Ruling over a Heap of Ruins

John Milton said it this way: "Better to reign in hell than serve in heav'n."

I ran into an interesting verse in Isaiah that reminded me of that quote from Paradise Lost.

Isaiah 3:6 "You have a cloak; you shall be our leader, and this heap of ruins shall be under your rule"

I won't go into the situation that surrounds this prophecy, except to say that Israel has disobeyed God, walked away from Him, and is suffering the consequences.

My point is that sometimes we want to be in control so badly that even ruling over a heap of ruins is superior to falling on our faces in repentance for our sins. Medical research has shown that our brains have a built in self-defending mechanism. That's why people like Hitler could justify genocide.

We don't like admitting we're wrong and we don't like admitting we need anyone or anything else. In the natural human nature we like to be king - of something - even if it's a pile of garbage.

Think about that a little. How important is control and power in your life? What are you willing to give up if asked? I'm not saying that God would ask you to sell everything, give to the poor and go to Africa - but what if He did?

Don't rule over a pile of ruins when you can serve in a house full of love and forgiveness, where God is King!

Pastor Tom