May the mumbling commence!
Our actions affect creation. There’s no doubt. We are supposed to be stewards of our
planet. Many times we fall down in this
responsibility for immediate gratification.
Long ago, it was no different.
Read from Isaiah chapter twenty-four:
The earth will be completely emptied and looted. The Lord
has spoken!
The earth dries
up, the crops wither, the skies refuse to rain.
The earth suffers for the sins of its people, for they have twisted the instructions of God, violated his laws, and
broken his everlasting covenant. Therefore, a
curse consumes the earth and its people. They are left desolate, destroyed by fire. Few
will be left alive.
All the joys of
life will be gone. The grape harvest
will fail, and there will be no
wine. The merrymakers will sigh and mourn.
The clash of tambourines will be stilled;
the happy cries of celebration will be
heard no more. The melodious chords of the harp will be silent.
Gone are the joys of wine and
song; strong drink now turns bitter in
the mouth.
The city writhes
in chaos; every home is locked to keep out looters. Mobs
gather in the streets, crying out for wine. Joy has reached its lowest ebb.
Gladness has been banished from the land.
The city is left in ruins,
with its gates battered down. Throughout the earth the story is the same – like the stray olives left on the tree or
the few grapes left on the vine after harvest, only a remnant is left. (Verses 3-13)
Looting the earth is a twisting of
God’s command. Doing so will result in
desolation and destruction. Few will
survive.
Joy will dry up and blow away. Failure will be commonplace. Sighing and mourning will be daily
bread. Silence and bitterness will
reign. Everything left in ruins! Battered down!
Do you think creation is here for
our pleasure alone? Think again! Let’s be good stewards of God’s creation.
And let us worship the Lord. Read from Revelation chapter eleven:
Then the seventh angel blew his trumpet, and there were
loud voices shouting in heaven: "The whole
world has now become the Kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he will
reign forever and ever."
And the twenty-four elders sitting on their thrones
before God fell on their faces and worshiped him. And they said,
"We give thanks to you, Lord God Almighty,
the one who is and who always was,
for now you have assumed your great power
and have begun to reign.
The nations were angry with you,
but now the time of your wrath has come.
It is time to judge the dead and reward your servants.
You will reward your prophets and your holy people,
all who fear your name, from the least to the greatest.
And you will destroy
all who have caused destruction on
the earth."
Then, in heaven, the Temple of God was opened and the Ark
of his covenant could be seen inside the Temple. Lightning flashed, thunder
crashed and roared; there was a great hailstorm, and the world was shaken by a
mighty earthquake. (Verses 15-19)
Even in the midst of plagues and
fiery trial, the proper response is to praise the Lord. In all ways and in all times!
Enough mumbling for now…
Peace Out
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