Good morning,
This Monday Minute is a bit late this week because I was waiting for a clearer outcome to two of the most dynamic weeks we have had in many years. The last time we had anything as dynamic as these two weeks was in 2001 in New York City on the same day as today, 9/11. Then highly motivated and hate filled men joyfully attacked America with commercial airplanes in order to satisfy their belief system that they were serving a god who required them to kill others in order to guarantee their own salvation. More than 3,000 ordinary people died that day. Two weeks ago the Lord sent a powerful storm that picked up a huge load of water from the Gulf of Mexico that came ashore in the state of Texas. The storm brought high winds and as much as 51 inches of rain in that one record breaking event. Then this last week the Lord decided that we needed an even more dramatic lesson so he arranged two major hurricanes, one of them the largest and most powerful we have had in our history, aimed at the east coast of America and one lesser hurricane that traveled over Mexico. God also arranged for a major earth quake, the most powerful in 100 years, to occur on the west coast of Mexico. Although there have been billions of dollars of damage done to over 20,000,000 people living in these areas, less than 200 people have died in these wakeup calls from the God.
The Enemy of our souls will do his best to blame our God, or our own unwise living, as the cause of these problems. What we forget is that when we read the Bible, it tells us the truth of what God is doing. The Bible is very clear that God loves the world and the people he created. Our Creator God knows all about the challenges that we face and our human desire to control our own lives, and to enjoy our rebellion against his guidelines. The Bible tells us that once before the Lord sent a flood that ended the lives and cultures of those who refused to love and trust him. Eight people survived that flood. Since then he has promised that he wouldn’t send another flood like that one. Since then when dealing with his special people who insisted in living in rebellion to him he said, "Turn from your wicked ways, and start doing things right. Stop worshiping other gods - - But you would not listen to me or obey me.(Jeremiah34:15) God sent his prophets to warn his people when they rebelled again and again, but then he told them, 'Because you refuse to listen or answer when I call, I will send upon Judah and Jerusalem all the disasters I have threatened.’”(v.17) Why did God keep sending them these warnings? At that time he explained what he was doing when he said, Perhaps the people of Judah will repent when they hear again all the terrible things I have planned for them. Then I will be able to forgive their sins and wrongdoings.”(Jer.36:3) Jesus our Savior doesn’t want to destroy us, he wants to save us. Jesus has always been this way. He doesn’t hate us, He loves us. The only time that he will use his power to destroy us is when we absolutely reject his love. These events are designed to be wakeup calls to show us his mighty power and his loving kindness at the same time. These are wonderful times for God’s faithful family to demonstrate love and sacrificial help and sincere prayer for one another and for all who have been affected. Lord, please help us to wake up to what you are doing.
Jeremiah 36:3 Perhaps the people of Judah will repent when they hear again all the terrible things I have planned for them. Then I will be able to forgive their sins and wrongdoings.”
Roy Wisner
