We in America live in one of
the most beautiful countries on earth with so many
varying types of topography.
God has blessed all of mankind with so many things we often take for granted.
The very air we breathe comes
from God. He waters our lands with rain which produces crops to keep us fed. He
provides the sun that we may see during the ‘daylight’ hours and be warmed by
its presence. At night He gives us light, not too much, but just enough that we
may sleep and still be able to see what is around us. He provides remedies via
earth’s plants that we in turn call “medicine” to heal our many infirmities.
Even our very bodies are a work of art that works perfectly in our stay upon
this earth.
Speaking of art, who could
draw and/or paint a better picture than the one and only God our Creator?
Millions of songs and poems have been written of sunsets, sunrises, the moon
glowing at night, and the stars in the sky. Earth’s landscapes could never be
appreciated as much on the canvas as they are in person.
Even among all the heartache
and garbage Satan has brought upon this world through sin, nothing can match
the beauty of God’s creations. Only He could display such grandeur. Are we
thankful?
Matthew 5:45 says, “… for he
maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the
just and on the unjust.”
Consider what this verse is
saying. Good people and bad people, scoundrels and saints, all people reap the
benefits of God’s blessings in His creations. Through His handiworks He
announces that He is. He blesses all alike, whether appreciative or not.
However, by and large, man
has charged right out of the gate, full steam ahead, thinking only of himself
and not His creator. Man has shown little to no interest in the things of God
let alone give Him thanks for all that we so rudely take for granted.
We in the 21st
century are really no different than those in previous centuries, in that we
ignore the beauty at the hands of the Creator and make a god of His creation.
Let me explain.
Instead of appreciating the
medicines He has provided us, we, at the expense of others, make billions from
the sick and afflicted. We also use His blessings as drugs to get us ‘high’ so
we can be sucked in to the devil’s deeds.
God’s creations have been used
in very creative ways by gifted geniuses to make our lives easier. That’s fine,
but we in turn have allowed the luxuries of life to push God aside. Not only is
there no room in the inn, but there is no room in our lives for God anymore.
Another example is sex. There
is nothing sinful about sex. God designed it. It is His creation for all that
live to procreate and continue to replenish the earth. However, man has turned
it into filthy jokes, and back alley rapes. Every perversion of sex imaginable
by man blasphemes a holy God every time it is abused and turned into sin. How
should sex be used? Read the Bible. It’s in there.
All too often, we take what
God has created for our good and use it for our own evil greedy intentions. I
find it interesting that God uses nature as an example to get His point across
in the following verses:
“For land that has drunk the
rain that often falls on it, and produces a crop useful to those for whose sake
it is cultivated, receives a blessing from God. But if it bears thorns and thistles, it is worthless and near to being
cursed, and its end is to be burned.” (Hebrews 6:7-8 ESV)
Out of all the millions of
blessings God has provided to all mankind, one stands out above all the rest.
That blessing is the sacrifice of His own Son, Jesus Christ, provided for all
who will come to Him to be saved.
In the verses above, the land
that “produces a crop useful to those for whose sake it is cultivated” are
those who have accepted Jesus as their sacrifice and have asked Him to save
them.
In the verses above, the land
that “bears thorns and thistles” are not fit for God’s blessings and are “worthless
and near to being cursed, and its end is to be burned,” because they have
rejected Jesus Christ, the one and only way to God.
There is coming a day, and I
believe it to be very near, that God is going to judge this world. It is
commonly called the seven year Tribulation. The Scriptures also call it
Daniel’s 70th week and the time of Jacob’s trouble. For simplicity,
I’ll simply refer to it as the Tribulation.
In reading the book of
Revelation where the Tribulation is detailed, three sources of judgments are
listed. They are from seven seals, seven trumpets and seven bowls. From these
21 judgments, notice how they relate to the blessings God has provided mankind
and mankind has not even had the decency, in general, to say “Thank you.”
In the beginning of this
article I mentioned the sun, moon and stars. Instead we show no appreciation to
the Creator, but make these lights of the sky, gods.
“And the fourth angel
sounded, and the third part of the sun was smitten, and the third part of the
moon, and the third part of the stars; so as the third part of them was
darkened, and the day shone not for a third part of it, and the night likewise.”
(Revelation 8:12)
For those who do not
appreciate the bodies God has clothed us with:
“And the fourth angel poured
out his vial upon the sun; and power was given unto him to scorch men with
fire.” (Revelation 16:8)
“And they had tails like unto
scorpions, and there were stings in their tails: and their power was to hurt
men five months.” (Revelation 19:10)
“And the fifth angel poured
out his vial upon the seat of the beast; and his kingdom was full of darkness;
and they gnawed their tongues for pain, And blasphemed the God of heaven
because of their pains and their sores, and repented not of their deeds.” (Revelation
16:10-11)
Maybe we don’t appreciate the
fresh water God has provided.
“And the name of the star is
called Wormwood: and the third part of the waters became wormwood; and many men
died of the waters, because they were made bitter.” (Revelation 8:11)
“And the third angel poured
out his vial upon the rivers and fountains of waters; and they became blood.” (Revelation
16:4)
We have abused the medicinal
herbs and plants provided us by God.
“These have power to shut
heaven, that it rain not in the days of their prophecy: and have power over
waters to turn them to blood, and to smite the earth with all plagues, as often
as they will.” (Revelation 11:6)
Do we really appreciate the
earthly beauty God has provided?
“And the same hour was there
a great earthquake, and the tenth part of the city fell, and in the earthquake
were slain of men seven thousand: and the remnant were affrighted, and gave
glory to the God of heaven.” (Revelation 11:13)
“And there were voices, and
thunders, and lightnings; and there was a great earthquake, such as was not
since men were upon the earth, so mighty an earthquake, and so great.” (Revelation
16:18)
“The first angel sounded, and
there followed hail and fire mingled with blood, and they were cast upon the
earth: and the third part of trees was burnt up, and all green grass was burnt
up.” (Revelation 8:7)
Those who have spurned the
blessings of God and in particular have regarded God’s greatest gift, His Son, as
not worth considering, will be judged.
“And I beheld when he had
opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a great earthquake; and the sun
became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood; And the stars
of heaven fell unto the earth, even as a fig tree casteth her untimely figs,
when she is shaken of a mighty wind. And the heaven departed as a scroll when
it is rolled together; and every mountain and island were moved out of their
places. And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and
the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man,
hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains; And said to the
mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth
on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb: For the great day of his wrath
is come; and who shall be able to stand?” (Revelation 6:12-17)
But for those who have bent
their knees and bowed their heads to the Son have come to the Father and will
be blessed.
“And he shewed me a pure
river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God
and of the Lamb. Revelation 22:1
For the Lamb which is in the
midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains
of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.” (Revelation 7:17)
The Tribulation will be a
time when God will not only draw Israel back to Himself, but will also level
His judgment upon mankind. Not having the decency to at least thank Him for all
His many blessings is one thing, but to deny His greatest gift is disastrous.
Again, that greatest gift is His Son, Jesus Christ. Come to Him now because,
“It is a fearful thing to
fall into the hands of the living God.” (Hebrews 10:31)
Grant Phillips
Email: grantphillips@windstream.net
Pre-Rapture Commentary: http://grant-phillips.blogspot.com
