Regarding Isaiah 2:20-2:22 · 4:24am Mar 9th, 2020
In that day mankind will cast away their idols of silver and their idols of gold... to the moles and to the bats... Stop regarding man in whose nostrils is breath, for of what account is he?
- Isaiah 2:20, 2:22.
2:20-21 their idols of silver and their idols of gold... to the moles and to the bats (i.e., into the ruins and caves in which they live). The precious but fraudulent ideals of the present world will be seen for the contemptable things they are and acted upon accordingly. True conversion does not consider loss (cf. Phil. 3:8).
- note from my ESV Study Bible on Isa. 2:20-21.
While I was reading these verses and the note above tonight, I felt like I should get it out there. It's all too easy to get into the things of this world as if they are what matter. Given that I overplayed a game today, beyond the time I should have stopped (and this happens WAY too often in my life; even once would be too much, really), this seems all too fitting to say tonight. I think we all prize something in this world a bit too much, and truly have to consider what's its infinite worth is. After all, we came into this world with nothing, and that's how we'll leave it (Job 1:21, 1 Timothy 6:7), so all the physical things we have are, while they seem valuable in the short term (the shortest of short terms, comparing this reality to eternity), are really temporary and ultimately disappointing cisterns if we attach any permanent value to them.
Our true affections and hope should be in God alone, who alone is able to fix our brokenness and fill the hole inside with an eternal prize; Himself. It's not that we can't enjoy things, but we should never forget (or undervalue) the Creator and Savior and Lord who made these things and gifted them to us, as well as remembering our calling to make more disciples of Jesus. Our enjoyment in them should be in remembrance and celebration of God, and we ought to glorify God, not simply for these temporary things, but for creation, salvation of a humanity constantly set on sin, and because He is Holy, and, because He is God. We ought to live our lives in fulfillment of what God has sent each of us to do, which consists, as said above, in making more disciples of Jesus, who will furthermore go on to make more disciples of Jesus (in the words of David Platt). Hobbies are okay (and only okay), but we shouldn't lose sight of the Bigger Picture while going about them... a lessons, among others, that I need to learn, remember, and hold to more.
