Bible Reading: Psalm 39, Revelation: 1: 11-25
“LORD, make me to know mine end, and the measure of my days, what it is; that I may know how frail I am” – Psalm 39:4(KJV).
I strongly agree with the Psalmist that there is need for the Almighty God to sometimes humble man by showing him his frailty. This, to a very large extent, will curb the excessive arrogance, pride and all egocentric behaviours. It baffles me when I see the peacock attitude of some persons who just for some few naira added to their riches become inaccessible. They can hardly answer your call. A friend of mine was made a commissioner in Lagos state. All through his tenor as commissioner every effort to reach him on the same phone we usually communicate with failed. The phone will ring continuously without being picked. I was shocked that one week after he left office he picked his phone on a ring. Most people do not know how to manage success. We sincerely need to be reminded of how frail we are. There is a fine line between life and death. James said that a man’s life is like a flower, “But the rich, in that he is made low: because as the flower of the grass he shall pass away. For the sun is no sooner risen with a burning heat, but it withereth the grass, and the flower thereof falleth, and the grace of the fashion of it perisheth: so also shall the rich man fade away in his ways”– James 1: 10-11(KJV).
The bible says, “My people are destroy for lack of knowledge:… – Hosea 4: 6(KJV). When people reject the true knowledge of God they become victims of destruction. A true knowledge of the Almighty through His word is panacea for longevity. The wise one said in Proverb 21:16(KJV), “The man that wandereth out of the way of understanding shall remain in the congregation of the dead.” Again the bible says in Isaiah 5:13(KJV) “Therefore my people are gone into captivity, because they have no knowledge:…” It is absence of the knowledge of God that puts people into captivity where they are ruled and live by deception and the deeds of the flesh.
One of the strongest captivity of Satan on man is pride. It is a blinder and it thrives on deception. The proud and arrogant person always pride himself of life forgetting that he is not in control of the air he breathes. He also forgets that whatever he owns are gifts from God. There is nothing he owns that did not come from this earth whose creator is God.
When we set our love upon the Lord to acquire knowledge and understanding we become recipients of longevity. “Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him… With long life will I satisfy him, and shew him my salvation” – Psalm 91: 14a,16(KJV)
We must learn to remain ever grateful to God for His sustenance and Preservation. We must master giving thanks to God for whatever we have, because “it is of the LORD’s mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. – Lamentation 3:22(KJV). God’s compassion that does not fail was manifested in His provision made for our salvation – Jesu Christ (1 Corinthians 13:8).
Prayer: Father give me the grace to be humble and be totally dependent on you for daily living.
Bro. Joel Ezeugo