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| Volume 25 Number 1 January 2023 |
Page 15 |
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| Volume 25 Number 1 January 2023 |
Page 15 |
Royce Pendergrass
When we’ve had nothing else to talk about this summer (2012), we’ve had the weather! This summer is compared to the one of 1953 which forecasters say was the last drought of this magnitude. The simple explanation is that we haven’t had the normal amount of moisture, and that started back in the winter when we had no winter weather. Many thought that was a good thing at the time, but it turned out not to be so good as the dryness continued into the spring and summer months with, not only a lack of moisture, but also higher than normal temperatures, which only contributed to the drought.
What is a drought? The dictionary simply says a drought is “a long period of dry weather; continued lack of rain; lack of moisture; dryness.” Especially farmers will suffer a big financial loss this year because of the extreme weather conditions brought about by the drought. However, when the farmers suffer, the rest of us suffer with them. That occurs sometimes because some products become almost extinct for a period of time, and others just become so expensive to buy because there is so little of the product (whether produce, meat, etc.); the loss of the farmers is passed on to those who use the products. Also, exports are still being sent abroad, animal stock still have to eat and so on.
During the time of Haggai (the 10th of the minor prophets and the first to prophesy after the Babylonian Exile), there was a severe drought. Haggai prophesied, “Thus says the Lord of hosts: ‘Consider your ways! Go up to the mountains and bring wood and build the temple, that I may take pleasure in it and be glorified,’ says the Lord” (Haggai 1:7-8 NKJV). Haggai reminded the people that “…the heavens above you withhold the dew, and the earth withholds its fruit. For I called for a drought on the land and the mountains, on the grain and the new wine and the oil, on whatever the ground brings forth, on men and livestock, and on all the labor of your hands” (10-11).
Just prior to this reminder of the drought, Haggai’s message was that the people had worked but were not seeing good results. They had been sent a drought because they were neglecting God and the building of His house. Another definition for drought is “thirst,” and God’s people were suffering because they were thirsting after physical things and not after spiritual matters; they were in a spiritual drought. Haggai continued, “Is the seed still in the barn? As yet the vine, the fig tree, the pomegranate, and the olive tree have not yielded fruit. But from this day I will bless you” (2:19). From what day would the people receive God’s blessings? It’s obvious that the blessings would only come after they rebuilt the Temple where they would worship and then live as He said.
God’s words are all given to help us be better followers of Him. From the book of Haggai, we can see that God expects us to follow His instructions, to worship Him and to be faithful. “…Without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him” (Hebrews 11:6). One must have faith in God and must be earnest in his efforts to please Him. When this is not the case, the person is in a spiritual dearth and will suffer the consequences. The promise in Matthew 5:6 is, “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, For they shall be filled.” Also note Matthew 6:33, which reads, “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.” Put God first in your life, and He will take care of you.
God is never satisfied with being second best. If you put something or someone before Him, there will be a price to pay. When you put Him first, “…God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19). It may not be exactly what you want or expect, but He will take care of the faithful. If you are in a spiritual drought, please change that by earnestly putting God first!
[Editor’s Note: Living righteously and being a fervent, obedient child of God, however, is not a guarantee that one will experience immunity from earthly sorrows. Losses sustained by the apostles of Christ were to be compensated in eternity (Matthew 19:27-29). “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us” (Romans 8:1). God always acts providentially for our greater good – observing a bigger picture than what we are able to see (Romans 8:28), as was certainly the case of the Bible character Job. No matter what happens, like the three Israelite youths thrown into a fiery furnace (Daniel 3:16-18), the children of God today also must “…live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ” (Titus 2:12-13). ~ Louis Rushmore, Editor]
Speak Out
Ed Benesh
“Now the Lord spoke to Paul in the night by a vision, ‘Do not be afraid, but speak, and do not keep silent; for I am with you, and no one will attack you to hurt you; for I have many people in this city’” (Acts 18:9-10 NKJV). It is easy for us to come together with those of like precious faith (2 Peter 1:1) who share the same worldview, hope, peace and love to open our lives and talk about matters that are important for the salvation of humanity. It is easy, amongst ourselves, to point out that there are horrible things taking place in the world – babies being killed to harvest body parts, children being stolen and sold as slaves, poverty, despair, and so on. It is easy to see all this, make comments, and then say something like, “Well, what are we going to do?” or “People just don’t change” or “We are just a small church. What could we do?”
The expectation of God is that we speak out and not hold back. It is that simple. Now, to whom did Paul speak? If you start back in Acts 17, you find that Paul spoke to anyone he met, whether they liked it or not. He spoke, and it mattered not if they were great philosophers, lowly slaves, Jews, Romans, men or women.
You see, all men and women need the Gospel, and part of why we gather together is to strengthen one another so that we can speak. God is with you. Let your words be bold, clear and from His inspired Word.