O |
F old hast thou laid the foundation of the earth: and the heavens are the work of thy hands. 26 They shall perish, but thou shalt endure: yea, all of them shall wax old like a garment; as a vesture shalt thou change them, and they shall be changed: 27 But thou art the same, and thy years shall have no end. (Psalm 102:25-27)
As we approach the longest night of the year, some may despair at the smothering darkness and cold winter damps; but at once that night upon its coming also begins to pass into lengthening light and gives dawn to the most beautiful of Holy Days – that of CHRISTMAS!
We should not be shocked to discover that the world, like every other material resource, grows old and begins to settle into a state of entropy and ruin. Her resources are limited and has continually experienced depletion and even neglect. Naturally, we should not waste the resources provided us by the Lord through the earth’s bounty, but regardless of our care and stewardship, those resources are finite and will suffer complete destruction at the last day.
Even the gaseous composition of our Sun, the nearest star in our heaven, is gradually being either consumed through nuclear reactive forces, or depleted and discharged into the ether of space over time. Solar mass is being gradually reduced through the processes of solar winds and electromagnetic radiation. So even our Sun has a limited duration in its resources. No life on earth can exist without the benefit of the Sun and its energy resources. But our Sun will continue its warming benefits and run its course that the Lord has decreed from the beginning of Creation. At that time, we shall witness the events described by the Apostle Peter: But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. (2 Peter 3:9-10) I remind you of the terrific heat required for the very elements to be melted.
Paul also provides a vivid description of the last day in the history of the Universe: 10 And, Thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the works of thine hands: 11 They shall perish; but thou remainest; and they all shall wax old as doth a garment; 12 And as a vesture shalt thou fold them up, and they shall be changed: but thou art the same, and thy years shall not fail. (Heb 1:10-12)
I do not suggest the Lord is refrained by Natural Laws of energy and matter in working out His plan for all things. Though true science must embrace the natural laws, to which even the tiniest atomic particles must conform, God is not restricted by the natural laws He instituted at Creation. The natural and visible elements were not created by natural law but by the very Word of God. He may bring all things to an end in like manner. 35 Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away. 36 But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only. 37 But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. 38 For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, 39 And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. 40 Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left. (Matt 24:35-40)
The wicked generation of Noah’s day guffawed and ridiculed at the seemingly unnatural prophesies proclaimed by Noah. It had never before rained upon the earth, yet Noah forecasted rain, flood, and profusion of waters of the Deep. Their ridicule ceased abruptly with the consummation of that prophecy: 11In the six hundredth year of Noah's life, in the second month, the seventeenth day of the month, the same day were all the fountains of the great deep broken up, and the windows of heaven were opened. 12 And the rain was upon the earth forty days and forty nights. (Gen 7:11-12) Men ridicule God’s counsel today in like manner – even to the point of altering the real science of nature to embrace wickedness and evil – but those days are numbered just as were those before the Flood. Where will we find ground for our feet in that day? The Ark of Christ will receive those of faith in perhaps far lower numbers than we imagine for many are called, but few are chosen.
Are you chosen?
Better make that matter certain before that great and dreadful day of the Lord.
