Don't be left in the dark

Today and tomorrow, 8/21 and 8/22, I'm using a Message passage from Isaiah 8:19-22 as the verses for these days.  It suggests that sometimes people put their hopes in things of this world, rather than trusting completely in God and His word.  But, looking to dark sources can only leave us in the dark. 

"When people tell you, "Try out the fortunetellers. Consult the spiritualists.  Why not tap into the spirit-world, get in touch with the dead?"  Tell them, "No, we're going to study the Scriptures." People who try the other ways get nowhere—a dead end!  Frustrated and famished, they try one thing after another.  When nothing works out they get angry, cursing first this god and then that one, looking this way and that, up, down, and sideways—and seeing nothing, A blank wall, an empty hole. They end up in the dark with nothing."  MSG

The NLT puts verse 21 this way, "My people will be led away as captives, weary and hungry.  And because they are hungry, they will rage and shake their fists at heaven and curse their king and their God."  In other words, it's a trap; a trap of this world and an enemy who wants us to do anything but look to God for our present and future.  Satan lures us with things that are not of God.  We will never be satisfied with these things because they are based on lies and darkness, rather than God's truth and light.  It baffles me how we fall for these schemes again and again, and then get mad at the true God when we are disappointed and come up empty in life.  Why would we ever look to the author of lies for truth?  Why would we be tempted by things like astrology and new-age theories?  Do we think they can give us a future better than God's promises? 

God wants us to resist such darkness and rely on His Word for our future.  I don't believe in fortune tellers and crystal balls, but this I can predict: those who trust in Jesus will live forever with Him in eternity.  No other source can give me that security and no other source can take it away from me.  God knows my past, my present and my future.  Looking to the light of the world will ensure that we are never left in the dark.