As I look out, this morning, at colorful, soggy leaves scattered across the wet lawn, I think what a beautiful season autumn is. This may be my favorite time of year, nature tucking in God’s creation for the sleep of winter. Each season has its purpose; there is a time for everything, King Solomon said, and I think, What a great God I serve!
My brother has just bought a new car. That car came with a guidebook; instructions from its maker on how to use it, what to do and what not to do. That got me to thinking. We come with a guidebook too, instructions from our Maker on what to do and what not to do and how to have a satisfying, joyful life that has no ending. The guidebook is the Bible and our Maker is God.
Sometimes I admit that my view of the Old Testament is of a stern God, one who metes out justice and severely deals with sinners. But then, I read beautiful passages that speak of love and compassion and, stated clearly in black and white, are rules to live by. Along with Deuteronomy, the Psalms, Proverbs, Isaiah, all of which have magnificent verses that speak of love, is the Book of Leviticus. And in that Book is the 26th chapter. It is a straightforward passage, laying out the way to live successfully, happily, and have a thriving community and nation. Since it is no secret and God plainly puts it down for all to read and it is not hard to understand, why don’t we follow it? Why do we, like willful children, refuse to obey and then are struck by the terrible consequences of disobedience?
Leviticus 26:3-4 begins with, “If ye walk in my statues, and keep my commandments, and do them, then I will give you rain in due season and the land shall yield her increase…” The following verses tell of an abundant harvest, peace in the land, freedom from fear, courage, and it gives this promise from God, “I will have respect unto you, and make you fruitful, and multiply you, and establish my covenant with you.” Could anything be more amazing than that? All we have to do is obey. Why don’t we?
Then come the next verses which are a little hard to read: what happens when we willfully turn away from God and think we know best or start compromising what we know to be true and right, and try to get along with or ignore sin. The results are not pleasant but the most horrific of all is, “I will set my face against you.” Now, I don’t know about you, but I do not want the Creator of the universe to set His face against me. I want to live in the warm approval of the Lord.
So now, as I look at this dark, rainy morning, and I see nature obeying the cycle that God set in motion, I pray that I and you too, will follow God’s guidebook, His instructions for successful living. May your blessings this day be as plentiful as those colorful maple leaves and may the Lord be gracious unto you.
I lovely thought for the day. I don’t know if this is your house but if it is, it looks cute, warm, and cozy! I sometimes think of the personality of the great Jehovah too and see the strict Laws that were given to the nation of Israel but then again, realize that this was a tutor leading to the Christ and the nation had to realize that they really did need a Messiah. It is sad that so few accepted that wonderful calling.