The Limitations of Man

The Limitations of ManText: Ezekiel 28:1-10

Man has been made in God’s image (Genesis 1:26-27), but man does not share all the attributes of God. In our text, the King of Tyre was condemned because he thought of himself as equal with God. We must recognize that as human beings, there are certain limitations that are placed upon us. Understanding this should cause us to be humble and to submit to the will of God.

We Cannot Create Something from Nothing

  • In the beginning God created everything (Genesis 1:1) – nothing was created except by Him (John 1:3); He is our Creator (Psalm 100:3)
  • This should cause us to have certain attitudes – humility (Psalm 8:3-4), dependence (Hebrews 1:3); gratitude (Psalm 100:3-5)

We Cannot Change Time

  • God is able to make time stand still (Joshua 10:12-14) – He is even able to turn back time (Isaiah 38:7-8)
  • God is not bound by time as we are (2 Peter 3:8) – time was created for man, not for God (Genesis 1:5; John 17:5); we must use our time wisely (Ephesians 5:15-16); we cannot stop/slow it; once it’s gone, it’s gone

We Cannot Know the Future

  • God, in His foreknowledge, is able to know the future (Romans 4:17; Isaiah 46:9-10) – not just educated guesses / predictions; things knowable only to God (Acts 2:23; Psalm 22:16-18; Matthew 27:35)
  • We cannot know the future (Ecclesiastes 8:7; James 4:14) – so we must work hard (Ecclesiastes 11:6) and always be prepared for judgment (Luke 12:19-21)

We Cannot Know Everything

  • God is omniscient (Psalm 147:5) – man cannot instruct Him (Isaiah 40:13-14)
  • Our understanding is limited – even the wise have room to become wiser (Proverbs 9:9); we must not allow our knowledge to make us arrogant (1 Corinthians 8:1-2); humbly recognize our limitations; receive the word with humility (James 1:21) and continue to grow (2 Peter 3:18)

We Cannot Know Someone’s Heart

  • Part of being omniscient – God knows our hearts (Hebrews 4:12-13; Psalm 94:11)
  • People often want to presume to know the hearts of others – but we cannot know this (1 Corinthians 2:11); we must judge righteously (John 7:24), by their fruits (Matthew 7:19-20), not by our assumptions

We Cannot Escape Judgment

  • No man is in a position to stand in judgment against God (Job 40:1-5)
  • However, we will all stand before the judgment seat of Christ (2 Corinthians 5:10) – this is just as certain as death itself (Hebrews 9:27); therefore, we must be prepared for it (2 Peter 3:11, 14)

Conclusion

  • There are many other things we could discuss as far as our limitations as human beings
  • These should remind us of the need to be humble and submit to the will of God