17 Jan It is What It Is (Discovering the true character of God…because He is not a car-wrecking, cancer causing Creator, but a loving, life giving Lord!) part 23
Our key verse, for this series, is found in Hebrews 11:6, “For without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.”
This week we continue with the 11 Characteristics concerning the Character of God:
# 6. The weather outside is frightful (Rom. 8:19-23, Matt. 24:1-8)
“For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God. For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope. For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope, Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body” (Rom. 8:19-23).
The reason we see so many tumultuous storms, earthquakes, tornadoes and hurricanes is not because God is judging us. The reason we see so much chaotic weather is because all “creation is groaning” waiting for the manifestation of the sons of God. The earth, as we know it, is under a curse and has been since Adam’s sin. It is “groaning” waiting to be brought back into harmony. This will occur during the millennial reign, a thousand year period of time immediately following the Tribulation. Jesus will come back to the earth with His saints and then we will rule and reign with the Lord. Peace, tranquility and healing will once again reign on earth and nature too will once again be congruent (see Isaiah 65).
Matthew 24:1-8 tells us, “And Jesus went out, and departed from the temple: and his disciples came to him for to shew him the buildings of the temple. And Jesus said unto them, See ye not all these things? Verily I say unto you, There shall not be left here one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down. And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? And what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world? And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ: and shall deceive many. And ye shall hear of wars and rumors of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. All these are the beginning of sorrows.”
You can plainly see that chaotic weather and cataclysmic earthquakes are signs of the last times before the Rapture of the Church. In verse eight you notice the word “sorrows”. This is the Greek word “odin” and it literally means “birth pains.” For all you mothers out there, you know birth pain are something that increase in both intensity and frequency. You can see both intensity and frequency in famines and earthquakes, etc. These are simply a cursed world groaning and signs of the return of our Lord Jesus…not the judgment of God.
You can plainly see how God views storms in the life of Jesus in Mark 4:38-42. Here Jesus didn’t receive the storm as the judgment of God sent to teach the disciples something. He rebuked it as something sent from the enemy to kill, steal and destroy (see John 10:10)! Why? Because your God is not a car-wrecking, cancer causing Creator but a loving, life-giving Lord!
Join us next week as we continue to share from this series…