Trust in Man vs Trust in God

20160703_130835Today was the final day of the Western Conservative Summit. Three years ago I was in a hospital ICU instead of attending this event. This year, I was in front of hundreds of people as they viewed “My Story” video and I shared about my book and introduced Pastor John MacArthur as one of the keynote speaker. As I was leaving today, I had the opportunity to see the infamous, “Scheffel” siblings. Tom Scheffel is the attorney for CCU, sister Debora is on the State Board of Education and brother Mark is the Majority Leader of the State Senate. Their mother Marolyn and their father can be proud of the impact being made on Colorado by their children.

BIBLE VERSE FOR TODAY… “Cursed is the man who trusts in man And makes flesh his strength, Whose heart departs from the Lord.“Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, And whose hope is the Lord. Jeremiah 17:5,7 HCSB

You can count on it. Where an individual places their trust will depend on their quality of life, their resilience in times of testings and their confidence for the future. This morning, I did a short interview with State Representative Gordon Klingenschmitt aka “Dr. Chaps” (former Navy Chaplain) for his internet program “Pray in Jesus Name.” One of the foundational questions was, “what was your source of trust during your health crisis? How did you find the strength to endure?”

Jeremiah is writing to God’s people who were in the throws of God’s judgment for their persistent idolatry. The idolatry that God’s people were to stamp out when entered the promised land, has now become the pervasive cancer in their midst. Their trust in God had been replaced by trust in themselves and the creation of their own hands.

Trusting in man, opposed to trusting in God is reflected in a person’s life. Jeremiah says the one who trusts in man and departs from the Lord, “…shall be like a shrub in the desert, And shall not see when good comes, But shall inhabit the parched places in the wilderness, In a salt land which is not inhabited.” (Jeremiah 17:6 HCSB)

Barrenness, hardship and desolation is the lot for those who trust in themselves. It is a hopeless and fruitless existence. A “salt land” is the most vivid description of a lifeless existence. I found with interest some oil and gas experts observation that it is easier to clean up oil from the land, than it is salt.

In contrast, the man who trusts in the Lord, “…shall be like a tree planted by the waters, Which spreads out its roots by the river, And will not fear when heat comes; But its leaf will be green, And will not be anxious in the year of drought, Nor will cease from yielding fruit.” (Jeremiah 17:8 HCSB)

Fruitfulness and life is the lot of those who trust in the Lord. The words, describe stability, strength and longevity. I think of a recent conversation when a person was describing the rapid growth that takes place in Florida with plants and trees. He said, “the grass can growth an inch and a half in three days.” This is a good metaphor for the life that comes the one who trusts in the Lord. Even when drought comes, fear is not overwhelming, because provision is still present.

How do we know if we are trusting in the Lord or trusting in ourselves? It can be evidenced by what we are experiencing, the “fruit of our lives.” But it also requires a willingness to ask the Lord “what He thinks.” We need to have our hearts open to the Lord in those areas and in those times when we are not trusting Him fully. Why is that? Because, “The heart is deceitful above all things, And desperately wicked; Who can know it? I, the Lord, search the heart, I test the mind, Even to give every man according to his ways, According to the fruit of his doings.” (Jeremiah 17:9,10 HCSB)

Prayer for Today… “Lord, I pray for grace to trust you more. Allow me to realize that I need Your strength and provision for all that I do and each day that I live. Reveal to me those areas where I am leaning to “my own understanding.” Thank You that trusting in You, provides “strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow.”