Isiah 51:7-8 “Hear me, you who know what is right,
you people who have my law in your hearts:
Do not fear the reproach of men
or be terrified by their insults.
For the moth will eat them up like a garment;
the worm will devour them like wool.
But my righteousness will last forever,
my salvation through all generations.”

The world can be a very scary place, especially when society as a whole has turned its back on God and is reaping the consequences. That was certainly the case in Isaiah’s day, but then, just as now, God did not forget those who were true to Him, and He gave them this word of encouragement. A day does not pass that I don’t hear of the downright vile things people are saying about those who indeed have God’s law in their hearts. Sadly, the people saying such things are not infrequently in positions of authority, either in government or in civil (I use the term loosely) society. (Such people are hardly acting with true civility!) We shouldn’t allow them to bother us! In these days of synthetic fibers we aren’t as aware of clothing being eaten up by insects, but it certainly happens with natural fibers, and the image is pretty graphic. A moth-eaten garment can look pretty good on the hanger, but the minute you try to put it on you can see it’s full of holes, and sometimes falls apart completely. That’s the fate of those who are making fun of Bible-believing people today. God wants us to remember that His righteousness is eternal, in direct contrast to the licentiousness of those who oppose the Bible, and His salvation lasts through all generations. That last bit is particularly encouraging for those of us who are concerned for our children and grandchildren. Each person is responsible individually before God, but for those who love God and seek to obey Him, the benefits persist “for a thousand generations.” (Deuteronomy 5:10)

I have certainly reaped, and continue to reap, the benefits of several generations of ancestors who loved God and were totally committed to following Him. I have also seen the sad results in the children of those who were actively rebellious against God. That said, I have also seen people in the latter category who made clear commitments to God and completely changed the generational flow. The point of this passage is that God is faithful, whatever man might be doing, so we should relax, trusting Him. Of course, “relaxing” doesn’t mean taking things for granted; we are to keep actively pressing in for more of God. That’s what it means to “have His law in our hearts,” rather than just in a book on the shelf. If that is our attitude and lifestyle, we have nothing to fear!

Father, I think I’m mostly past being concerned about what people say to and about me for being a Christian, but I deal with several believers who aren’t quite there yet. I ask for wisdom and anointing to strengthen and encourage them, to help them keep their eyes on Jesus, (Hebrews 12:2) so that they may be able to get through whatever they are experiencing and give You the praise and glory You deserve. Thank You. Praise God!