Christian Living

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The nation is once again seeing another storm head its way. This storm’s name is Wilma. This storm could be the biggest this year, or ever.

Why have we faced so many storms this year? Some say it is global warming, others see these storms as natural occurrence; something we have faced down before.

I have to wonder if either theory is "totally" correct. Sure, I know our country has faced major disasters before. This is not new. What is different may be the reason behind these events.

In Psalm 107, the Lord tells us the He stirs the storms. Our Lord is in charge of the winds. He can create storms or give us beautiful days. We do not like to think this way, but it is true. I know, when I share with some of my friends, my idea that God may be giving us what we deserve, some agree and some cannot believe a loving God would do such a thing.

I believe there is this great disconnect between our behavior and God’s work in our lives and in our nation. We try to believe that we are above it all and that God will not cause us great harm, because we know Jesus or we are Americans, you know, the “In God We Trust” people of this world.

Maybe it is just me, but it seems like we are upside down in this society. The gives sinful behavior government protections and rights, while some see Christianity as the root of the problems in this nation. Thus, if they could somehow root us out, they would all live in peace and harmony, doing whatever they feel is right in their eyes, without the guilt of having anyone looking over their shoulder and correcting them or objecting to their behaviors. We are like the conscience they have long ago seared. We remind them there is a right and a wrong and they do not like it.

I am not only talking about the world here, but also those who call themselves Christians. There are those who cannot see how their bad behavior affects their walk with God. They have a disconnected faith. The other day, my friend spoke to some young people, in his church about not engaging in sexual activity. One of the young people objected strongly to his suggestion. The young man is like so many, who believe that God loves them, but they suffer a spiritual disconnect. They cannot see the conntection between their faith and thier sins affect their relationship with Jesus.

In Malachi, The Lord says, “You have wearied the Lord with your words; Yet, you say, “In what way have we wearied Him?”

You see, God's people could not understand how they could weary God. Then God went on to explain what they were doing that made Him weary. He said, “In that you say, ‘Everyone who does evil is good in the sight of the Lord, and He delights in them or where is the God of justice?”

Do you see the picture? These people were committing great sin. They were doing evil in God’s sight and telling everyone that God had no problem with their wickedness. In fact, it says, the people began to say, “Everyone who does evil is good in the sight of the Lord.”

What is so different today? The world looks at evil and calls it good. In addition, many believers feel they can do what they want and God will not mind. Both the worldly and disconnected believers look at sinful behavior and lift it up as normal and natural. Living together trumps marriage, homosexuality is equal to, even better than heterosexuality. Christianity is the enemy, while atheism is open-mindedness. Christianity is the root of evil, while terrorists are freedom fighters, people who need understanding.

If we believe the storms we have experienced, I lived through Katrina, are merely historical events or caused by global warming, then we may be missing the bigger picture. Has our immorality and discontectedness wearied the God who stirs the storms? From abortion to homosexuality, to adultery and fornication, from lies, to brutish behaviors, from pulling down God's commandments from the walls and removing Him from our public lives, we may be wearying God while convincing ourselves that we have somehow achieved a pinnacle that no other nation or people ever achieved, including Israel. Some think that our behavior will go without punishment. Somehow, we feel that the One who stirs the storms loves His creation too much—Maybe we need to remember ancient Israel and Judah...Something to think about, as we watch the storms continue to come.

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