to be true. We see this when the Rabshakeh came to represent the king of Assyria. He told them not to trust in God as King Hezekiah was telling them to do, because they could look at what was happening in the world and see that Assyria was able to defeat them. He used persuasive words, philosophy and traditions of men to try to get them to surrender to him. I am sure there were many people who listened to him and did not want to follow the Lord. That is how it has always been.
Paul deals with this a lot in Colossians. The believers there were being influenced by people who did not accept the gospel, but they had their own way of being saved by knowledge. The problem was that this knowledge was not special. It was man's wisdom. It was not God's ways. Paul had to urge the believers not to be swayed by these persuasive words or this philosophy. He knew they must remain faithful to Jesus who had saved them and to the truth of the Cross, even if it did not go along with the traditions of men and the ways of this world. As you read these chapters today, ask yourself what you are basing your life upon. Are you following the wisdom of this world or the traditions of men, because someone has deceived you with persuasive words? Don't let that happen. Concentrate on hearing from God, because He is the One in control, and His will is what will happen, no matter what anyone says.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Isaiah 37-38 and Colossians 3.
Isaiah told the people over and over that God would judge the nations for their sins and bring destruction. In fact, he refers to a great time of tribulation that will happen in the future. Israel had a difficult time believing this because they did not understand the holiness of God. They were just focused on the world around them. They did not think the sins of the pagan nations was so bad, and they seemed to accept the ways of the nations as being as good as the ways of God. Therefore they dismissed God's words about judgment against sin. When God spoke of a time of restoration and peace in the future, they did not seem to accept that either, because it seemed too good to be true. We see this when the Rabshakeh came to represent the king of Assyria. He told them not to trust in God as King Hezekiah was telling them to do, because they could look at what was happening in the world and see that Assyria was able to defeat them. He used persuasive words, philosophy and traditions of men to try to get them to surrender to him. I am sure there were many people who listened to him and did not want to follow the Lord. That is how it has always been.
Paul deals with this a lot in Colossians. The believers there were being influenced by people who did not accept the gospel, but they had their own way of being saved by knowledge. The problem was that this knowledge was not special. It was man's wisdom. It was not God's ways. Paul had to urge the believers not to be swayed by these persuasive words or this philosophy. He knew they must remain faithful to Jesus who had saved them and to the truth of the Cross, even if it did not go along with the traditions of men and the ways of this world. As you read these chapters today, ask yourself what you are basing your life upon. Are you following the wisdom of this world or the traditions of men, because someone has deceived you with persuasive words? Don't let that happen. Concentrate on hearing from God, because He is the One in control, and His will is what will happen, no matter what anyone says.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Isaiah 37-38 and Colossians 3.