Issue 1228 – Smokey Days – August 22, 2023
Once again, it seems that northern and western Canada is on fire. It’s been another record year for fire destruction, and the season isn’t anywhere near over. In British Columbia alone, there are 378 active wildfires this morning, many of them out of control.
This morning’s image is of downtown Kelowna on Saturday morning. (courtesy of The Vernon Star). The smoke here wasn’t nearly that thick, but the air quality level was in the danger zone.
The weather has cleared much of the smoke from the air, at least where we live. Not so much so for those who live in the interior. I can see the blue sky this morning, which is a pleasant change.
The fires and smoke had me thinking of The Revelation of Jesus to John the Apostle, aka “Revelation,” yesterday. Before I share my thoughts, allow me a couple of provisos.
Firstly, I don’t believe that Revelation is a calendar or checklist that tells us the date of the Lord’s return. His return is imminent, that is, it can happen suddenly and without warning. Jesus may return before I have finished writing this, or a year from now or not for another 2,000 years. He is coming back in victory and to take His church home forever. Only the Father knows the day and hour,
Secondly, while there is disagreement over whether the events described have happened yet or when they will happen; as to their being literal or metaphorical; and how to interpret all that, they are designed to point us to our eternal hope in Christ.
Yesterday, the smoke had already lifted some. However, the air was still acrid tasting, and visibility was significantly reduced from normal. It was beak, dark and oppressive. I thought about the opening of the seven seals and the seven trumpets described in Revelation 8-11. There isn’t space to talk about them all, but one, in particular, came to mind.
When the Lamb opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour. Then I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and seven trumpets were given to them. And another angel came and stood at the altar with a golden censer, and he was given much incense to offer with the prayers of all the saints on the golden altar before the throne, and the smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, rose before God from the hand of the angel. hen the angel took the censer and filled it with fire from the altar and threw it on the earth, and there were peals of thunder, rumblings, flashes of lightning, and an earthquake. Now the seven angels who had the seven trumpets prepared to blow them.The first angel blew his trumpet, and there followed hail and fire, mixed with blood, and these were thrown upon the earth. And a third of the earth was burned up, and a third of the trees were burned up, and all green grass was burned up. Revelation 8:1-7
A third of the trees and all the green grass burning. That is mind-numbing devastation and damage. Compared to that, the fires raging here at the moment are inconsequential.
However, they give us a taste of what is to come. The Lord will pour out His wrath and judgement so that people’s eyes will be opened, and they will repent of their sin and run to Him.
In His grace, God often gives people a taste of what can happen to soften their hearts. Unfortunately, it seems that many (most?) people need to find themselves in dire circumstances before they will surrender. Even at that, most people will reject Jesus no matter what.
The forests will regrow, the building will be rebuilt, and people will get on with their lives. Soon the fires will be a distant memory, the wildfires of 2023, but in the moment, many will have turned their hearts and minds to our sovereign saviour. The temporary losses will be outweighed by the eternal gains.
As we pray against the destruction, pray that hearts will be softened and people will come to Christ.
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 KF “Kevin” Corbin Gleanings From The Word.
Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture is from the English Standard Version (ESV).
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