February 23, 2021 – Click here to listen
I was sitting at my desk this morning and praying and wondering what the Lord would have me write about today. I went to get a glass of sweet tea and could just barely make out the sun as it slowly began to make its appearance on the distant horizon. I walked out on the deck to get a better look and felt the warmth of the tropics that blanketed me and the humidity of the Florida Keys. (I like it warm and humid.)
I prayed for those poor people scattered around the country that are freezing, particularly those in the great state of Texas and thanked God for allowing me to live where I live. Of course we have our inclement weather and hurricanes are no stranger to the Keys. California has its wildfires and earthquakes, the Midwest and southern states have their spring tornados and floods, the northeast its snowstorms, and so forth.
In Genesis the Bible describes the Garden of Eden as a wonderful, perfect abode. Plants got their water from a mist and I don’t suppose Adam or Eve even knew what rain or thunderstorms were and certainly not lightning, or tornados, or earthquakes. I can only imagine the sunrises and sunsets, the teeming wildlife, the gorgeous orchids and brilliant colorful flowers and the fragrance emanating from that very special place.
As most of you know I love to think of heaven and when I’m out on my boat or in the desert or outdoors away from the city lights at night and I look towards the heavens I feel a closeness to God and I have such a fascination for His creation. I can barely contain myself. The Bible states that eye has not seen nor ear ever heard what wonderful things await us when we are called home to be with Jesus.
My wife and I have been watching the 13 season Netflix series “Heartland.” It is a G-rated wholesome series about a family living on a horse ranch in Hudson Alberta. It is not a tale of violence, sex, homosexual characters, race issues, and the typical Netflix fare that I so dislike. While it is a little dorky it does not shy away from real life drama and does mention that some members of this family dealt with the same life’s challenges that most in society face such as alcohol and drug addiction, divorce, greed, jealousy, arrogance, lies, etc. However, it is a heart-warming story in that each episode invariably ends up on a happy note and those who underwent the drama overcome their problems. No matter what happens in each episode it has an almost fairy tale ending. My wife tears up during the drama parts but smiles at the end of each episode
I was thinking about Heartland this morning and could not help but think of life in a broader sense. While we are going to be tempted in life and sometimes are dealt some very bad cards, if we work hard, and trust in God we can overcome anything. And things will eventually work out.
The only thing I dislike about Heartland is that they have steered away from religion. I suppose the producers thought it was too controversial. As I’ve watched the drama unfold time after time in this series, I’ve thought how if they just had faith and turned to God how He could comfort them as they dealt with their problems. In real life there can be no fairy tale endings unless God is the focus.
Heartland’s beautiful setting snuggled in the Alberta mountain range with its splendid rivers and snow-capped peaks and gorgeous ranch setting and magnificent horses were all created by God and they are just the tip of the proverbial iceberg that will unfold when we finish our journey here and enter heaven.
There the drama will end. Temptation will not be around nor will sin, or death. Just eternal beauty and wonderous love and smiles all around as we spend forever exploring the greatness of our loving God. Think about where you will be exactly ten million years from now. When I think about it, I believe we the followers of Christ will just barely be getting started and it will just keep getting better and better like our expanding Universe.
Stay close to the Lord my friends. Satan will tear you apart like a roaring lion if you stray too far and it begins with impure thoughts. God will deliver you if you will allow him to do so.
2 Corinthians 11:3
But I am afraid that as the serpent deceived Eve by his cunning, your thoughts will be led astray from a sincere and pure devotion to Christ.