Good morning,
The state of California has a reputation for being the “Golden State.” What that really means is that when we have rain during three to five months during the winter the grass on the mountains and hills becomes green and beautiful. Then it stops raining again until eight months later when the cycle begins again. It doesn’t take long for the green grass to dry up and turn a nice golden color. It may look attractive, but just a little spark can start a fire that burns up the field or the whole side of the mountain. The people of Israel had grass like that as well. When God spoke to Isaiah about the condition of his people, he used this example to explain what he saw when he looked at them. He told Isaiah to shout, "Shout that people are like the grass. Their beauty fades as quickly as the flowers in a field.(Isa.40:6) God’s people had walked away from God. They no longer had the showers of God’s loving guidelines falling around them. Their leaders saw themselves a green grass, but spiritually they were actually withered and flowerless. They thought that they could take care of their lives their own way, but without God’s life giving rain, they were powerless to lead God’s people. God gave them this contrast, The grass withers and the flowers fade, but the word of our God stands forever.”(v.8)
That’s where we find ourselves this week in America and in the world in general. We have people who are battling for control of our country based on their “fresh new ideas” that are as dry and withered as summer grass. They see themselves as powerful people, but God has a very different picture of them. God told Isaiah that, He judges the great people of the world and brings them all to nothing.(v.23) In God’s eyes, They hardly get started, barely taking root, when he blows on them and they wither. The wind carries them off like chaff. (v.24) As believers we are wonderfully aware of the God of the Universe as being our Father and God and enjoy a personal relationship with him on a daily basis. When we follow his leadership, we feel his presence and grow in our relationship with him. What our Enemy tries to do is to get us to forget the connection between us and our God and take on ourselves the control of our life and success. When we live this way we are just like California’s dried up grass. Just calling ourselves Christians doesn’t mean that we have the vitality of a watered plant. What God longs for us to do is, those who trust in the LORD will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint.(v.31) Lord, please help us to be watered, green and fruitful in our relationship with you, not dried up golden grass at risk for a spark that could burn us up.
Isaiah 40:8 The grass withers and the flowers fade, but the word of our God stands forever."
Roy Wisner
