Don’t fear people.

“Listen to me, you who know righteousness,

the people in whose heart is my law;

fear not the reproach of man,

nor be dismayed at their revilings.

For the moth will eat them up like a garment,

and the worm will eat them like wool;

but my righteousness will be forever,

and my salvation to all generations.”

Isaiah 51:7-8

We tend to put more stock in what we see than in what we know we should believe. That is why the warning and encouragement of this passage exists. It is easy to fear what people can do, because after all, we live in human society every day of our lives. And there are some powerful people in the world. But God is always more powerful since they are placed under His design. And many of those powerful men have crumbled like moth-eaten clothing by the just hand of God.

This is one reason why Christian involvement in culture and politics is quite cautious and not an ultimate aim. Our priority is God’s glory, and to live for that in human culture is why we are here. But to live in some way serving human efforts first and foremost will always fail. We will fear man instead of God and thus waste efforts when human achievement decays and crumbles.

Fearing and serving God builds a life that lasts. God’s righteousness outlasts human culture because God is forever. God’s salvation extends to all people in all generations, far beyond the confining limits of human culture or political accomplishments.

I will not fear the reproach or revilings of people as I choose to invest my life in Your eternal, far-reaching, perfect salvation, O Lord!