I believe that we are entering a time of great testing and temptation on the entire world, as so many either do not know God or have turned away from him. It is very hard to watch as these horrific disasters unfold, and with modern technology it has become up close and personal for all of us. It is sad that when we as a people have everything going our way and there are no troubles in our lives and all is peace and safety, we begin to say that there is no God and no need for us to heed what does not exist. The world as a whole has turned away from it's creator, yea even shaking their fist at Him declaring that they have no need for Him in their lives. I watch in tears as thousands march the streets of our cities in defiance, having given themselves over to lusts and unnatural affections.
If we do not want God, if we rail against Him and proclaim His words to be lies. If we continue to openly do and proclaim what is unseemly to be good. If our people continue to teach and proclaim that there is no creator and that we have no need for such. Then He will give us the desires of our hearts and withdraw His hand of mercy and protection and leave us to ourselves, that is what we seem to want after all.
It is hard for us who do believe, who do proclaim His name, and who do desire His presence in our lives to watch when we know what sin and rebellion brings on homes, cities and Nations. But it is devastating when we see it coming to an entire world because of their folly and rejection, how foolish to rebel against our Creator.
I have prayed for you and for the people of Portugal this morning, and I have taken heart that you have turned to our God for help and salvation from these fires. To see the need and to fear God is the beginning of wisdom, for me right now it is the fear of a world without God that is most terrifying. I serve a God of mercy and grace who wants what is best for us. But He is also a God who will give us what we say that we want, and if we would rather live our lives apart from Him then he will grant us that prayer and withdraw.
Last night at Church our message came out of Psalm 107, "Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!" It was an illustration of just such a time, the author himself looking out over the tragedies of his day. Oh if we would just remember His wonderful works and turn back to Him!
Psalm 107 (KJV)
1 O give thanks unto the LORD, for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever. 2 Let the redeemed of the LORD say so, whom he hath redeemed from the hand of the enemy; 3 And gathered them out of the lands, from the east, and from the west, from the north, and from the south. 4 They wandered in the wilderness in a solitary way; they found no city to dwell in. 5 Hungry and thirsty, their soul fainted in them. 6 Then they cried unto the LORD in their trouble, and he delivered them out of their distresses. 7 And he led them forth by the right way, that they might go to a city of habitation. 8 Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men! 9 For he satisfieth the longing soul, and filleth the hungry soul with goodness.
10 Such as sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, being bound in affliction and iron; 11 Because they rebelled against the words of God, and contemned the counsel of the most High: 12 Therefore he brought down their heart with labour; they fell down, and there was none to help. 13 Then they cried unto the LORD in their trouble, and he saved them out of their distresses. 14 He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death, and brake their bands in sunder. 15 Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men! 16 For he hath broken the gates of brass, and cut the bars of iron in sunder.
17 Fools because of their transgression, and because of their iniquities, are afflicted. 18 Their soul abhorreth all manner of meat; and they draw near unto the gates of death. 19 Then they cry unto the LORD in their trouble, and he saveth them out of their distresses. 20 He sent his word, and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions. 21 Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men! 22 And let them sacrifice the sacrifices of thanksgiving, and declare his works with rejoicing.
23 They that go down to the sea in ships, that do business in great waters; 24 These see the works of the LORD, and his wonders in the deep. 25 For he commandeth, and raiseth the stormy wind, which lifteth up the waves thereof. 26 They mount up to the heaven, they go down again to the depths: their soul is melted because of trouble. 27 They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man, and are at their wits' end. 28 Then they cry unto the LORD in their trouble, and he bringeth them out of their distresses. 29 He maketh the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are still. 30 Then are they glad because they be quiet; so he bringeth them unto their desired haven. 31 Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men! 32 Let them exalt him also in the congregation of the people, and praise him in the assembly of the elders.
33 He turneth rivers into a wilderness, and the watersprings into dry ground; 34 A fruitful land into barrenness, for the wickedness of them that dwell therein. 35 He turneth the wilderness into a standing water, and dry ground into watersprings. 36 And there he maketh the hungry to dwell, that they may prepare a city for habitation; 37 And sow the fields, and plant vineyards, which may yield fruits of increase. 38 He blesseth them also, so that they are multiplied greatly; and suffereth not their cattle to decrease. 39 Again, they are minished and brought low through oppression, affliction, and sorrow. 40 He poureth contempt upon princes, and causeth them to wander in the wilderness, where there is no way. 41 Yet setteth he the poor on high from affliction, and maketh him families like a flock. 42 The righteous shall see it, and rejoice: and all iniquity shall stop her mouth. 43 Whoso is wise, and will observe these things, even they shall understand the lovingkindness of the LORD.