Christian Mission Outreach

Not only do lightning and thunder suddenly appear, day or night, with rain storms, but John experienced them around God’s heavenly throne. “And from the throne proceeded lightnings, thunderings and voices.” (Rev. 4:5) They can proceed all the way to earth, manifesting in different forms. The night I suddenly heard the thundering audible voice of God waking me, giving understandings of the first three Commandments, shafts of brilliant golden yellow light lit up areas of my home. These awesome lightnings were different from ordinary lightning. I knew they were heavenly, proclaiming God’s glory, coming with revelation.

When my son was in Grade Two, he learned “The Canticle of the Three Young Men” - a modern version of a Byzantine chant based on Psalm 148. It was supposed to be what Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-Nego might have sung in the fiery furnace when they refused to bow to the king of Babylon’s statue. Knowing that God commanded that we worship Him alone, they had been ready to even die for their faith. But they were unharmed - a fourth Man, (Jesus?) was with them in the fire.

Babylonians worshiped many idols so the song called what was idolized to praise its Creator. Rather than being worshiped, creation proclaims “His invisible attributes.” However, like the Babylonians, many even today “exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.” (Rom. 1:20, 25) Idolatry puts people outside God’s protective shield, exposing them to bad consequences.

The song my son learned calls for the heavenly host, the sun, moon and stars, young men and old, children and maidens, spiritual and governmental leaders and other works of God’s creation including snow, rain, lightning and thunder, to each,

“Bless the Lord. Praise Him, exalt Him forever.”

People bless the Lord by their prayer of praise and their job well done. 

This made me think: How do wind, rain and other such things bless the Lord? Rain can fill our wells bringing blessings to crops, but it can also bring floods destroying vegetation and structures. Wind can be a gentle breeze, cooling a hot day, but it can also come violently blowing roofs off houses. When serious sin is prevalent, a land can come under judgment. But God loves us so much that He sent His Son to take the curse of sin upon Himself on the cross – if people will believe and repent.

“In mercy and truth atonement is provided for iniquity;

And by the fear of the LORD [a Spirit from God] one departs from evil.” (Prov. 16:6)

“They shall fear the LORD and His goodness in the latter days.” (Hos. 3:5) 

Like the roar of a lion, lightning and thunder proclaim God’s power and glorious majesty. They shake but should not terrify believers. Lightning also lights up the dark sky, bringing illumination, exposing what was hidden. Jesus is “the true Light which gives light to every man coming into the world.” (John 1:9) His Holy Spirit gives revelation knowledge, calming the fears of those who stay close to God. Heeding storm warnings they calmly make preparations, warning others. However, especially when thunder and lightning are very close, those who are far from Him might be terrified. But hopefully they too will remember who to call.

“Whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.” (Acts 2:21) 

In a variety of ways, God can fulfill His promise to shake the earth that what is not of Him may fall away and “the things which cannot be shaken may remain.” (Heb. 12:26-27) Mankind needs to return and serve Him in love. Jesus, the Peacespeaker, will calm their fears. “‘For thus says the LORD of hosts: “Once more… I will shake heaven and earth, the sea and dry land; and I will shake all nations, and they shall come to the Desire of All Nations, and I will fill this house with glory….  The silver is Mine and the gold is Mine… The glory of this latter temple shall be greater than the former...  And in this place I will give peace,” says the LORD of hosts.’” (Haggai 2:6-9)

The earth and all it contains, including the gold and silver, belongs to God. So we are meant to be stewards of the wealth and resources He gives or gives us power to get. One day we will give an accounting of how we handled them. It would be great if we heard, “‘“Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.”’”  

We certainly would not want to be like the one who had an ungodly spirit of fear. Having hid the resources entrusted to him, he heard, “‘“You wicked [with a wrong view of God] and lazy servant. [You could have] deposited my money with the bankers, and at my coming I would have received back my own with interest. Therefore take the talent from him, and give it to him who has ten talents… and cast the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”’” (Matt. 25:23, 26-30) 

God has sent several warnings that the great and terrible Day of the Lord is near - great for those who lovingly follow Jesus, but terrible for those who deliberately do not. There have already been many small “d” days of the Lord with Jesus pre-judging His household and others. 

Jesus warned, “‘But why do you call Me “Lord, Lord,” and not do the things which I say? Whoever comes to Me, and hears My sayings and does them,… is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently against that house, and could not shake it, for it was founded on the rock. But he who heard and did nothing is like a man who built a house on the earth without a foundation, against which the stream beat vehemently; and immediately it fell. And the ruin of that house was great.”’” (Luke 6:46-49)

God is so good that all peoples can hear the gospel, believe and receive everlasting life instead of dying in their sins. Storms can bless the Lord by doing what they were sent to do, coming to houses built on rock or on sand. Storms can bring great destruction and/or great mercy. Both houses hear the word of the Lord, but only the one built on the rock actually does it. “Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.” (Jam. 1:21-22)