Sermon Central
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Where Should We As A Nation Put Our Trust?
Contributed by Dr. Odell Belger on Mar 2, 2022 (message contributor)
Summary: When a man is lost in the desert, he may experience a mirage. That is, he may look out over the sands, and in the distance see what appears to be a lake, shimmering in the sun.
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His goal is to get to the lake and obtain water to satisfy his thirst. As he travels toward the “lake”, the lake seems to maintain it’s distance, or at some point just disappears. IT WAS A MIRAGE!
Such an experience only brings disappointment and tragedy to the individual who believes the mirage is real.
In our nation, there are many people who have looked to the mirage of MANKIND for their SATISFACTION, SAFETY, AND SECURITY.
For example, from the safety of our homes, we have watched television and seen the devastation in other countries:
• Buildings blown up
• Human bodies laying on the street
But on September 11, 2001, as we watched television we saw the kind of attacks that we have seen in other nations, but now it was happening to us. The Trade Towers in New York, both 110 stories high, came crashing down, taking the lives of thousands.
These two majestic towers were the pride of the US. But when they came crashing down to the earth, killing thousands, they taught the Americans something. We learned WHAT MANKIND CAN BUILD IN YEARS, CAN BE DESTROYED IN A MATTER OF MINUTES.
Once this devastation took place, there was only one question left to be asked, “WHERE DO WE NOW PUT OUR TRUST?”
Let’s look at two things in this sermon:
• FALSE SECURITY
• TRUE SECURITY
I. FALSE SECURITY
Look at Jer. 7:3 4, “Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, Amend your ways and your doings, and I will cause you to dwell in this place. Trust ye not in lying words, saying, The temple of the LORD, The temple of the LORD, The temple of the LORD, are these.”
While we live in a modern age, there is very little difference between Jeremiah’s age and our age. They put their trust in a FALSE SECURITY like many today are doing. Notice, what Jeremiah said those in his age had done.
A. THEY TRUSTED IN LYING WORDS
Words mean things. Someone said, “Words are vehicles through which thoughts travel.”
Every society has developed some type of communication. In America, we have chosen the English language as our mode of communication. As in other languages, each word means a certain thing.
• Some words that we use in the English language represent certain colors. If I say something is yellow, every English speaking person will know what I am talking about, because words mean things!
• Some words are designated as numbers. If I say I have two eyes, every English speaking person knows how many eyes I have, because words mean things!
• Some words are powerful. That is, you can say a few words in church, and you are married. You can say a few words in your sleep, and you are divorced! Words mean things!
There are thousands of words in the English language that we use to communicate with other mortals. But words are like anything else, they can be abused. For example, there are those who take advantage of us by using LYING WORDS.
Illus: Suppose there is a bridge washed out down the road, and I know about the condition of that bridge. You stop and ask me if it is safe for you to go down the road, and knowing the bridge is washed out, I tell you everything is fine. You might be glad to hear me communicate that to you, but the fact is, I know there is not one ounce of truth to what I said.
During the days of Jeremiah, the people had placed their faith in a FALSE SECURITY.
Look again at Jer. 7:3 4, “Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, Amend your ways and your doings, and I will cause you to dwell in this place. Trust ye not in lying words, saying, The temple of the LORD, The temple of the LORD, The temple of the LORD, are these.”
Notice Jeremiah said they had placed their trust in, “Lying words.”
Their prophets had told them they had it made because they had the TEMPLE OF THE LORD.
Notice, Jeremiah mentions it three times for the emphasis they placed on it, “The temple of the LORD, The temple of the LORD, The temple of the LORD.”
It is wonderful that they had the temple of the Lord, but it was a lie to say because they had the temple, this was all they needed. Their prophets spoke lies to them and they believed those lies. You see, we often prefer to believe a LIE than to be told the TRUTH.
• For example, if you want to be popular, look at people and tell them they look great! It might be a lie, but they give you a smile and are grateful that you told them such a lie.
