Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | April 17, 2013

“Stop regarding man, … For why should he be esteemed?”

Today’s devotion comes from Revelation 6:12-17.
                                                           
“12 I looked when He broke the sixth seal, and there was a great earthquake;  and the sun became black as sackcloth made of hair, and the whole moon became like blood;  13 and the stars of the sky fell to the earth, as a fig tree casts its unripe figs when shaken by a great wind.  14 The sky was split apart like a scroll when it is rolled up, and every mountain and island were moved out of their places.  15 Then the kings of the earth and the great men and the commanders and the rich and the strong and every slave and free man hid themselves in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains;  16 and they *said to the mountains and to the rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the presence of Him who sits on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb;  17 for the great day of their wrath has come, and who is able to stand?””  Revelation 6:12-17.
                           
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“10 Enter the rock and hide in the dust
From the terror of the Lord and from the splendor of His majesty.
11 The proud look of man will be abased
And the loftiness of man will be humbled,
And the Lord alone will be exalted in that day.

A Day of Reckoning Coming

12 For the Lord of hosts will have a day of reckoning
Against everyone who is proud and lofty
And against everyone who is lifted up,
That he may be abased.
13 And it will be against all the cedars of Lebanon that are lofty and lifted up,
Against all the oaks of Bashan,
14 Against all the lofty mountains,
Against all the hills that are lifted up,
15 Against every high tower,
Against every fortified wall,
16 Against all the ships of Tarshish
And against all the beautiful craft.
17 The pride of man will be humbled
And the loftiness of men will be abased;
And the Lord alone will be exalted in that day,
18 But the idols will completely vanish.
19 Men will go into caves of the rocks
And into holes of the ground
Before the terror of the Lord
And the splendor of His majesty,
When He arises to make the earth tremble.
20 In that day men will cast away to the moles and the bats
Their idols of silver and their idols of gold,
Which they made for themselves to worship,
21 In order to go into the caverns of the rocks and the clefts of the cliffs
Before the terror of the Lord and the splendor of His majesty,
When He arises to make the earth tremble.
22 Stop regarding man, whose breath of life is in his nostrils;
For why should he be esteemed?”  Isaiah 2:10-22.

Reformed Doctrine properly starts with the humility of presenting man’s “Total Depravity”, the “T” of “TULIP”, the Five Points of Calvinism, the Reformed Doctrine of Salvation.

Whereas, other doctrine focuses its hope on alleged man’s loveability, alleged man’s inherent goodness, and alleged man’s “free-will”.  They teach God loves everybody, there is goodness in man that initiates good works, and man has “free-will” to do good and to choose good (have faith in Christ).

Reformed Doctrine clings to the precious chains of predestination.  It recognizes that predestination is the only hope for salvation for such a totally depraved man.

Whereas, other doctrine clings to alleged man’s “free-will”.  They cry out:  “Let us tear their fetters apart
And cast away their cords from us!”  Psalm 2:3.

Today’s Scripture warns us the coming great day of reckoning and wrath.

“The proud look of man will be abased
And the loftiness of man will be humbled,
And the Lord alone will be exalted in that day.”  Isaiah 2:11.

22 Stop regarding man, whose breath of life is in his nostrils;
For why should he be esteemed?”  Isaiah 2:22.

“11 The Lord utters His voice before His army;
Surely His camp is very great,
For strong is he who carries out His word.
The day of the Lord is indeed great and very awesome,
And who can endure it?”  Joel 2:11.

But, there is hope!

12 “Yet even now,” declares the Lord,
“Return to Me with all your heart,
And with fasting, weeping and mourning;
13 And rend your heart and not your garments.”
Now return to the Lord your God,
For He is gracious and compassionate,
Slow to anger, abounding in lovingkindness
And relenting of evil.”  Joel 2:12-13.

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