November 26, 2021
Remember the former things of old, for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like Me, Declaring the end from the beginning, And from ancient times things that are not yet done, Saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, And I will do all my pleasure’ . . . Indeed I have spoken it; I will also bring it to pass. I have purposed it; I will also do it. Isaiah 46:9,10,11b
God, so very graciously, gives us everything that we need to understand this essential truth: our need of Him. His beautiful character, even in our limited, finite condition, is knowable; and summed up in one word: LOVE. It is because of love that He declares the end from the beginning, the essence of prophecy. Through prophetic events, as we remember the former things of old, we may look back and learn that He is true to His Word. This is why we are confident that His promises of what He will yet do are for us to claim. His counsel shall stand. His purpose in coming into our world—our salvation—will indeed be brought to pass.
We have been looking back over history and hopefully gaining a handle on God’s faithfulness in the midst of a world of rebellion against Him. Early on, He provides a helpful description of the leader of that rebellion. Every person is caught in the crossfire of the war between good and evil, right and wrong, obedience and rebellion, life and death. Genesis 3:1 tells us that the leader of the rebellion is subtle! That one word gives us a “heads-up” that the enemy is to be carefully guarded against.
Our adversary is well described by the former English bishop, Hugh Latimer, who came forth as an outspoken champion for the Reformation: “Now I would ask a strange question. Who is the most diligent bishop and prelate in all England? I see you listening and hearkening that I should name him. I will tell you: it is the devil. He is never out of his diocese; call for him when you will, he is ever at home;…he is ever at his plow….Ye shall never find him idle, I warrant you. Where the devil is resident,…away with Bibles, and up with beads; away with the light of the gospel, and up with the light of candles, yea, at noondays;…down with Christ’s cross, up with purgatory pickpurse;…away with clothing the naked, the poor, and impotent; up with decking of images and gay garnishing of stocks and stones; up with man’s traditions and his laws, down with God’s traditions and His most Holy Word…O that our prelates would be as diligent to sow the corn of good doctrine, as Satan is to sow cockle and darnel!”
And in vain they worship Me, Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men. Matthew 15:9