Greetings from the London Heathrow Airport…

Today’s reading is Isaiah 12-17

Right in the midst of this reading is one of the most illuminating passages on the character of Satan and what is his ultimate end.

“They will all respond and say to you,
‘Even you have been made weak as we,
You have become like us.
11 ‘Your pomp and the music of your harps
Have been brought down to Sheol;
Maggots are spread out as your bed beneath you
And worms are your covering.’
12 “How you have fallen from heaven,
O star of the morning, son of the dawn!
You have been cut down to the earth,
You who have weakened the nations!
13 “But you said in your heart,
‘I will ascend to heaven;
I will raise my throne above the stars of God,
And I will sit on the mount of assembly
In the recesses of the north.
14 ‘I will ascend above the heights of the clouds;
I will make myself like the Most High.’
15 “Nevertheless you will be thrust down to Sheol,
To the recesses of the pit.                                                                                                                                                      16 “Those who see you will gaze at you,
They will ponder over you, saying,
‘Is this the man who made the earth tremble,
Who shook kingdoms,” –Isaiah 14:10-16

Verses 10-12 seem to be parallel to verses 15 & 16.

These five verses speak of a humiliating result which is in great contrast to the desire and focus of satan’s heart which are seen in verses 13-14.

Notice in just those 2 verses (13 & 14) all the times the pro-noun “I” is read…

Five times in the NASB! Five times!

Notice too where all sin originates…we can be tempted by outward issues, but ultimately sin will result when something happens in our heart, just as it happened in satan’s heart, “You have said in your heart…” (14:13)

Here is the ultimate reality of sin folk. It starts in our heart w/ “I will…” and always ends with “you will be thrust down.”

Sin has NO UP value! None!

See you back in the States!

Tomorrow’s Reading: Matthew 5-7