OVERCOME CARNAL TRUST

“Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, and whose HOPE is the LORD” – Jeremiah 17:5

To have a Living Hope in God is to OVERCOME CARNAL TRUST: “Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, and whose HOPE is the LORD. For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters, which spreads out its roots by the river, and will not fear when heat comes; but its leaf will be green, and will not be anxious in the year of drought, nor will cease from yielding fruit” (vv. 7-8). This sharply contrasts the preceding verses: “Cursed is the man who trusts in man and makes flesh his strength, whose heart departs from the LORD. For he shall be like a shrub in the desert, And shall not see when good comes, but shall inhabit the parched places in the wilderness, in a salt land which is not inhabited” (vv.5-6).

Jeremiah presents two options to handling life’s challenges: trusting in human ability to find a way through or trusting in the Lord. One option results in a curse; the other a blessing: “CURSED is the man who trusts in man…BLESSED is the man who trusts in the LORD." When we exercise dependence upon man, we can only draw upon fleshly resources for strength, which amounts to a departure from the Lord in whom we ought to trust: "whose heart departs from the LORD." The Lord is the only Source of all true blessings; to solely depend on human resources – ours or others – results in barrenness of life.

Carnal Trust is like a plant trying to grow in parched desert lands, barely surviving (v.6). Desert shrubs represent the antithesis of abundant life. They are typically sparse in growth and lacking in fruitfulness. One who trusts in flesh is like this shrub that fails to see good days of bountiful vitality. People who trust in carnal resources dwell in desolation – spiritual conditions that are like salty soil, wastelands, and scorched land, incapable of habitation! Yet, there is an effective option by which barrenness can be avoided – Trust in the LORD; Hope in the LORD! With God, we cannot fail!

The choices are clear: Carnality and Spirituality. Trust in man instead of God breeds frustration, disappointment, and regret, and drains Hope. Looking to political, business, educational, and religious leaders – or friends and family – as the ones to pin confidence on, will lead to disappointment and sapped hope. To trust and Hope in God is to believe the reality of all that He has revealed in His Word; trusting His promises, and not allowing ourselves to be shaken by circumstances, sight, or emotions. Favoured and fortunate, is the one whose hope is resting in the God of our Salvation. Christian hope is not a vain fantasy; and faith in God is not founded on fiction, but on fact. It is accepting as actuality the truth of His Word.

To trust in the Lord is to be certain of the existence of things we cannot see. We are consistently exhorted to centre our Hope on Him: “It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man” (Psa.118:8). There is tremendous benefit in trusting the Lord with all our hearts and not leaning on our own understanding (Pro.3:5). We are warned: “Do not put your trust in princes, nor in a son of man, in whom there is no help” (Psa.146:3). We must look no further than God, if we seek true safety and security, look no further for God is it! Trusting God does not mean that we are in denial of truth or danger, but that we have placed the issue before God and depend on Him to work it out on our behalf.

“No king is saved by the multitude of an army; a mighty man is not delivered by great strength. A horse is a vain hope for safety; neither shall it deliver any by its great strength. Behold, the eye of the Lord is on those who fear Him, on those who HOPE in His mercy” (Psa.33: 16-18). As we Hope in God’s Mercy, we’ll enjoy the blessedness of His Unfailing Grace!