In case you haven’t noticed, the grass is growing and will
soon need cut. Nathaniel and I changed the oil in the lawn mower yesterday,
re-hung the swing in the back yard and put out the lawn furniture. We even cut
up some wood for the backyard fire pit. The birds, squirrels and even a skunk
we’ve named Stella make daily visits to our feeders. Nature is waking up in
western PA and is a good reminder that sickness and disease, even major
outbreaks like this (or worse) come and go. I’m not being insensitive or
unrealistic about the current situation, but I am getting weary of the many
alarmists that make it sound like none of us will survive until summer. Life
will continue.
I say that not because of six thousand years of troubled
human history that we’ve survived so far; I say that because God says life will
continue. There will be a time when He will drastically change life on earth
and He describes how that will happen (and covid19 isn’t it). We humans like to
think we are pretty smart, and we do accomplish some impressive things when we
work together (see Genesis 11:1-9 where God told mankind to spread out and fill
the Earth, but in their pride they decided to disobey and remain together, so
God scattered them and they went and filled the Earth). However, we must not
make the same mistake, for human wisdom cannot compare to the wisdom of God. He
is God, we are not. He sustains things, we do not. He determines when, where,
why and how, we do not. Elevating ourselves in pride against God is easy for us
to do but also foolish. It is a house of cards that tumbles easily.
This is one reason I love reading Job 38-40. It puts my
pride in its place as I am reminded of the greatness of God. I encourage you to
read those chapters in Job sometime this weekend as a reminder that He is still
on the Throne of the universe and all things are under His power and authority.
I am also reminded that God is forever on the Throne when I
look outside the window this morning. The sky is a brilliant blue and the many
shades of green are beginning to burst forth. We are quarantined, stuck at
home, separating by six feet and in groups of ten or less because that is what
our God-ordained government has instructed us to do (see Romans 13:1-7) as they
try to minimize the effects of covid19. So we honor those instructions. While
we are doing that, however, be encouraged that God remains on the Throne,
sustaining life and making things new again this spring.
That is what God does, He makes things new. He takes what is
dead, like you and me who were dead in sin, and He restores life. He makes us
new creations through the redeeming Blood of Christ. Second Corinthians 5:17 says, “Therefore if anyone is
in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away, behold, all
things have become new.” The passage goes on saying, “Now all things are of
God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us
the ministry of reconciliation, that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the
world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to
us the word of reconciliation. Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as
though God were pleading through us, we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be
reconciled to God. For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we
might become the righteousness of God in Him” (2 Corinthians 5:18 -21).
Only God can take what is dead and give it life. He did that
here on Earth during His Creation of the universe. He does that when a sinner
confesses, repents and believes on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ for
forgiveness and salvation. He does that every spring as nature is renewed and
life springs forth; just look outside and see.
May the Lord watch over you, protect you, and keep you close
to Him.
Grace and Peace,
Pastor Mark
God always reigns!
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