Gary Summers
Okay, I’ve never counted them, but experts tell us that Psalm 118:8 is the middle verse in the Bible. The first verse is truly a significant one; the last one is a sentiment often repeated. Whether or not the middle verse could be expected to be important, well, it is. It contains one of the most important messages contained in the entire Bible, which is: “It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man.” Why is this so crucial? It is a warning for everyone to go to the source, God and His Book, rather than to rely on someone or something else.
How many times have people uttered words like these? “My pastor said…”; “A friend told me…”; My grandfather always told me… .” The problem is that all of those individuals are fallible human beings. Look closely at their hands; not one of them have nail prints in them. As Paul asked the Corinthians on a different matter: “Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul?” (1 Cor. 1:13). Jesus is the One Who died for us, and He is the One we must listen to. Jesus said: “He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day” (John 12:48).
What the friend, the grandfather, or the spiritual leader think are irrelevant—if they disagree with the Lord. Here is one example. Jesus said: “He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved…” (Mark 16:16a). Whenever anyone says, “He that believeth and is not baptized shall be saved,” he is not to be trusted for he has said the exact opposite of the One Who died for us. Every teacher, preacher, relative or friend must agree with the Scriptures that Jesus spoke—because we will all be judged by Him, not them. No one has the right to disagree with Jesus.
In 1 Kings 13, God gave an individual known only as “the man of God” instructions concerning what to say to King Jereboam. They included two travel items. He was not to eat and drink within the city, nor was he to return from his visit by the same road he had entered (1 Kings 13:9). An older prophet assured him that an angel told him that it was all right after all for him to have a meal in the city. The older prophet, in saying those words, lied to him. He died on the way back for not doing what God had told him. How many today are listening to spiritual leaders such as the “old prophet”—and losing their souls. No one should put confidence in man. Trust in the Lord.
