Proverbs 16:5 Every one that is proud in heart is an abomination to the LORD: though hand join in hand, he shall not be unpunished.
6 By mercy and truth iniquity is purged: and by the fear of the LORD men depart from evil.
This past weekend there was a tragic plane crash in Florida. There were nine people on a LearJet that died in that horrific crash.
The co-pilot was a 20 year old woman who received her pilot’s license before she received her drivers license. Apparently she was quite knowledgeable considering her age. Reports said it appears the plane ran into a thunderstorm at 35,000 feet altitude. It started to ice up and they asked permission to move up to 37,000 feet. That did not help. One experienced pilot they spoke to stated that normally they route aircraft around a storm, not through it. He wondered why they did not see that storm on their instruments, or why the towers did not route them around it.
The co-pilot had radioed shortly after her first concern with the storm that they were icing up bad and the plane was losing altitude very fast. Commentators suggested that the ice must have been building very rapidly all of a sudden causing the plane to be unable to fly. The wings were no longer acting like wings, able to help the plane fly. The voice from the cockpit just prior to the crash showed the plane losing altitude extremely fast. Some suggested they hit the ground going almost the speed of sound.
It was a tragic loss of life. The final words of the co-pilot indicated she lacked knowledge of the Lord. Someone on that plane had been reciting a part of the “Lord’s Prayer” just prior to the crash. That prayer should actually be called the “Disciples Prayer”. The Lord does not need to pray that prayer, however those who are saved certainly do. This prayer is not meant for lost people. I know as a young person we recited that prayer every week at school. I was just a child and just did as I was told. The adults should have known better, but they were lost and just used it as a mantra. Many people still use that prayer as a mantra.
The fact is that all the training in the world cannot cancel out the need to know the LORD. It is extremely important to walk in the fear of the LORD. As we have often mentioned, getting an education without being reminded of the need to know the LORD, is a worthless venture. Ignoring the need to know the LORD will be catastrophic to all involved. Whether involved in a fatal aircraft crash or living to be old and dying of old age, without the LORD, the end is the same — an eternity in hell.
In our text, God warns about the proud in heart. Proud people ignore the truth. They pursue a “career” at the expense of Truth. They do not want to hear the facts. The text tells us that the proud in heart are an abomination to the LORD. The LORD hates pride.
There are thousands of people who have imagined their own religion and they insist on pursuing their own way. There are thousands of false teachers who will recite certain religious texts at funerals and many families find great comfort in being lied to.
There could be some who will take offence to what I am writing here. You would be wise to stop and consider what is being said. You can choose to live in defiance against God, but you need to understand that He hates your pride.
You notice in verse 5 that even though there are many who live in defiance against the LORD; that does not change the facts. In our secular, “democratic” philosophy, we assume the majority rules. The Bible tells us the majority is wrong.
Matthew 7:13 Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:
14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.
It is far better to know the LORD and be hated by the world, than to make friends with the world and be under the wrath the LORD. Eternity is a long time. Without the LORD, it will be spent in hell and then in the lake of fire. This is serious. God warns of this because He does not want anyone to go there. However, He has declared the only way of salvation and those who reject that way will face His wrath.
In verse 6 we are reminded of the importance of mercy and truth. God is merciful. He IS the TRUTH. He has given us His Word. We can know the truth. We do not need to fumble our way through life. We can be set free from the bondage of sin.
As the text tells us: the fear of the LORD will cause men to depart from evil. That is a fact. The lies being proclaimed by the New Evangelical crowd, will never silence the truth. Sadly the flesh loves lies. That is why so many choose false religion over truth. The Bible is a book of suggestions for most. However, It is ABSOLUTE TRUTH. If a person will listen to what God says and believe in Him, they are safe. Those who want to invent their own way and follow the crowd are in trouble with God.
Every person will meet the LORD one day. Be sure you are trusting in the Lord Jesus Christ as your Saviour and Mediator. If you are, you will be wanting to walk in humility with Him. Those who walk in the fear of the LORD do not make up their own standard of righteousness. They submit to God’s righteousness and have put on Christ as their righteousness.
Pastor Bartel