THE REWARD OF HUMILITY: A LIFE WITHOUT DECAY...?

“Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.”MATTHEW 5:5

In this verse, inheriting the earth means to receive in fullness what we have been created for, without the brokeness that issued from the fall. With all the decay and destruction around us, this seems almost to good to be true... Or is it?

The Bible qualifies Moses as the meekest man that walked the face of the earth (Numbers 12:3) and we learn that his body was perfectly in tact when he went to be with God:

“Moses was a hundred and twenty years old when he died, yet his eyes were not weak nor his strength gone” (Deuteronomy 34:7).

The question is not whether a life without sickness, decay (and death...?) is possible or not, because all things are possible for God (Matthew 17:20) Rather, the question is whether we understand the condition under which we may obtain it, and whether we are willing to meet it.

We need to understand what true humility is and many answers can be found by looking at the origin of the words used in the very verses we seek to understand. Look for instance at this explanation of the word translated as meekness in Matthew 5:5:

“The Greek word praus (prah-oos) was used to define a horse trained for battle. Wild stallions were brought down from the mountains and broken for riding. Some were used to pull wagons, some were raced, and the best were trained for warfare. They retained their fierce spirit, courage, and power, but were disciplined to respond to the slightest nudge or pressure of the rider’s leg. They could gallop into battle at 35 miles per hour and come to a sliding stop at a word. They were not frightened by arrows, spears, or torches. Then they were said to be meeked…. To be meeked was to be taken from a state of wild rebellion and made completely loyal to, and dependent upon, one’s master.” (Sam Whatley - River Region’s Journey website)

According to this text, true humility is NOT a broken spirit, but a complete, conscious and willful surrender, a wholehearted obedience and a determined faithfulness to our God and King.

If we are willing to surrender our strong willed nature entirely to Him, He is able to keep us from decay, destruction and even death!

Are you willing to take Him at His Word...?