It is said of us who are born again into the Lord Jesus, we are "children, not born of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God." (John 1::13)   This also could be said of Isaac - but not of Ishmael.  Ishmael was the child of "human decision", a child born "of a husband's will".  Isaac, on the other hand, was a child born of God's promise.  Isaac was conceived in faith, and "without faith, it is impossible to please God." (Heb. 11:6)  Isaac was counted by God as Abraham's "only son" because he was born from faith.  As it is written "Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness." (Rom. 4:3, Gal. 3:6, James 2:23)  This verse is repeated three times in the apostles letters for our benefit. 

 

For us, the day of judgement will be just as it was for Abraham on the mountain.  Whatever we have ‘achieved’ in our own strength will count for nothing!  The achievements for which men praise us will turn to dust!  They will not even be acknowledged! 

On that day of judgement; all that will count in our favour, is what we have done in “the obedience that comes from faith” (Rom. 1:5).

   

The danger in judging only by what we see, is that the achievements of men can often look exactly like the fulfilment of God’s promises.  For thirteen years, Abraham himself was convinced that God’s promise had been fulfilled in Ishmael.  Ishmael looked exactly like the son that God promised.  He walked like a son and talked like a son and did everything else just like any son would.  But it was a deception and the real son of God’s promise was still to come.  This is how men are still deceived. We strive to fulfill God’s promises in our own strength.  We think that if something looks good, it must be good.

 

Some may tell us, that if a preacher has a large congregation, we can be sure he is God’s servant.  After all, how could he achieve such success without God’s blessing?  But Jesus said “And many false prophets will appear and deceive many people”. (Matt. 24:11).  They will not deceive just a few people but “many people”.

   

Some may also tell us that we can trust a man’s word because of the spiritual signs that follow him.  But Jesus said  “Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’  Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you.  Away from me you evildoers.’” (Matt.7:22).  And again ”For false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and miracles to deceive even the elect - if that were possible.” (Matt 24:24).

  

Some may also tell us to trust a man because he is well spoken of, and highly regarded by men.   But Jesus said  “Woe to you when all men speak well of you, for that is how their fathers treated the false prophets” (Luke 6:26).  

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"So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer." (2 Cor. 5:16)

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We should not even judge ourselves by worldly standards.  The apostle Paul said, "I care very little if I am judged by you or any human court.  Indeed, I do not even judge myself." (1 Cor. 4:3)  He also said, "Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance:  Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom, I am the worst."

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So we should regard ourselves with humility and refrain from judging others, wether good or bad. 

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Men come and go, and their ideas die with them.  Men's achievements are temporary but God's achievements are eternal.  "All men are like grass and their glory is like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of the Lord stands forever." (1 Peter 1:24-25)  We are not called to put our trust in men, but in God himself:  "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding." (Prov. 3:5)

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Ishmael looked like the fulfilment of God’s promise, but he wasn’t.  In the same way, we may be deceived by our own achievements or by the achievements of others.  So rather than focussing on ourselves or others, we should focus on Christ. - “So let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith,”