The Counsel of the Lord

01.14.10
J.A. Matteson

"Woe to the rebellious children,” says the LORD, “who take counsel, but not of Me, who devise plans, but not of My Spirit that they may add sin to sin.”
Isaiah 30:1

As the people of God we are spiritually distracted in our day and the consequence of our neglect of piety is evidenced by the dire state of spiritual apathy. Any desiring to be much like Him must by necessity tarry long with Him. On the mount the transformative nature of the Son of glory is revealed and too often the eyes of the curious become weak and heavy prior to His disclosure of Himself and the resultant miscalculation by the impatient as to His will predictably ends in many sorrows.

The distraction of busyness presented in the form of technological allurements has induced as state of disobedient slumber to many naming Christ as Lord. Agitated minds given to constant external stimulation risk the danger of losing the capacity to wait in quiet upon the mount of the Lord. A pseudo faith defines much of biblical faith in our day as those naming Christ attend manifold conferences, read an endless list of books rather than The Book, download endless mp3’s and engage in various activities in the fleeting hope of discovering the present reality of God, their minds have become numb and their hearing dull; their eyes do not perceive the providences of the Lord all around them. Seldom do they take counsel of the glorious beauty of Jehovah, constant noise and sights tickle the mind, giving expression to the delights and lusts of the old nature. Diligent study and meditation upon the Word of God is tragically ignored to the harm of those so malnourished.

Something is indeed horribly wrong in the church today. And when the Word is read or studied it is seldom done so with a view toward obedience and self-denial, whereas knowledge too often has become the end rather than the means to the end; namely, knowing the Word of God so as to know the God of the Word. There is so much noise today amplified in the minds of men and so few places where one can escape it and wait upon the Lord in solitude and silence. Technological advancements have become a curse to the Lord’s people, a source of stumbling, a source of false security, and certainly a diabolical substitute for His presence, these tend to lead the church away from those things that result in increased faith and dependence on the mercies of the Lord.

Blessed is the saint whose eyes have been opened by the Lord to the subtle dangers of technology that blinds the mind and dulls spiritual discernment. This is the age of microwave faith where instant results are expected by parishioners who have not sought the mind of God to their circumstances because they are too distracted by their technological allurements to seek His face or hear from Him. As the cycle intensifies more will seek solace and answers second hand from every source but the primary source, the Lord Himself. The Lord Jesus rightly asked if He would find faith upon the earth at His return.

O may the grace of the Lord be granted to this generation in repentance. May the Lord look upon His people with compassion and lead them in the paths of humility and righteousness. Let us lay aside the allurements of the world which so easily beckon to replace the sweet presence and counsel of the Lord. As the Apostle Paul was alone with the Lord in Arabia, let us seek Him in the desert places. As Jesus was alone with His Father on the mount when His disciples sailed upon the sea, let us seek Him on the mount during the early morning watches. As the Apostle John was alone in exile on Patmos due to the testimony of the Word of the Lord, let us seek Him while enduring isolation. When Stephen was alone in his stoning as result of bearing witness to the Truth, let us seek Him should the gate of hell be opened upon us, standing fast in the knowledge that it shall never prevail against the Rock and Fortress of our faith Who is the Chief Cornerstone of the Church, for our Redeemer lives and is ever with us.

Beloved, let us silence the technological noise of our day and seek the counsel of the Lord while He may be found, by His Spirit, through His immutable Word.

Copyright (c) 2010 Immutable Word Ministries ("...the word of our God stands forever." Isa. 40:8).