Issue 1197 – Raging – July 18, 2023
Like an uncontrollable living thing, the fire raged and roared. It resisted all efforts to put it out and relentlessly consumed everything in its path. The sky was filled with acrid smoke visible for miles, and the earth in the fire’s wake was left scorched and barren.
So far this year alone, Canada’s forest fires have consumed more than 10 million hectares (24.7 million acres, over 38,000 square miles), and the worst parts of the fire season are yet to come.
I’ve lost track of the number of communities that have been (or are on) evacuation alert or have been evacuated.
Earlier in the year were floods and droughts depending on where you lived. Our seasons are all off-kilter, and it seems they have been shifted a month. All of creation seems askew.
It is nothing new or unique to Canada. The world has seen its share of natural disasters since the fall from grace in the garden. Fires, floods, hurricanes, volcanic eruptions and more have always been with us. They will continue until the Lord makes over heaven and earth in the culmination of His plan.
It seems that disasters are becoming larger and more frequent than ever before. I could be wrong; perhaps we are more quickly aware of things than ever before with instant media, so they seem worse.
Today’s reader-supplied photo was taken two days ago in Clearwater, BC, the community we called home for six years. Two massive fires have come together to the northwest of town and, while not yet threatening the community directly, are undoubtedly concerning to the people who were on evacuation alert several years ago.
As I pondered the impact of these fires and other disasters, it seemed to me that all of nature is indeed crying out for the return of the Lord.
How long will the land mourn and the grass of every field wither? For the evil of those who dwell in it the beasts and the birds are swept away, because they said, “He will not see our latter end. Jeremiah 12:4
The earth lies defiled under its inhabitants; for they have transgressed the laws, violated the statutes, broken the everlasting covenant. Therefore a curse devours the earth, and its inhabitants suffer for their guilt; therefore the inhabitants of the earth are scorched, and few men are left. Isaiah 24:5-6
For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. Romans 8:19-22
All of the created order, except for sin-filled rebellious humanity, cries out for God to return and set things right. Unredeemed sinners continue to pretend that God doesn’t exist or that He is impotent to change things. They carry on with no desire to see the Lord of glory.
Except for the grace and mercy of God, believers would still find themselves in that mass of humanity too stubborn and proud to repent and trust.
God is in sovereign control of all things but has called us to share Christ’s light, love and word. May the disasters around us set us on fire to do those things with renewed vigour.
Be Blessed
Hallelu Yah / Praise God
Kevin
Gleanings From The Word
Experience an extraordinary God in ordinary life.
Soli Deo Gloria (For the glory of God alone)
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All contents, “Gleanings From The Word” and “Experience an Extraordinary God in Ordinary Life,” are © 2001, 2023 K.F. “Kevin” Corbin Gleanings From The Word.
Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture is from the English Standard Version (ESV).
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