Scripture
Therefore, the Lord says: “I am planning disaster against this people, from which you cannot save yourselves. You will no longer walk proudly, for it will be a time of calamity.
~Micah 2:3, NIV
Quote
Pride always precedes a fall; it is a spiritual law and it is as real as the law of gravity.
~Ya’kov
Micah was an 8th century prophet who prophesied during the reigns of Jothan, Ahaz and Hezekiah. Israel was in a state of decadence. The rich were getting richer at the expense of the poor and helpless. Micah said of these rich and powerful Jews, “They lie in bed planning evil and wicked deeds. They rise up at daybreak and do them. They covet fields and take them by force, along with the house and the house holder. They do it because they can; they know they have the power to do evil.”
What motivates a man to covet power or control over another man? A recent study by Columbia University came to the conclusion that man desires power for two reasons:
power as influence and power as autonomy. Power of influence can be good or bad. It can be used to help others or it can be employed selfishly. Power as autonomy
is a form of power that allows one person to ignore and resist the influence of others and thus to shape one’s own destiny. It is the power to assert one’s will over others; to make our own rules so to speak. It comes from our desire to be independent: I don’t need God and I don’t need you mentality. I also believe a big part of our motivation to control others is greed. We always associate money with power. Rich Jews have always been powerful and very autonomous.
I see this autonomous spirit at work in the lives of people. They are convinced they can avoid Jesus: no repentance, no confession of sin, no acknowledgement of utter need for a Savior. These folks have created their own religion, a system whereby they think they will be accepted. Sometimes it involves alms [large gifts to charities], sometimes it involves church membership, attendance and even baptism. Sometimes it involves bible reading and watching TBN but is is always devoid of repentance with almost no mention [if any] of Jesus. Like the Rich Young Ruler, these folks are determined to be saved but by their own means. They are bound and determined to do it their way.
The thing that breaks my heart is the vast numbers who think they can save themselves. They have been deceived. Jesus said emphatically, “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.” The will of the Father, did you catch that? The only way to be saved is GOD’S WAY, not yours or mine.
PTL for the clouds, showers and dropping temps. It went from 95 to 78 in less than two hours–Thanks to the rain. There is another tropical depression in the gulf; perhaps we’ll get some rain out of this one.