God Is Still In Control

     What a winter we have experienced. The news reporters proclaim calamity and doom with every snowflake. They cry about how the climate is changing because of man. Only man can save the planet, if only we buy carbon credits and not burn wood or coal or gas, etc. I have news for them, GOD IS STILL IN CONTROL!

     It has snowed before, the rivers and ponds have frozen many times, it has gone below zero degrees not so long ago. Nothing new here, God is still in control.
     The only difference now is the problem of man shaking their fist at God and saying they can change the way God created the climate. There have been droughts. (Remember the dust bowl? If you were not taught about it, look it up). There have been floods, I’ve lived through three on the Ohio River myself. High winds and forest fires have all happened before, and usually helps the environment by naturally causing fertilizer for the soil. Just remember God is still in control.
     Every generation thinks they are the only ones going through these things. For many of us, when the news speaks of a couple of decades since an event occurred, we remember it like it was yesterday. But to those born twenty-five years ago, it seems ancient history. We need to remind them the bible states in Ecclesiastes 1:9 “That which has been is what will be,
That which is done is what will be done, And there is nothing new under the sun.” That means God is still in control.
      History repeats itself, those who take the time to study the bible and a little history can identify specific crucibles and react or prepare accordingly. One thing is certain, until Christ returns, there will be Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter. We should prepare yearly for rain, heat, dry, cold and so on. Our grandparents prepared for the worse, just in case, we seem to have lost that self-dependency and panic if the power goes out for a few hours.
     Psalm 155:3 says “But our God is in the heavens: he hath done whatsoever he hath pleased.” So just prepare for the rough times and enjoy the good times, and can we say in unison “GOD IS STILL IN CONTROL!”      

 

               

Two Thousand and Fourteen Years

                It has been two thousand and fourteen years (give or take a couple) since our Lord has walked the earth, can we even fathom that? How many saints have lived and gone to Heaven? How many have lost the chance for salvation in that time? How many have seen the Lord’s face in their eternal life, and how many were turned away? Whose responsibility has it been to see that His word is told to those who were blinded by the world? The simple answer is “ours”.

                Although the Holy Spirit draws one to Christ, how can they hear without a preacher? (Romans 10:14) That’s where Jesus put our responsibility as a believer and follower. There are even degrees of effectiveness we are given in that mission, for Paul explained in 1 Corinthians 3:6 “I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.”
                As far as Jesus is concerned we are all preachers in respect to spreading the gospel. Yes we all have different talents or gifts given by Him to accomplish this as a member of the Body of Christ. But we must concede we all have in us a way to present the Gospel. If we didn’t, why would Jesus give us the Great Commission? (Matthew 28:19, 20)             
                Look how long it has been since that commission was given, and look how much more work there is to do. We need to stop setting on our hands waiting for His return, and get to work witnessing to those that will listen. All we need to do is plant the seed, or maybe water the seed that was already planted, and pray for God to reap His harvest. If we take this seriously, then maybe another two thousand and fourteen years will not pass before He calls His Church home. Let us start today anew, what was started in the book of Acts, and strive towards the finish of Christ’s work on earth! Amen