Then the LORD replied: “Write down the revelation and make it plain on tablets so that a herald may run with it. For the revelation awaits an appointed time; it speaks of the end and will not prove false. Though it linger, wait for it; it will certainly come and will not delay.” ‘See, he is puffed up; his desires are not upright-- but the righteous will live by his faith -- indeed, wine betrays him; he is arrogant and never at rest. Because he is as greedy as the grave and like death is never satisfied, he gathers to himself all the nations and takes captive all the peoples.’” Habakkuk 2:2-5 (NIV)
Our God does not mumble rather He is forthright and clear. He says what He means and He means what He says. Therefore, we are to trust and act upon His Word. It is true Truth. Indeed, He calls us to this very high calling. He is always truthful and His revelations given in Scripture will never prove false. We do ourselves a great disservice when we choose to neglect His Word and remain ignorant of it. Just a “heads up”, all of Scripture is God breathed and will one day all come to pass. You can take that to the proverbial bank of your own choosing. And it is to be our guidebook for all of life. The one who knows and can rightly divide God’s Word is blessed indeed. They can stand firm when the winds of this life blow hard. Scripture states of Scripture in 2 Timothy 3:16-17 (NIV): “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” Thoroughly equipped. This includes even being able to live contrary to the world’s fleeting standards and embracing God’s eternal standards given within His Word.
Our original parents had had a happy and contented life in the garden of Eden - walking in the cool of the day with their Maker was both a joy and a delight. Yet, after the temptation and the fall, man’s pursuit for lesser things and his lack of satisfaction with God’s provisions kept him unsatisfied and seeking further still. Enough was simply not enough.
Sin will darken the soul and deprive us of comfort and peace. It untunes the heart of proper affections and loves diverting it from communion with God. Vain pursuits hinder our duties for the Kingdom and lead us on a trackless waste through our journey on this earth. Sin deprives us of comfort and peace as well. Vain pursuits weaken the soul and never fully satisfies.
It is the Holy Spirit that takes away these stony hearts of ours - the stubborn, proud, unbelieving and rebellious heart - and works within them giving them a totally different leaning through our faith in Jesus. If we seek to keep down sin by our flesh apart from the Spirit we will fail and labor in vain – fighting without victory and waging war without peace. We may think we know what is best for us but standing firm in God’s will mature and fully assured is the most wonderful and safest place to be – even if it costs our very life.
Don’t seek vain glory in vain pursuits as it always ends up “vanity, vanity” as the wisest man once said. Remember as well, pride once made an angel a devil. God despises “haughty eyes” but a humble heart He does not despise. Seek to do His will. Allow Him to do with your life what He has planned. Not doting on our own vain desires and greatness, rather walking with Him in the cool of the day. Pursue His pleasure and in so doing we secure our own. One never outgives the Master of our souls.
But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs. But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. 1 Timothy 6:6-11 (NIV)