Have you ever wondered what our world would be like if there were no God? I thought about it early this morning. God is faithful to us every day. We awaken and the sun is shining. Even though it may be cloudy, the sun is still in its place. The moon and stars shine at night and they remain in their respective places. God appointed them their places from the beginning.
“And God said, Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night: and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years: And let them be for lights in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth: and it was so. And God made two great lights: the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night: He made the stars also. And God set them in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth. And to rule over the day and over the night, and to divide the light from the darkness: and God saw that it was good.” Genesis 1:14-18
The seasons of the year come and go, and when you truly look at the world, the community in which you live, do you see the seasons change with all its own unique beauty? God appointed the seasons this way.
“To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted; a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; a time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; a time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; a time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.” Ecclesiastes 3:1-8
Summer is here, and last night in the distance, I could hear frogs croaking at the ponds which surround my area. There is something very comforting about things remaining the same. We expect them to happen in their own time. Frogs croaking in the winter would be quite unnatural. Birds nesting in the fall and winter would be out of order. Instead, God gave them instincts to fly south for the winter, where the climate is warmer, and then they wing their way back north for the summer. Fireflies or lightning bugs as we call them in the south, will once more light the night with their God given ability. And such wonder for all of us to enjoy. I have often wondered how God thought to give us lighting bugs. Twinkling as tiny moving stars on warm summer evenings. They are not as prevalent in the larger cities, but where I live, they are plentiful and one of God’s precious creations.
“Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father.” Matthew 10:29
“I will praise Thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are Thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.” Psalms 139:14
I have plenty of bluebirds which nest in the back of my house, along with mockingbirds which nest in the holly outside my window. The blue fig tree has grown from about twelve inches last May to almost five feet this spring. It had no leaves in the winter, but now promises to have many more figs this year. At the end of last fall, I counted about 36 figs. I love them fresh off the tree, as well as all fruit. There is nothing which compares with the sweetness of fruit right off the vine and tree. God’s sun and rain sweetens them naturally.
“Just think for a moment what it would be like in a world without God. For depravity is a natural consequence of disbelief: no God, no ruler; no rule; no law; no restraint. And apart from a regenerating influence, man’s steps are always downward.
May God use us to show the rest of the world what it is like to live in God’s world under His direction and in His peace and comfort.” ~ Leroy Brownlow
Truly, “this is my Father’s world.” May we never forget.
“My soul hath them still in remembrance, and is humbled in me. This I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope. It is of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is Thy faithfulness. The Lord is my portion saith my soul; therefore will I hope in Him. The Lord is good unto them that wait for Him, to the soul that seeketh Him. It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the Lord.” Lamentations 3:20-26
Eileen Light