All lives are far better and more peaceful when God is at the center of our families, states, and nations.  It is when we turn from Him that we get into trouble.  When things are going well, we sometimes fall into the idea we can really manage our lives on our own; as the song says, “Life can turn on a dime.” This happens with individuals, as well as families and nations.  We make faulty decisions without consulting Him.  We become worried and troubled when health problems arise, tragedy strikes, or jobs dry-up.  He has much interest in us and wants to hear from us.  In fact, no other earthly creature worships God—only humanity is able to know and love the Creator.

Man is unique.  We are created in His own image.  No other earthly creature has a soul.  Human beings are God’s crowning achievement, and God wants the best for us.  Sadly, this does not always work out because we fail to open the pages of His Word.  When we hold a Bible in our hands, we have before us the mind of God.  We have His way of salvation.  Babies do not come with an instruction manual.  We do have a manual for spiritual things (the Bible).

“So God created man in His own image, in the image of God created He him: male and female created He them.”   (Genesis 1:27)

“And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.”     (Genesis 2:7)

Happy or blessed is the people whose God is Jehovah, a people who worship and serve Him.  The religion of God is constituted and adapted to make a happy people.  It gives peace and quietude.  God teaches the principles of prosperity and happiness:  work, diligence, thrift, love and goodwill.  His way guards one from bitterness and strife, freeing his energies to go into a productive life.

The good life is no accident.  It is produced by a cause – God’s directives.

The best security for any nation is adherence to God’s plan.  A remembrance of God has always prospered nations.  The nations that forget Him regress and destroy themselves.

“The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God.”   Psalm 9:17

A friend of mine had a car with a transmission defect.  It would run and move but always go in reverse.  It burned up energy as it went the wrong way.  The illustration aptly describes many people, especially those who forget God.  Many are moving backwards to destruction.  Their own forgetfulness of God withholds from them the happy life, as the prophet Jeremiah stated.

“Your iniquities have turned away these things, and your sins have withholden good things from you.”        Jeremiah 5:25

May we ever cling to God and read His word for daily guidance, direction, peace, and comfort.  It is all ours for the taking, but we must be obedient to receive the many blessings He offers.

“For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments, and His commandments are not burdensome.”   I John 5:3

Eileen Light