After a devastating storm or fire, the person interviewed often says something to the effect, “We’ll build back better. We’ll be stronger than we were before.” I know they are trying to bring comfort and hope to the people, but there is no mention of relying on God’s help.
It sounds a lot like the advice James gave to businessmen who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business, and make money. Instead, you ought to say, ‘If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.’ As it is, you boast in your arrogant schemes. All such boasting is evil.” (James 4:13, 15–16)
This arrogant attitude is not a new thing. Long ago, the inhabitants of Ephraim and Samaria boasted, sounding remarkably similar. “The bricks have fallen, but we will build with dressed stones; the sycamores have been cut down, but we will put cedars in their place.” (Isaiah 9:9–10)
But God observed that this arrogant bunch did not see a need for God and humble themselves before Him. “So the Lord will cut off from Israel both head and tail, both palm branch and reed in a single day; the elders and dignitaries are the head, the prophets who teach lies are the tail. Those who guide this people mislead them, and those who are guided are led astray.” (Isaiah 9:14–16)
Sounds like our country. Today, some of the decisions made in the halls of government make no sense. And in some churches, the Bible is being replaced with human wisdom, which is actually the height of foolishness. All the storms that are raging across our country are to expose our need for God, not to exalt man’s ingenuity. I’m not saying that it’s wrong to try to build to withstand an earthquake, but anyone who has witnessed a tsunami or wildfire realizes how puny are man’s efforts.
We often hear that an addict needs to “hit rock bottom” before he or she wants to get clean and sees a need for help. The same is true in each of our lives. We may not hit rock bottom, but we must come to the end of ourselves and, at the foot of the cross, look up to Jesus.
Even after we receive Jesus, we must learn over and over the following lesson. “As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me. I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing.” (John 15:4–5)
That’s not to say that we shouldn’t look for ways to improve what we do, but like small children, we often respond to God, “I can do it myself.” We may learn to tie our own shoes, brush our own teeth, comb our own hair, and wash our own hands, but we never outgrow the need for Jesus to be the One we follow.
Man’s ingenuity has built some remarkable structures and produced helpful inventions over the years, but no one has found a way to avoid death. Whether you are moral or criminal, you will die. The Bible says, “People are destined to die once, and after that to face judgment.” (Hebrews 9:27)
The only way to avoid that judgment is to convince another person to take your place (no small feat). Only someone without sin will not face judgment for his own sin. And there is only one Person who has made it through their entire life without ever sinning, the Lord Jesus. Fortunately, you don’t have to talk Him into taking your place. He already has, when He was crucified on the cross. He was “sacrificed once to take away the sins of many; and He will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for Him.” (Hebrews 9:28)
That’s why building our lives on Him and His Word is the smartest thing to do. No one else loves you as much. No one else is as wise. You will never find a better role model. Humble yourself, admit your sin, and receive Him today.
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