The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him and what came to my heart and mind in Zechariah 7:13-14,
"'When I called, they did not listen; so when they called, I would not listen,' says the Lord Almighty. 'I scattered them with a whirlwind among all the nations, where they were strangers. The land they left behind them was so desolate that no one traveled through it. This is how they made the pleasant land desolate.'"
"This is how they made the pleasant land desolate"... here is something those who are all tied in knots about our environment ought to consider. When the Israelites turned their backs on their Creator, he cursed the land. How ironic it seems that the very ones who are all atwitter about environmental issues also happen to be the very ones who reject any consideration of the things of God! So... what is the real-life existential threat to our environment? Might it be our culture's embrace of those things the Lord refers to as detestable perversions? How about homosexuality? How about the wholesale slaughter of innocents still within the womb? How about our culture's drift from all things God?
What I find fascinating in this passage is an obvious and expected truth. To those who do not respond when the Lord calls, the Lord will not respond when they call to him! Fine and dandy when all things go well. However, when the chips are down and we are all shaken to the core, most folks call out to God (whoever they perceive him to be...). How would it be if Iran drops nukes on New York, Chicago and LA? Will those who so confidently spurned the Lord in favor of their own brilliant ideas call out to the God and Father of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob? You bet they will! And, what will be God's response? "When I called, they did not listen, so when they called, I would not listen." But, a nuclear attack on the American homeland is preposterous, right? No worries... just keep rejecting the only One who can save.
There is the other side to what the Lord has to say here. If we reject the Lord when he calls, he will reject us when we call. However, If we draw near to God, he will draw near to us! "Come near to God and he will come near to you." James 4:8.
"'When I called, they did not listen; so when they called, I would not listen,' says the Lord Almighty. 'I scattered them with a whirlwind among all the nations, where they were strangers. The land they left behind them was so desolate that no one traveled through it. This is how they made the pleasant land desolate.'"
"This is how they made the pleasant land desolate"... here is something those who are all tied in knots about our environment ought to consider. When the Israelites turned their backs on their Creator, he cursed the land. How ironic it seems that the very ones who are all atwitter about environmental issues also happen to be the very ones who reject any consideration of the things of God! So... what is the real-life existential threat to our environment? Might it be our culture's embrace of those things the Lord refers to as detestable perversions? How about homosexuality? How about the wholesale slaughter of innocents still within the womb? How about our culture's drift from all things God?
What I find fascinating in this passage is an obvious and expected truth. To those who do not respond when the Lord calls, the Lord will not respond when they call to him! Fine and dandy when all things go well. However, when the chips are down and we are all shaken to the core, most folks call out to God (whoever they perceive him to be...). How would it be if Iran drops nukes on New York, Chicago and LA? Will those who so confidently spurned the Lord in favor of their own brilliant ideas call out to the God and Father of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob? You bet they will! And, what will be God's response? "When I called, they did not listen, so when they called, I would not listen." But, a nuclear attack on the American homeland is preposterous, right? No worries... just keep rejecting the only One who can save.
There is the other side to what the Lord has to say here. If we reject the Lord when he calls, he will reject us when we call. However, If we draw near to God, he will draw near to us! "Come near to God and he will come near to you." James 4:8.
Just how wonderful is that?!
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.
Trevor Fisk
trevor.fisk@gmail.com
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.
Trevor Fisk
trevor.fisk@gmail.com
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