Seeing God’s Creation and the Salvation He offers

      Several years ago while taking walks with my husband and our dog, I decided to start looking for beautiful things to take pictures of in our neighborhood.  I loved the flowers, shrubs and trees that produced such lovely blossoms.  Likewise, I enjoyed seeing Sand Hill Crane families and hawks. Capturing these images and sharing them on Facebook allowed me the privilege of brightening the day for others especially those who may not be able to get out for a walk.  We are confronted with so many negatives in life and often forget to take the time to look around at God’s artistry; so each day I go in search of a new picture to take.  This practice has helped me not only appreciate God’s creation, but it keeps my mind focused on His blessings rather than on things I cannot change.

     There have been many times as I stroll along that I wonder how those outside of Christ cannot see the wonder of His creation which is all around us.  The variety of plants, flowers, animals, insects and other creatures clearly demonstrate the awesome power of God in creation.  No artist can ever produce the rich color combinations that the Lord spoke into being.  We know from Paul’s letter to the Romans, though, why men cannot enjoy the beauty all around:  “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth.  For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them.  For His invisible attributes, namely, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made.  So they are without excuse” (Romans 1:18-20).  The problem is that many have chosen to suppress the truth about God even though the world around them points to our Creator. Likewise, they choose to ignore their conscience and the Bible. 

     Not only did God give visible evidence in the creation around us, but He also sent His Son to live before us as a perfect example who came to die for our sins. However, many choose not to see the truth.  They prefer to darkness to light; their sin instead of righteousness and a relationship with God. Jesus clearly declared to us, “I am the way, the truth and the life.  No one comes to the Father except through Me” (John 14:6). There is no other way to have a relationship with God except through faith in Jesus Christ. 

     As we know, however, there are yet many today who refuse to see the truth. It is much like taking a walk each day with blinders on.  If they do that, they are certain to miss the beauty all around them. Therefore, it is important for each one of us to be the salt and light in this darkened world of ours.  We need to be showing others the beauty of Christ not only by our words but in our actions as well. Look for opportunities to point out how great our God is and what He has done for us. Just as I take pictures on our walk and share them with others on Facebook, let us begin to paint a picture of Christ by sharing our faith with those around us. As we share, we must leave the results up to God.  We may be planting a seed or even watering what another has planted, but the Lord will use us if we are willing to speak the truth in love. Let us together show our world the beauty of not only God’s creation but the beauty of salvation in Christ.  Selah!

ARE YOU READY?

     Several weeks ago, there was a tragic car accident that took the life of a precious lady in our community.  I am certain she had a busy day planned as she set off in her vehicle when the unexpected happened. Our whole community was rocked with the news and grieved with the family at such a loss. Of course, no one knows the day when they will be called from this life, so when we are confronted by such tragedy, we need to stop and take stock of our lives.   

      In Psalm 90, Moses, the author, considers the brevity and sorrow in life in this prayer before the Lord. He asks God that people would be enabled to live a significant life while they are here.  In verse 10, he writes:  “The years of our life are seventy, or even by reason of strength eighty; yet their span is but toil and trouble; they are soon gone, and we fly away.” Then he goes on in verse 12 to tell us what we must do:  “So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom” To put it another way, Moses is asking God to help us learn how to use the time we are given here on earth so that we can live to glorify God and bless others.

     Over the years, many folks I have talked to expressed the idea that they wasted a lot of time and energy not doing anything fruitful in their life.  They wish they had a “do-over”, but that is not something any of us get to have.  Our lives here on earth are short in comparison to eternity.  When our bodies die here, our soul goes on into eternity and an important question we all must answer is “Where will I spend eternity?” 

   

 Jesus spoke of two destinations: heaven and hell.  Hell was created for Satan and the fallen angels, but men who have walked away from God in rebellion and never repented of their sins or asked forgiveness will join them in this place of torment…not for a day or a month but forever.  In fact, our Lord spoke more about Hell than anyone in the Bible.  He called it  “a place of outer darkness” where “there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth” (Matt. 8:12); it is called a fiery furnace (Matt.13: 41-42); and the “eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels (Matt. 25:41).  Finally, Jesus refers to it as “eternal punishment” (Matt. 25:46).  What a contrast between spending an “eternal life” with never-ending pleasure in God’s presence to “eternal punishment” which will be an experience of unending misery and separation from God (John 3:36; 5:24).  Yet there is good news while we still have time here on earth.

     God sent His only Son born of a virgin to be the perfect sacrifice for our sins…something we can not do for ourselves.  Jesus was fully God and fully man in the flesh who obeyed perfectly all that the Law of God demanded. Then, He gave His life on the cross that His life’s blood would atone for our sins once and for all. Even more, Jesus Christ rose from the dead, was seen by His disciples and at least 500 people who witnessed Him and even touched Him in the flesh.  Therefore, He broke the yoke of sin and death for all who believe in Him.   John 3:36 says:  “Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.”  We are called by God’s Spirit to confess our sins and trust in the sacrifice that Christ made on the cross for us.   When we take that action, we become children of God who will inherit eternal life.  

     Knowing the dear lady who died in the accident, I know she is in the presence of the Lord living there in His peace and glory where there are no more tears, death or separation from loved ones.  We grieve her loss here but she is enjoying God’s great rest because she trusted in Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior.  Perhaps, you have already made this commitment to Christ.  If so, you can rest in His assurance of your destination. If you have never made this commitment of your life to Christ and received His forgiveness of your sins, then make today your day.  We are not promised tomorrow.  Each day is a gift from God and how we live that day matters for all eternity.  Meditate on these things and look beyond the day to day because our time here is short compared to eternity ahead.  May the Lord bless you as you think on these things.  Selah

P.S.  If you have never read the Bible or want to begin, please start with the Book of John in the New Testament to see who Jesus Christ is and what He said of Himself.  

Don’t Judge a Book by its Cover

      Most of us have, at one time or another, encountered someone for the first time that left a less than outstanding impression on us. Whenever I was tempted to write such a person off as a potential friend, my parents would remind me that we should “never judge a book by its cover.”  After all, they would tell me, maybe the person was having a bad day. Until we spend time getting to know the person’s heart, we cannot come to any real conclusion concerning their character.  This advice has been a blessing to me throughout my life.  Interestingly enough, I found this to be true even in the Bible.

     As I was doing my Bible reading, I came across a chapter 21 in 2 Kings concerning Manasseh.  He reigned as King of Judah after the death of his father Hezekiah.  According to God’s Word, Hezekiah “...did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, according to all that David his father had done.”  However, when he died, his son Manasseh took the throne (chapter 21):  “And he did what was evil in the sight of the Lord, according to the despicable practices of the nations whom the LORD drove out before the people of Israel.”  The chapter goes on to recite that Manasseh rebuilt the high places for pagan worship and made altars to Baal and Asherah.  He even built altars inside God’s temple to the host of heaven.  As if this were not enough, he burned his own son as a sacrifice to a pagan god and dealt with the forbidden mediums and necromancers.  God promised that He would judge Judah for such sins.  Now, if I had stopped reading at this point, I would have been left with the opinion that Manasseh was beyond reach. He was unfaithful to God as much as his own father Hezekiah had been obedient to the Lord. The chapter ends with his son Amon taking the throne. However, this was not the end of my reading for the day.

     2 Chronicles 33 repeats some of the story of Manasseh but expounds even more on his life. Indeed, he did evil in the sight of the Lord and reversed much of the good that his father Hezekiah had accomplished. The Bible tells us:  “The LORD spoke to Manasseh and to his people, but they paid no attention” (vs.10).  So the Lord brought the army of the King of Assyria to take Manasseh captive to Babylon. This action caught Manasseh’s attention.  He pleaded with God and humbled himself in prayer. God heard his cry and brought him again to his kingdom. Verse 13c says:  “Then Manasseh knew that the LORD was God.”

     Following his encounter with the Living God, Manasseh became a changed man.  He built walls around Jerusalem to protect it.  He fortified the cities of Judah and took away all the foreign gods and idols from the Temple. Not only did he restore the altar of the LORD but he also offered peace offerings and thanksgiving offerings to God.  Furthermore, Manasseh commanded the people to serve the LORD, the God of Israel.  What a turn around for a man who began his reign as a faithless King! The change came when God got his attention and gave him a new heart.  Here is an important picture for all of us.

     We are all like Manasseh going our sinful way in life until God touches us and gives us a new heart.  When He opens our eyes, we can see what we have done.  Then, like Manasseh, we humble ourselves before the LORD and repent of our sins. This great exchange....Christ’s righteousness for our sinfulness is what salvation is all about.  Look at the fruit that came from this transformation!  This is precisely why we cannot “judge a book by its cover”.  God sees the possibilities that we cannot, and He has tasked us to tell others the Good News of Jesus Christ so they can be set free like Manasseh.  Rather than writing someone off because the “cover” of their life is tattered and torn, we should look inside with the Holy Spirit’s help and share the Gospel instead.  This will bring glory to God!  Selah!