I am sitting in my truck admiring the beautiful landscape that
surrounds the hospital parking lot. I am
waiting for my wife that is having a couple of tests done to make sure that all
is well in her body.
The sky is overcast with monsoon clouds, which is out of the norm for
this coastal state. It is quite humid
and muggy. The only things saving me
from this swelter are my truck’s air-conditioner and a slight breeze from the
West. I would otherwise be inside the waiting room, but I am trying to stay
healthy; away from people that are sick with the flu that is going around.
“What do You have for me today?” is the question I am asking God as I
look around hoping to see something that spurs me to write. “What thoughts can You give me to encourage
my readers?”
Atop the hospital building is a large, cone-shaped sock that is orange
in color with a large hole at one end where it attaches to the support pole and
a smaller hole at the other end. After
transporting trauma patients to the facilities it aids helicopter pilots in
knowing which direction the wind is blowing as it passes through the sock,
before they land on the helipad that was constructed on the roof.
To the right of the building I see “Old Glory” unfurled; proudly
showing the red, white, and blue colors of our country—the American flag. The flag and sock are both pointing toward
the East, which prompts my mind to remember the scripture that pertains to the
return of Jesus. It says that He will
appear in clouds of glory in the eastern sky.
I believe that this event will be a reality one day soon.
The shrubbery that lines the walkway in front of my truck is groomed to
perfection except for two, three inch leaves that were missed by the grounds
keeper. They are firmly attached to the
stem and parallel to each other; much like the letter V, only horizontal.
They are flapping back and forth hitting each other in the morning
breeze, like clapping your hands to honor someone for their
accomplishments. It is as if they are
saying thank you to their creator for the life He has given them. I consider this a reality check regarding my
sensitivity to God and the responsibility I have to praise Him for the new life
that He has given me through Jesus Christ, His Son.
Too often, people go through life taking things for granted, not
stopping to thank the Lord for the blessings He gives and the needs that He
provides for. Humans are prone to say,
“Look what I have done.” They fail to
consider the true source of their provisions and sustenance, which is God Almighty.
Haughtiness and pride are the two words that readily come to mind,
which best describe the human race. I
cannot fathom how people can look at themselves in the mirror and think they
have accomplished things by their own validity.
God controls life and death, and because of His mercy and long-suffering,
breath continues, yet, pride is still the number one failing that brings the
collapse of a person’s existence.
(Proverbs 16:18), “Pride goes
before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.”
God deserves everyone’s praise for who He is. He is the creator of all living things and
all that is and ever will be, but people fail or refuse to honor Him. If we neglect to do so, the Bible declares
that the rocks will cry out. God will
receive praise one way or the other.
(Luke 19:40), “…I tell you that
if these should keep silent, the stones would immediately cry out.”
Without God there would be nothing, whatsoever, so who on earth can
consider themselves better than He or exalt themselves above Him? Is this not what Lucifer tried to do in
heaven? How can anyone take a stand
against God and think they are greater than He?
The answer is simple…haughtiness and pride; two attributes of Satan.
Those that stand in arrogance take the Lord’s name in vain as they
promote the removal of Bibles and prayer from public schools, and court-martial
Christians that are in the military when they share their faith with
others. Shame on our government leaders
and lawmakers! And shame on those
Americans that stand by and allow it to happen, rather than voting these
reprobates out of office! But what does
this say about the populace of America
Our nation was founded upon the principles and statutes of God. What happened to “In God We Trust?” I see the lack of concern in people and their
failure to vote quality, godly people into local and federal government
positions. This lack of responsibility
tells me that we are quickly falling from grace, because of a pompous, “We
don’t need God” attitude, which is propagated by pride and self-sufficiency.
Wow! There are those in our
nation that would rather suffer God’s wrath than bow their knees in submission
to a holy and righteous God! How
foolish! Who do they think has sustained
us and protected our shores from heathen nations that would sooner behead us
than not?
I am fearful that if members of our society continue on their
rebellious trek that leads to destruction, and fail to honor God as they ought,
this nation will reap what it sows, because of individuals turning their backs
on righteousness.
(Galatians 6:7-8), “Do not be
deceived; God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also
reap.” Vs.8 “For he who sows to his
flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of
the Spirit reap everlasting life.”
God will be faithful to any nation that falls on their knees before Him
and repents of sins committed. God shall
restore that which was lost due to sin.
I believe when the United
States of America
(2 Chronicles 7:14), “if My
people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My
face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will
forgive their sin and heal their land.”
(Joel 2:25), “So I will restore to
you the years that the swarming locust has eaten, the crawling locust, the
consuming locust, and the chewing locust, My great army which I sent among
you.”
We need to remember our heritage from whence comes our salvation. It is not of our own doing that gives life,
it is the price that was paid through the death of Jesus Christ on the cross of
Calvary .
Cloaking one self in useless, self-made principles that are anti-Christ,
fall short of the mark. It was Jesus who
bought our salvation, because of the blood He willingly shed for you and me.
(John 3:16), “For God so loved
the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him
should not perish but have everlasting life.”
In the present scheme of things, it is an anomaly, which is (the
deviation from the normal or common order or form or rule) to hear someone talk
about the things of God or giving Him recognition for their successes in
life. It will be nice when people cease
to assume the credit for success and desiring the accolades of others.
The two leaves showed their praise through action, which prompted these
thoughts for today. Let us not grow
weary in well doing; forgetting where our allegiance lies. Let us pray that our nation returns to God
before the rocks cry out in our place.
Written by,
Papa Boyd
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