The Day After
Last night, I was relaxing in my warm dry safe house
watching some television and playing with my daughter. I went to the
refrigerator and took out a bottle of cold clean refreshing water. I went to
the cupboard and there was food. I went to the window and looked outside and
there was no flood, tornado, and very little rain. There was very little
evidence of a storm in the region as far as my front porch was concerned. I
returned to my comfortable chair and enjoyed the benefits of electricity, technology
and security. Around 10PM I walked to the bedroom and laid on a comfortable
bed. I closed my eyes and fell asleep peacefully.
This
morning, I woke up to the sound of non-migrating birds and looked out the
window and saw blue skies peeking through mostly cloudy skies. I showered and
got dressed in some warm clean clothes. I walked to my car and drove to the
local convenience store and purchased a coffee. I then traveled to my safe,
secure, comfortable office at church and turned on my laptop to begin preparing
my Sunday PM sermon. I paused momentarily to look at the news online and I saw the
devastating results of Hurricane Sandy. I stopped and thanked God for keeping
my family and I safe and secure. It was then that I was reminded of a few
historical records from God’s Word and it changed my perspective in a matter of
seconds. It changed my perspective of God’s mercy, grace, protection and
providence; changed it forever if I take it to heart. I will share them with
you today and pray that you see this the same way in perspective.
The Day After the World Wide Flood –
For 120 Years Noah built the massive Ark. It was promised by
God that his family would be spared from the never-before- rainfall and worldwide
flood. As the last animal was secured in the ark Noah and his family entered
behind them and God shut the door of the massive structure. Then, the rain
began to fall. The fountains under the earth here broken up and water was both
spraying up and pouring down. The rain was torrential. The flooding was devastating.
It covered homes, farms, barns, mountains, trees, flowers, graves – it covered
the whole earth. Sea creatures were destroyed. Human carnage was everywhere. Bodies
floating beside the Ark. Water covered the earth for days! Then, the water
evaporated and dispersed. The Ark safely landed and rested on Mount Ararat. Noah
opened the door and as the animals departed the ark to repopulate the animal “kingdom”
he and his family exited their safe haven to the realization that they were the
only survivors. I cannot imagine anyone gleefully celebrating the fact that
their friends, family, even their enemies had been destroyed from off of the
face of the earth. Noah had found grace in the eyes of the Lord. Grace that
spared him and his family! Yet, as the recipients of God’s grace- how could
they celebrate when there were many others who did not have this same mercy
extended to them. Noah’s testimony and faithfulness of God did not make it
beyond his family. In today’s day and age of Modern Christianity- we wouldn’t
conclude that to be much of a testimony or impact on the lives around him.
The day after the Death of the First Born Son In Egypt-
For over 400 years the children of Israel were in forced
bondage to the bidding of the Evil Pharaoh. God sent Moses back to Egypt to
deliver His people from the hand of Egypt and to go to the land promised to
Abraham. After 9 plagues of pestilence and judgment, Pharaoh’s heart was
hardened against God’s demand to let his people go. God gave specific
instructions as how to avoid the death angel’s execution. Many obeyed yet many
disobeyed and did their own thing. That night, the death angel went from home
to home and killed the firstborn of every household. Can you imagine the
horrifying screams heard throughout the land that next morning? Can you picture
with me the cries of anguish and heart breaking mothers as they clutched their
dead child? Can you feel the desperation and despondent thoughts that the
fathers had as they were powerless against the invisible messenger of death
sent by God? I cannot imagine the children of Israel walking up and down the
streets celebrating the death of children and not lamenting the cost of
rebellion against God. As the bodies of the dead were carried past them to the
graves to be buried, the lump in the Hebrew’s throats had to be enlarged and
feeling so inadequate to help and console. Thankful for the grace and
protection of God over them, they were commanded to leave Egypt. The surreal
moments that followed as they packed their possessions and were given the
riches of Egypt as an entreaty to leave their land in haste must have been
humbling.
How can I boast of grace when others are in despair? In their
hearts they have such pain and their joy is no more. How can I rejoice of grace
when others are in pain? How can I boast of mercy and not feel such pain? There
are millions around me every day who do not know the Lord. How can I boast of
his saving grace and for others never to implore? How can I boast of salvation
and not care for fellow man? How can I rejoice in his love and yet others know
not the same? The day after salvation – the day after the storm – does my grace
and love of God reach beyond myself or does it reach others?
Some call it compassion. Some call
it sympathy. Some call it humanitarian interest. I will just call it grace. God’s Grace Is A Burden
Grace is a burden
that we carry
When we give our
heart to God
Grace is a burden
that we carry
As along this
earth we trod
Grace is a choice
that we act on
When we see
another in need
Grace is a choice
that we act on
When for the lost
we urgently plead
Grace is a love
that we must share
To the lost and
fallen and deceived
Grace is a love
that we must share
Of Christ for
others to believe
How can we boast
of God’s love and amazing grace
The message of
salvation And not with others share
How can we sing of
God’s love and amazing grace
His mercy and
compassion and not for others care
