Saturday morning in Alabama, after having preached Friday night in a nearby Church, the wind woke me … with a vengeance! It sounded like a storm approaching! But alas, not a drop fell from the sky!
Today’s Bible Lesson …
The area where we live, north Georgia, is dry!
Draught conditions prevail.
Forest fires, parched lawns, reservoirs down, it’s getting dangerous. Daily the news informs us of new water restrictions, with no relief in sight.
And yet our verse for today describes a great God … “Who giveth rain upon the earth, and sendeth waters upon the fields.” Job 5:10
Yes, I believe what the satellite images are showing. No clouds or no moisture, whatever. And I’ve heard of weather “fronts,” and high and low pressure areas. But I still believe … God sends the rain!
Granted, we may have discovered the “tools” God uses to control the weather … the meteorological patterns of the planet. Really, we even talk about “space weather” now as well!
BUT IT’S STILL ALMIGHTY GOD WHO IS THE TRUE RAINMAKER!
Driving home Saturday morning a few drops of water finally tried to fall on the car … but nothing measurable. I didn’t even have to use the windshield wipers!
Recently Churches have begun special prayer meetings (again, where we live) … crying to the Lord for rain. He is certainly the only Source!
And no doubt, I believe, the rain will come … in God’s time. Perhaps in direct answer to prayer. Perhaps because the “dry season” God has allowed will have finally run its course. Perhaps because of another reason, or a dozen other blended reasons!
But today … I am also interested in another kind of draught.
The spiritual dryness that permeates our world.
Christendom has largely become, as prophesied by Jesus, an arid wasteland.
Only a believing remnant keep true faith alive.
Here’s spiritual draught verbalized, again by Jesus. “Thou (to one of the churches of Asia Minor) sayest I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art WRETCHED, and MISERABLE, and POOR, and BLIND, and NAKED.” That’s what happens when there’s no rain! No moistening (or soaking) Presence of the Holy Spirit!
Dry Christianity, the very term should be a paradox really.
Furthermore, when speaking of a great future Revival (probably Millennial in nature), God promises … “Then shall we know, if we follow on to know the LORD: His going forth is prepared as the morning; and HE SHALL COME TO US AS THE RAIN, as the LATTER AND FORMER RAIN unto the earth.” Hosea 6:3
Then, the (spiritual) draught will be broken!
Which is worse?
Literal or spiritual parchedness?
Oh Lord, send the rain!
— Dr. Mike Bagwell