“On that day of judgement they will abandon the gold and silver idols they made for themselves to worship. They will leave their gods to the rodents and bats, while they crawl away into caverns and hide among the jagged rocks in the cliffs. They will try to escape the terror of the Lord and the glory of his majesty as he rises to shake the earth. Don’t put your trust in mere humans. They are as frail as breath. What good are they?”
Isaiah 2:20-22 NLT
The remainder of Isaiah 2 continues with details of what will happen on “that day of judgement” when “only the Lord will be exalted”. The verses list a sobering and depressing series of catastrophes that will impact the Israelites, and all because of their sin, rebellion, and idolatry. It wasn’t just a minor inconvenience now and then, but a series of disasters as their society was dismantled and destroyed. And through it all, “Human pride will be humbled, and human arrogance will be brought down” (Isaiah 2:17a). Chapter 2 ends with the observation, “Don’t put your trust in mere humans. They are as frail as breath. What good are they?”
The pathetic nature of human abilities can be seen in many national crises over the centuries, as one ruler after another led their people into wars and other catastrophes, often as they chased ideologies that were just as Godless as those the Israelites sought after. And today the practice continues with out-of-touch politicians and business leaders following the sad observation at the end of the Book of Judges – “In those days Israel had no king; all the people did whatever seemed right in their own eyes” (Judges 21:25). That’s human nature without a compass to lead them in the paths of righteousness. So today in the UK, Godless laws are leaving the stain of sin all over society. Abortion is a crime of the highest proportion and God will not allow such an atrocity to continue for long, I’m sure. The US has largely stepped back from the brink but the UK is even seeking to extend its scope. Then we have the ideologues who are promoting celebrations of all sorts of gender deviations. There are even going to be steps to make “Conversion Therapy” illegal, and I’m sure there will be other attempts to reintroduce Assisted Suicide in the Westminster Parliament. Our politicians surely tick the “What good are they?” box. It is no wonder that mental health, or should it be “mental ill-health”, is an endemic problem.
We pilgrims must pray and keep praying that there will soon be a time when the wrongs are reversed, and the delusions that have gripped so many in our societies are resolved. But one form of mental illness that is increasing is caused by anxiety. Without a moral compass in our societies, people cast around looking for foundations that are solid and immovable, and, while most are debilitated by their feelings and emotions, some are turning to the Church because it is only there that they find the stability that they are looking for. Bible sales are also increasing, because it is only in God’s Word that something to trust can be found. But anxiety is something that is creeping over our society gradually but seemingly unstoppable.
Are we pilgrims feeling anxious this morning? As I cast my eyes over the news today, there is much there to cause depression and worry. But God has a remedy, and many scriptures are there to help. The first thing that we do, must do in fact, is pray. Philippians 4:6-7, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus”. We should also turn to Romans 12:2, which reads, “Don’t copy the behaviour and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect”.
Father God. We realise that as we think and pray Your way, through the help of Your Spirit within us, we are aligning ourselves to Your will and purposes. And we pray for ourselves, that we will grow in grace to be more like Your Son, Jesus. Thank You, Lord. Amen.
Being a Pilgrim 