Morning Thoughts - by Elder Philip Conley

Morning Thoughts Back

Isaiah 1:19-20, "If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land: But if ye refuse and rebel, ye shall be devoured by the sword: for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it."

This morning, this country in which we are so blessed to live is in grave danger. While the terrorist actions of the recent months and years do keep us in a state of imminent danger, there is a much larger danger to us. If the Lord removes His hand of providence because of our wickedness and disobedience, then we are lost as a nation. Many ask me what I think will be the result of today's actions in the future. My common reply is, "The Lord's church will still be here (hence the world will NOT be blown up by man), but I can't promise the USA will be here. She has turned her back on the Lord for many years now."

The Lord here exhorts Israel of old to follow after Him wholly. He starts off with the word "if." This means that He is making them a condition. While He is not obligated to bless us, He does tell us that He will if we do some things. This is a conditional salvation that is incumbent upon us to do if we are going to receive it. While our eternal glory and life is completely secure, our timely sustenance is dependant upon our obedience.

There are many of the Lord's children that are starving (spiritually) because they are steeped in wickedness much like Lot. They have been in the world for so long that they are choked by the thorns and the weeds that they are growing and living around. The language of these verses is very similar to the commandment of the Lord in II Chronicles 7:14. These conditions are given to a select group of people (His people), and they are the ones exhorted to keep it for the blessings in return. Notice that the inverse is true as well. The Lord blesses us more than we can ask or think in obedience, and His hand of judgment is far greater than any that man could do. The Lord's angel can slaughter 185,000 in one night. The Lord can devour men in a fire in an instant.

Therefore, the devouring by the sword is equal in magnitude to the blessing in the opposite direction. Mathematically, we call these diametric opposites. These things are equal and opposite, so as wonderful as His blessings are, that is the torment of His judgment. Also, you do not have to worry about the validity of this statement or condition. The Lord plainly says that He is the one that is speaking it. The Lord CANNOT lie, and therefore, rest assured that it is indeed the case.

Unfortunately, Israel of old did not heed this commandment. They said in Jeremiah 6:16 that they would not walk in the good, old way that the Lord had commanded. The end of their glory and heritage finally came in AD 70. The Lord did give them some times of bondage and servitude, but finally, His longsuffering came to an end. It is my prayer this morning that He will not cast off this nation, even though she is very undeserving of the least of His blessings. Who knows but that we might be the very salt that is preserving her to this very hour?

In Hope,

Bro Philip