Dan. 2:20-22 “Daniel answered and said, Blessed be the name of God for ever and ever: for wisdom and might are his: And he changeth the times and the seasons: he removeth kings, and setteth up kings: he giveth wisdom unto the wise, and knowledge to them that know understanding: He revealeth the deep and secret things: he knoweth what is in the darkness, and the light dwelleth with him.”
Recent events show us the fragility of mankind. We cannot control the weather, in spite of our ability to build computers capable of calculating millions of equations in a keystroke. We cannot always determine our circumstances, in spite of our ability to explore the outer limits of our universe.
The laws of nature, put into place by God, cannot be suspended. We’re unable to defy gravity. We’re unable to control the weather.
God is not to blame for the tragedy of the Gulf shores, including the loss of New Orleans. Nature created a storm that became a beast named Katrina. From hurricanes to illness, and death – they’re part of the human condition. Yet another reason why we should never want to make this world our permanent home. We’re pilgrims. Heaven is home.
Heb. 11:13 “These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.”
1Pet. 2:11 “Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul;”
Through it all, we’re made to realize our need for God. Many problems are bigger than us. In short, we need God. He’s in control.
Matt. 11:28-30 “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
Pride prevents some from leaning on God in obedience to His Word. Failure to recognize God’s authority prohibits others. Most of us like to feel that we are in control, but there are many things in our lives beyond our control.
All men should make up their mind to serve God. God gives us the choice to serve Him or something else.
Matt. 6:24-34 “No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon. Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they? Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature? And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith? Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.”
By serving God today – and every day – we successfully deal with life’s problems. That doesn’t mean they go away, or that they’re fixed to our liking. It means God provides the strength needed to endure or overcome.
Each day brings us new problems and challenges. Each day presents us with enough problems to keep us occupied. There’s no need to fret about the necessities of this life. We ought to be fretting over our obedience to God because He is in control.
Yes, we’re commanded to provide for our families. Yes, we’re to be wise stewards of the blessings in our life. And in all our earthly endeavors we’re commanded to put God first.
Matt. 10:28 “And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.”
We must be thoughtful about our eternity. The worries of this life are real for us. But our greater concern must be to reach heaven – our home being built by the Lord.
John 14:2, 3 “In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.”
