I remember a Halloween night years ago when my brother was about six years old and I was about eleven. We were trick-or-treating and a guy dressed up as a ghoul started to follow us back toward the car. My brother was petrified and started to cry. He yelled at me to give him relief and run the teenager away from us. I just continued to walk back to the car. I felt so bad for my brother but I did nothing, he may not even remember that night; I will never forget. Some trust in horses.
I could give you countless examples in my own life of how I have let people down and how I have been let down by people. When we trust in created beings we will always be disappointed because we are imperfect, we are sinful. No matter how pure our intentions are, we do not have the ability to fully lay down our humanity (yet); given enough time or with the proper motivation we will put our self first and let others down (Eph. 5:24a). No man will fully withstand the test; the higher the pedestal you raise a man upon, the farther he will fall.
We have a tendency to put “good people” like preachers and grandmas above others. We decide within ourselves that these must be holier than we are and so we follow them as if they are perfect beings; we treat them as if they are Jesus Christ himself and their words are the gospel. We not only err ourselves but we do them a dangerous disservice when we treat them like God. We create a false-image of them that will crumble, ruining relationships and in some cases the witness and life of the one exalted.
I assure you salvation is not in kings or preachers. We are simply God’s creations whom reflect God and his sovereignty. We are no more responsible for any goodness we have than the moon is responsible for the ability to reflect the sun. Even the greatest of men will fail (Psalms 12:1). Salvation is of the Lord, do not put your trust in horses.
Do you put your trust in the created? Do you lift man up in front of or alongside God (Rom. 1:25 )? If so your faith is vain. Man and beast will let you down and pass away.
Pray
Holy unchanging God, You are perfect and just. Forgive me when I have put my faith in anything other than You. Man and beast alike will always let me down, but you will never fail. Restore the relationships that have crumbled because of my unrealistic expectations of people, for we are all sinners. Restore unto me the relationships of those I have hurt and let down because of my humanity. Lead me everyday that I may walk closer to You and better reflect and direct people to Your Son! I love You, You are my deliverer! In Jesus Name I come before Your throne, boldly, Amen!
