Linville Gorge has been called "The Grand Canyon of the East".
God says He surrounds His people just "as the mountains surround Jerusalem".
(Psalm 125:2)Ezekiel 19, begins with an illustration depicting two of Judah's kings being taken captive--one in Egypt and one by Babylon. Like Judah, God wants to plant us "by the waters, fruitful and full of branches" (v. 10), yet if we reject being grown, matured, and made beautiful by God, we risk being "planted in the wilderness, in a dry and thirsty land" (v. 13). In Israel's history, they came to the point more than once where God said, "I will not be inquired of by you" (20:3). "But they rebelled against Me and would not obey Me" (v. 8). God goes on to say, "But I acted for My name's sake, that it should not be profaned before the Gentiles among whom they were, in whose sight I had made Myself known to them, to bring them out of the land of Egypt" (v. 9). God wanted Israel and wants us to know that He is the Lord our God (see v. 19-20). "Also I raised My hand in an oath to those in the wilderness, that I would scatter them among the Gentiles and disperse them throughout the countries" (v.23). James 1:1, attests to the fact that this occurred: ". . to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting".
When we choose our way over God's way we are in for disappointment and problems. Dr. Stanley says, "Human wisdom always fails in ways that no one sees coming". In Ezekiel 20:25, God says, "Therefore I also gave them up to statutes that were not good, and judgments by which they could not live". Along this same line, Jesus said in Matthew 11:29-30, "Take My yoke upon you, and learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and you shall find rest for your souls, for my yoke is easy, and my burden light". In Psalm 125:2, God reassures us by saying this: "As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the Lord surrounds His people from this time forth and forever"!
Proverbs 28:22, "A man with an evil eye hastens after riches, and does not consider that poverty will come upon him". When we set our hearts in ways that are contrary to the principles of God, we only see what we want to see and refuse to acknowledge the undesirable consequences. Jesus says to "Seek first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things (food, drink, and clothes--see verse 31-32) shall be added unto you". Seeking riches is contrary to seeking God--"You cannot serve God and mammon (money)" (Matthew 6:24)
In Hebrews 10:4, we read, "For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and goats could take away sins". Jesus says God took no pleasure in burnt offerings and sin offerings that were made under the old covenant (see verse 8). "Then He (Jesus) said, 'Behold, I have come to do Your will, O God (an attitude God takes pleasure in). . . by that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all" (v. 9-10). Dr. Stanley comments on verse 14 ("For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified"), "Our salvation is both a finished project and an ongoing process. Through faith in Jesus, God made us right with Him; and by the power of His Spirit, He enables us to become more like the Jesus whose righteousness we received". Planted in Christ and delighting in Him we become "like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he does shall prosper" (Psalm 1:3).
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