Thanks Be to God Archives - Creation Beckons

Philippians 4:6,7 Trust and Peace

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God , which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus” (NIV).

It was very peaceful to look into this scene of calm blue water surrounded by snow-capped peaks from the deck of a large and stable ship. All I had to do at that moment was to look on the glory of God’s creation, appreciate it, and thank Him for it. It brought great peace to my mind, my heart, and my spirit. That God would create all this just for our enjoyment, speaks volumes of His love and care for us. The amazing beauty and grandeur of God’s creation, from the stark dryness of the desert to the sweeping beauty of Alaska, cause joy and peace to rise within me and draw me closer to the one who created all this. When I consider the great variety of the animals and the plants, in addition to all the landforms, I am overwhelmed.

Even though the beauty and magnificence He created are mind-boggling, they pale in significance when compared to the most loving, most sacrificial act of our God. He left His place in heaven and came to earth as one of us and offered His body to purchase salvation, the forgiveness of sins, for us. He allowed men to nail Him to a cross where He hung until His body died. Satan may have considered this to be His great moment of victory, but it was just the beginning of satan’s humiliation in front of his minions when Jesus roared forth out of hell and brought our salvation with Him. With salvation, He also brought peace for those who will accept Him, trust Him, and live for Him.

Thank you, Jesus, for the beauty of creation that I always enjoy, but I thank you most for bringing me victory over sin and its contract with satan. Thank you, Jesus, for providing a place for me with you for eternity. I have trusted you, and You have given me peace.

Luke 18:6-8 Justice from the Heart of God

“Then the Master said, ‘Do you hear what that judge, corrupt as he is, is saying? So what makes you think that God won’t step in and work justice for his chosen people? Won’t he stick up for them? I assure you, he will. He will not drag his feet. But how much of that kind of persistent faith will the Son of Man find on the earth when he returns?’”

The corrupt judge in the earlier part of this parable gave in to the persistent widow who kept badgering him with her plea for justice. Jesus assures His listeners that the Father will step in and gain justice for His people, particularly for those who are persistent in their prayers, asking Him for His help in granting justice. This is definitely an encouragement to keep on praying even when we haven’t yet been granted what we ask. There is a key word in this parable, and that word is “justice.” I don’t believe that we can use this parable as encouragement to continue to pray for just anything we may want or desire. It is specific to the quest for justice, for His help when we have been wronged. God is not the spendthrift gift-giver who gives gifts haphazardly. He always has purpose in His giving of gifts. He knows the difference between good gifts and bad gifts that may eventually bring harm. He, the omniscient God, certainly knows what is good for us and what is harmful to us. When we have been wronged and deserve justice, He will see that we get justice.

God’s ultimate judgment comes about when we die. If we have any sin listed in our account we will not be permitted in heaven. Wait a minute! I have sinned, and I don’t know anyone who hasn’t. You mean that I have no chance to get into heaven? No, that’s not quite true. What is true is that we have all sinned, and what is also true is that Jesus died on Calvary for our sins and arose three days later with victory for us because He had paid the debt for all our sins, and they are no longer listed in our accounts. So, I can spend eternity in heaven even if I have sinned? That’s right, as long as we have asked Jesus to forgive us for our sins and have accepted His sacrifice on our behalf and call Him Lord. So, God gives us more that the justice we deserve; He also gives us grace in the forgiveness of our sins. He provides justice for us here on earth and grace for eternity.