A Blessed People on a Cursed Earth
M-1099 / 7 September, 2008
Dr. Russell K. Tardo
In view of the events of the past weeks, the Lord put a message on my heart that I’ve entitled, A Blessed People on a Cursed Earth. That’s what God’s people are.
And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life. [Gen. 3:17]
God’s Perfect Plan and Its Demise
Elsewhere in the Hebrew, the earth, the land, the country -- when God says it’s cursed, it’s cursed. The entire earth is cursed because of man’s sin and disobedience. God says in sorrow shalt thou eat of it. That word means labor, toil, pain, worrisome -- all of those things. The earth is cursed and unfortunately, this is where we live. The whole place of our habitation, according to the Bible, is now cursed. Instead of the abundant fruit produced in the Garden, instead of such delectable delights as we’ve not seen or heard, the ground is now cursed.
18Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field. 19In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return. [Gen. 3:18-19]
Man’s entire habitation is now cursed. Instead of abundant fruit, man now has abundant thorns. Instead of blessed trees, man has cursed trees. For this transition to have occurred, from the Garden of Eden to a cursed earth, dramatic changes had to occur. Man went from living in paradise in a blessed Garden of Eden where everything was perfect, i.e., perfect climate, with no oppressive heat, no high humidity, no lightning strikes, no earthquakes, no tsunamis, no forest fires, no tornados, no tidal surges, no hurricanes, no freezing blizzards, to unpredictable occurrences of every type and description. In reading the creation accounts in Genesis, chapter 1, following each creation day, God inspected the day’s work and declared it to be good. There was nothing defective, and all things were created for good. He created every kind of vegetation, bush, tree, grass, etc. and called that good.
10And God called the dry land Earth; and the gathering together of the waters called he Seas: and God saw that it was good.... 12And the earth brought forth grass, and herb yielding seed after his kind, and the tree yielding fruit, whose seed was in itself, after his kind: and God saw that it was good. [Gen. 1:10, 12]
God created every kind of fish and sea creature and declared that good.
20And God said, Let the waters bring forth abundantly the moving creature that hath life, and fowl that may fly above the earth in the open firmament of heaven. 21And God created great whales, and every living creature that moveth, which the waters brought forth abundantly, after their kind, and every winged fowl after his kind: and God saw that it was good. [Gen. 1:20-21]
Every living creature on the earth was created by God.
24And God said, Let the earth bring forth the living creature after his kind, cattle, and creeping thing, and beast of the earth after his kind: and it was so. 25And God made the beast of the earth after his kind, and cattle after their kind, and every thing that creepeth upon the earth after his kind: and God saw that it was good. [Gen. 1:24-25]
There’s a great diversity of animals -- elephants, hippos, gorillas, etc. Everything was perfect and complete, created by the Master Designer, with man and woman placed in the center of all that was perfect. To quote an old saying, "and there went the neighborhood!" Sadly, it didn’t stay good for long. That also explodes the theory that man is solely the product of his environment. Humanistic psychologists and psychiatrists declare that a criminal cannot be punished for his crime because criminals are simply the product of their environment. If one grows up in a bad home, a bad environment, one is going to be bad. How can one penalize or punish someone by sending them to jail for just being the product of their environment? It’s not their fault. Now I don’t want to say that one’s upbringing has nothing to do with one’s behavior, but the fact is, Adam and Eve had a perfect environment and yet rebelled and sinned against God. The point is that man does what he chooses to do. Man is the product of his choices. A criminal is a criminal because he chooses to steal, murder, sell drugs, etc.
God made everything good, perfect, blessed, but then the new element termed sin entered into the world, and death by sin.
Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned. [Rom. 5:12]
Adam sinned and death entered the world, but the Bible declares that all men have sinned. This new element entered into the world -- death, bringing all its manifestations and forms with it, i.e., decay, discomfort, disease, disaster, deterioration, death. All of these entered the world with sin. Sin brought evil into Paradise in all of its forms, including blasting, mildew, rot, decay, etc. Everything was adversely affected, changed, including the weather. It’s a cursed earth. There were no tornados or hurricanes before sin entered the earth. Those things did not exist before sin. There were no worries in the Garden of Eden.
The Garden contained an inexhaustible variety of food. All that Adam had to do was pick what he wanted to eat, with no possibility of his becoming tired of a particular variety. There was no having to work for one’s food. The water supply was pure and unpolluted. There were no harmful germs or bacteria, no chemicals in food or water. There was no cause for concern about health, teeth, eyesight. There was no sickness until sin entered and changed everything. Now the earth is cursed. Briers and thorns are now abundant with man having to eke out a living the best he can by the sweat of his brow, requiring very hard labor.
Sin changed everything to the point that the earth is cursed whereas before, there was nothing to cause concern or anxiety. The fear now is, "Can enough seed be planted to get enough harvest before the winter arrives. Will the harvest be enough? Will there be enough rain for the crops? Will we get too much rain causing blight, mildew or mold? Will the seed be consumed by the birds before it has a chance to sprout? Will there be enough help to bring in the harvest? Will there be enough money to pay the help, pay the bills, etc.? There’s plenty to worry about. Man went from the place of having nothing to cause him worry or anxiety to having everything to cause him worry and anxiety. If we would permit ourselves, we could also find plenty to worry about.
Man today lives on a cursed earth, a broken planet. This curse extends to every physical part, every material part of man’s existence. Nothing is exempt and no place on earth is exempt from this curse. That means the continents are cursed, forests are cursed, the mountains are cursed, the plains are cursed, the deserts are cursed, the seas are cursed -- the North, the South, the East and the West. The big cities are cursed as are the small towns and villages. It’s all cursed. There is no place on earth that one can go to escape the fact that the earth is cursed. That’s not to say that there are not places on the earth that are still quite beautiful. Travel worldwide and one can see some very beautiful places. The grandeur of majestic mountains, the giant, ancient trees, the flowing streams and waterfalls still exists in parts of the country. However, on close scrutiny, when one takes the time to look beyond the outward veneer, evidence of the curse is there. Devouring insects, polluted water, deep chasms and rock slides are in evidence even in the beautiful natural wonders. The soothing sound of the sea is serene until the 20-ft. tidal wave comes roaring in. The tall waves of grain growing in the fields are a picture until the tornado comes through, leaving total devastation. All of the beautiful things on the earth are subject to the curse.
The superbly trained athletes, the sports heroes and movie idols, the princes and kings, the movers and shakers, no matter how great the talent, the prowess, the financial acumen -- all will one day, in the not too distant future, be nothing more than a pile of moldy bones. The bottom line is that man lives on a cursed earth and is subject to the ravages of time, age, decay, rot, blight, disease and death. On this, the Bible is quite clear.
Having said that, the Bible also says that the people of God, His children, those who are true worshippers of the Lord Jesus Christ, the believers in the Lord Jesus Christ, are a blessed people despite living on a cursed earth. Those who serve, obey and follow the Lord are blessed. Ours is most assuredly a blessed nation, much more than we deserve.
1Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. 2But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. 3And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither, and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper. [Ps. 1:1-3]
Believers are not to follow the psychology and reasoning and humanistic concepts, ideas, values, etc. of the world, but are to meditate in the word of the Lord, allowing it to fill their minds and hearts. As people of faith, believers are to trust in the Lord and He, therefore, calls them blessed. Those who love God, serve, honor and obey Him are a blessed people albeit, they are living on a cursed earth.
...Blessed are all they that put their trust in him. [Ps. 2:12]
O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him. [Ps. 34:8]
Blessed is that man that maketh the LORD his trust.... [Ps. 40:4]
1Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the LORD. 2Blessed are they that keep his testimonies, and that seek him with the whole heart. [Ps. 119:1-2]
Blessed is the man that trusteth in the LORD, and whose hope the LORD is. [Jer. 17:7]
What about the Beatitudes?
3Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 4Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted. 5Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth. 6B;essed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled. 7Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy. 8Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God. 9Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God. 10Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. [Matt. 5:3-11]
Blessed ... blessed. We’re a blessed people living on a cursed earth. What about the trials, tribulations, difficulties and problems that all go through?
Blessed is the man that endureth temptations [trials] for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him. [Jas. 1:12]
The reward is to the man who overcomes the trials, the difficulties, the problems. Believers are blessed with the privilege of trusting God, and it is a privilege to trust Him. Believers are a privileged people, having been given the opportunity to trust God, to take Him at His Word and see His faithfulness. Believers are blessed because God has saved them.
Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city. [Rev. 22:14]
Believers are blessed in that following salvation, they now have hearts that want to obey God. In spite of the fact that they occupy a cursed earth, a broken planet, believers are blessed because God will bless His own.
8Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful [tender hearted], be courteous [humble]: 9Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing. [1 Pe. 3:8-9]
God wants to bless His people; He wants to bless His own. In spite of the fact that believers live on a cursed earth, God’s people are blessed. God’s desire and design is to bless, to bless with the peace of God, that’s the peace of salvation, knowing that one is saved, knowing that one is God’s child, that one has eternal life. There’s no greater peace than that. Believers have peace with God. He is no longer angry with us. We are no longer castaways, rejects. Believers have the peace of God and peace with God. Those are God’s gifts to His children.
Unto you first God, having raised up his Son Jesus, sent him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from his iniquities. [Acts 3:26]
That’s the greatest blessing of all, the blessing of salvation, the blessing of sins forgiven.
1Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. 2Blessed is the man unto whom the LORD imputeth not iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no guile. [Ps. 32:1-2]
Only through the Lord Jesus Christ does the believer have the blessings of peace, of sins forgiven, eternal life, peace with God, the grace of salvation, eternal life, peace of God, peace with God. Who among us can deny that we are blessed? In spite of the trials, the difficulties, the hardships, the troubles, the aggravations, the irritations, believers are blessed. Cause for rejoicing is in the fact that one is saved and forgiven, that one’s sins are eradicated and one has been grafted into the family of God, born again, given new life.
Travel where one will upon the earth, every continent, nation, every elevation is all cursed ground. Every place is fallen; every place is cursed because of sin.
The congregation sang an interesting song this morning, "We’re Standing on Holy Ground." What makes the ground holy?
God’s Manifest Presence
It’s the presence of God that makes the ground holy. Where the Lord is that place becomes holy because of His holy presence. This isn’t holy ground because a church building sits on it. The building doesn’t make it holy. No matter how magnificent an edifice, how costly, that does not make it holy. What makes a place holy is that the Lord temporarily manifests His presence there. When He does manifest His presence on earth, it is temporary. When He manifested Himself to Moses on the mountain, He told Moses:
...Draw not nigh hither: put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground. [Ex. 3:5]
What made it holy? God’s presence was there! If one walked on that mountain today, there would be nothing holy about it. When God set His presence on the earth and chose to manifest Himself in Israel in the tabernacle, in the Ark of the Covenant, in that sacred Holy-of-Holies, it was not holy because of what it consisted, but because of God’s presence. That tabernacle kept moving for the 40-year desert sojourn and it did not leave holy places behind at every location.
Only for so long as the Lord’s presence was upon the tabernacle did it remain holy. When God chose to manifest His presence in the temple, a more permanent structure, it was holy. Still, there is nothing permanent in this world. Sin again caused God to withdraw His presence from the temple and it was consequently destroyed. People walk all around the Temple Mount today and no one knows the location of the Holy-of-Holies. Yet no one is smitten, drops dead, etc. The land is still referred to as the Holy Land, but there’s really nothing holy about it. It has a sacred history because the Lord walked there. There’s a special place in the hearts of believers for that land, the city of Jerusalem, the people. If one brings back a stone or rock from the Holy Land, is it a holy rock? If one brings back dirt from the Holy Land, does the dirt become holy?
Naaman the leper tried to do just that (2 Kings, chapter 5). Having been told there was a prophet in Israel who could heal, Naaman traveled to Israel. Naaman, the Syrian general, showed up at the prophet’s door wanting to be healed of leprosy. He was told by Elisha to go dip in the Jordan River seven times. Naaman was offended, saying that there were cleaner rivers in Damascus. Naaman had disdain for the place, the land of Israel. He turned around to leave when his wise servant told him that had the prophet told him to do some great thing, Naaman would have done it. However, the prophet said to do something rather insignificant, to wash in the Jordan River and perhaps it would be a good idea to just try that. Naaman did just that and to his amazement, was healed. Then Naaman returned to Elisha:
And he returned to the man of God, he and all his company, and came, and stood before him: and he said, Behold, now I know that there is no God in all the earth, but in Israel.... [2 Ki. 5:15]
Naaman confessed there was no God except the one in Israel. Naaman was so grateful that he wanted to give Elisha gifts of clothing, gold, etc. but Elisha refused. Naaman then asked that Elisha allow him to bring dirt back from Israel to his home in Syria. That’s an interesting request. I believe that has to do with some of the superstitions held by the pagans of that day that certain gods presided over certain land areas. The theology of henotheism prevailed at that time. This theology taught that there were gods that prevailed over mountains, others that prevailed over plains, while others might preside over another particular area. Naaman was convinced that Israel’s God was God but perhaps thought that God would be God over that dirt and if he stood on it, he’d be blessed. Maybe he wanted to build an altar with it. Who knows? But Naaman wanted some of that blessed dirt so he took two mule loads of dirt back with him to Syria.
Still today, many people have the idea that a place is sacred or blessed in some unique way. In fact, the only place that I believe is really special is when the saints of God assemble, Jesus says that He is there in their midst. Wherever that place of assembly is, i.e., church building, a store front, a home, a cave, etc., wherever the saints assemble, there the Lord is in a special way. He is the Lord of the candlesticks. He is called the Lord of the lampstands in Revelation, chapters 1 and 2. These are symbols of the church. He’s the Lord of the church and walks among the lampstands. When the church assembles, the Lord is present. He is Lord of all the earth and is present everywhere, omnipresent. There is a unique presence in the assembly of the saints. He is present in their midst because it is where the saints have come to worship Him, to honor and adore Him, to learn of Him, to commit to Him in greater measure. I believe that wherever the saints assemble, the Lord is there. It is then that heaven touches earth in a special way and earth touches heaven in a special way. God says that the saints are not to forsake assembling themselves together. It’s just not the same when one sits in front of the television. He is the Lord of the lampstands but not the Lord of the boob tube. Here we are a blessed people, living on a cursed earth.
All Creation Groans
22For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. 23And 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 the body. [Rom. 8:22-23]
Creation groans under this burden of brokenness, sin, decay, death. All of the created order groans under the curse. All await the day that the curse is ultimately removed, and only Christ can do that. It matters not who is elected president, governor, mayor, senator, the earth will still be cursed. This is true In spite of the fact that the Bible says:
Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree. [Gal. 3:13]
This is the curse that applies to those who had to keep the Law to earn salvation. Christ redeemed us from that. We’re not saved by works, by our deeds, we’re saved by grace through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. We have been delivered from the curse of the Law.
The curse of Genesis 3:17 is still here. How do I know? I read the newspaper. There’s still an obituary column, meaning that people are still dying. The curse is still in effect. I read the newspaper and the accounts about disease, famine, tornados, hurricanes, crime, murder, rape, carjacking, greed, etc., reveal that the curse is still here.
I saw the television news and it’s bad. To just reinforce to you the realization the whole earth is cursed, no matter where one goes on earth and turns on the news, it’s bad. The news in Atlanta, it’s bad. Watch the news in Tallahassee, it’s bad. Watch the news in Denver, Washington, Seattle, Dallas -- it’s all bad. Watch the news in Moscow or watch it in Jerusalem -- the news is bad. That’s because the curse is still here. We’re a blessed people living on a cursed earth.
What are God’s People to Do?
God’s people are to trust Him. As God’s own, we’re not exempt from trial and trouble. We’re a people of God, servants of God, lovers of God. That’s supposed to characterize each and every one, however, that does not exempt us from tribulation. God’s people are not exempt from difficulties, afflictions, hardships, suffering and problems. In no place in the Bible does one find that the people of God are exempt because they belong to Him. Some have gotten the idea that because the saints are favored and privileged, trials and tribulations should have no part in them. What does the Bible say?
Job is a good example as he was a man of God but unlike us, God said that Job was perfect in all his ways. God has never said that about you or me. Did Job suffer? We know that he did, for Job is known for his suffering. Job’s hardships, afflictions and difficulties are depicted in the Old Testament book that bears his name.
Let’s look at another. What about Joseph? He was a man of God, a man of peace, a lover of God. What did he go through? Joseph endured betrayal, was sold into slavery and imprisoned by false accusation. Joseph, a godly man!
What about any of the other patriarchs or saints? Abraham -- what do we think about his great trials? His difficulties? Called out of Ur of the Chaldees, Abraham never lived in a home again. He was a tent dweller for the rest of his life. Twenty-five years he trusted God for the promise of a son. Abraham endured hardship, affliction and when he finally had a son, God said, "Offer him up." Those are real difficulties.
Consider the plight of Moses, called by God to be a leader and then rejected by his own people. One minute they wanted to bronze him and the next minute they wanted to stone him.
Moving on to some New Testament people -- John the Baptist or Paul. How about Paul? Paul had to be one of God’s favorite people in all the world. Although this is familiar ground to most of us, we need to be reminded of these things periodically. Every now and then we get the faulty notion that as God’s people, we shouldn’t have to go through all this aggravation and irritation, that obstacles, afflictions, problems, difficulties aren’t meant for God’s children. Aren’t we special? Isn’t God looking after us? Why do we have to go through this? Why me?
23Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as a fool) I am more; in labors more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prison more frequent, in deaths oft. 24Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one. 25Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep; 26In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; 27In weariness and painfulness .... [2 Cor. 11:23-27]
Can anybody identify with any of this? We can’t identify with most of it. We might know what it’s like to be weary. We might know what it’s like to suffer some pain. But Paul’s ordeals far exceed any of ours.
27...weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness. 28Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches. [2 Cor. 11:27-28]
Here’s a man who could very easily be burdened, who went through much more than any of us could even imagine. Yet it never occurred to the apostle Paul to wonder "Why is this happening to me? Why am I going through all this? Why? Why, Lord?" It never occurred to him to ask, "Why?" Saints, we don’t have to know why. What we have to do is trust. No matter what our circumstances, no matter what our situation, no matter what our problems, difficulties, trials, afflictions -- what we have to do is trust. Trust God. We’re in His care. We are His children. He is our Father. He promises to look after us. He promises to provide for His own. He does not promise that His children won’t have troubles, trials and tribulations. In fact, He tells us just the opposite.
...In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world. [John 16:33]
Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the Lord delivereth him out of them all. [Ps. 34:19]
Many -- How many is many? It means a lot. That’s what it means -- numerous, much, abundant, plenty. Both in number and in scope, many are the afflictions. We hate that word afflictions because that encompasses trials, troubles, afflictions, difficulties, problems of every kind, adversity, distress. Many are the afflictions of the righteous ..... of the righteous. Of the righteous! But the Lord delivereth him .... the Lord who never leaves us or forsakes us; the Lord who is ever living to make intercession for us; the Lord who loved us and laid down His life for us; the Lord who called us friend. The Lord delivers them. That literally means to pluck out, to rescue, to save, to defend, to preserve, to recover, to cause to recover, to deliver. It also carries the meaning to deliver without fail.
...but the Lord delivereth him out of them all. [Ps. 34:19]
He delivers them from all. As one of the brothers said, "All means all and that’s all all means."
Despite the fact that we live on a cursed earth, we are a blessed people. We will go through trials and troubles. What are we to do? Trust God to deliver us out of them all.
Blessed is the man that endureth temptation (trial): for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him. [Jas. 1:12]
Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you. [1 Pe. 4:12]
It’s not strange. There’s nothing unique about it. God’s not punishing you. It’s just that we live on a cursed earth. It’s just life on a fallen, a broken planet. Trials, troubles and tribulations are actually the way into the kingdom. Paul said:
...that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God. [Acts 14:22]
There are simply things we go through that are beyond our control. However, there are things we can control. We can control our attitude and mind. Every individual governs where he allows his mind to go and what he thinks upon. Also under the individual’s control is the mouth and what comes out of it. The people of God should not be given to speaking negative doubt and unbelief, blaming God, accusing God, doubting God. Our circumstances, however, cannot be entirely controlled because we live on a broken planet. We live on a cursed earth.
Such things as the weather are out of man’s control. No matter how hard he tries, man cannot control the storms, the decay, the rot, the blight, the pestilence, or the plague. While there are things we can’t control, we can control our hearts. Each one can govern his heart, not allowing negativity, doubt, unbelief, skepticism, discouragement, despair or depression. Give it all up! Throw it all away! Why? Is it because God’s not faithful? Of course, God is faithful. He’s good! He has blessed us in spite of the fact that we live on a cursed earth.
What’s the Outcome?
Saints, we must guard our hearts. We must guard our minds, guard our attitudes, guard our speech, guard our spirit, and at all times and in all things trust God. Trust God.
Although we can’t control the way the storm blows, where the lightning strikes, how or when a person dies, there are things that we can control. We can control our spirits, our hearts, our attitudes, and we must. And we must trust the Lord who is in control. Then one day:
1And he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of GOD and of the Lamb. (No pollution in that water. No harmful chemicals.) 2In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. 3And there shall be no more curse.... [Rev. 22:1-3]
Although we’re on a cursed earth right now, the Bible says that this earth has already been marked "firewood."
It’s going to burn. It’s going to be replaced. There’s going to be a new heaven and a new earth and look! There will be no more curse there ... no more curse.
3And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of GOD and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him: 4And they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads. 5And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the LORD GOD giveth them light: and they shall reign forever and ever. [Rev. 22:3-5]
No more curse and we will be a blessed people in Paradise. Praise God! Amen. Until then, what are we to do? Trust the Lord -- every step, every day, every hour, every minute, every moment, every breath, every heartbeat. Trust the Lord for He is faithful. He has never failed us and He will not fail you now. We are a blessed people in spite of the fact that you live on a broken planet.
Father, I pray that you would encourage our hearts and lift our spirits this morning. Lord, just remind us of your goodness and your faithfulness, of your provision, of your care, of your watchfulness for us all and over us all. The fact that we never lack -- for Lord, you provide for every need we have. Lord, we declare that we do trust You and we do look to You, Lord, as our Rock, our Fortress, our Shelter, our Deliverer, our Preserver, Provider, our Friend, our Savior, our All-in-All. Father, we ask your forgiveness for murmuring, complaining, doubting, becoming fearful. Father, may we reflect your light in this dark place. Lord, may we by our attitudes, our spirits, our words, may we be beacons of hope in a world that has so little hope. Father, help us to walk in upright fashion so that in all things, we glorify our Savior. Father, encourage the hearts and stamina and strength and faith of your people, we pray. In Jesus’ Name, we ask it.... Amen.
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