Give Thanks by Gary Rose

This is a very disturbing picture. The vulture is just waiting for this young child to die. I find myself thinking “Why doesn’t someone help him”? Yet, I know that this scene is undoubtedly repeated in many places in this world, over and over again. Recently, there have been over 70,000 Americans who have died from the Corona Virus. And that will probably continue to increase (for awhile, anyway). Over and over I have asked myself why this has happened – WHY? The obvious reason is that the Communist government in China let it happen. Someday (hopefully soon) they will pay a price for what they have done. In the meantime, the world will have to deal with this scourge as best it can.

Last night I was watching television with my wife and said to her that we are very fortunate to be retired at this time, for at least our income is not affected by the rampant unemployment that our country is experiencing. As I continued to think about this I remembered a verse from Paul’s first letter to the Thessalonians…

1 Thessalonians 5 ( World English Bible )

¹⁸ In everything give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus toward you.

It occurred to me that everything does indeed mean everything, even the worst things around us. Could there actually be something good about even bad things; even this viral tragedy? I think the answer is yes.

Consider:

• Our nation is working together in a way that I have never seen in my lifetime.

• We have great medical resources to combat this virus.

• It has made all of us appreciate common things like toilet paper and cleaning supplies.

• Even congress has been somewhat cooperative in trying to find solutions to this emergency.

• Undoubtedly, many people are praying to God for help at this time.

• Perhaps many people are thinking about what is really important in their lives and thinking about changing them for the better?

• And there are probably many more things that you could be easily added to this list, but I think it is a good start.

For me, I believe in the truth of the Bible and especially this passage from the Book of Romans:

Romans 8 ( WEB )

²⁸  We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, to those who are called according to his purpose. ²⁹ For whom he foreknew, he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.  ³⁰ Whom he predestined, those he also called. Whom he called, those he also justified. Whom he justified, those he also glorified. 

  ³¹  What then shall we say about these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?  ³² He who didn’t spare his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how would he not also with him freely give us all things?  ³³ Who could bring a charge against God’s chosen ones? It is God who justifies.  ³⁴ Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, yes rather, who was raised from the dead, who is at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us. 

  ³⁵  Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Could oppression, or anguish, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?  ³⁶ Even as it is written, “For your sake we are killed all day long. We were accounted as sheep for the slaughter.”  ³⁷ No, in all these things, we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.  ³⁸ For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers,  ³⁹ nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. 

It is extremely difficult and painful to realize the scope of the death that surrounds us, but in considering these things we must take stock in what we have as Christians. Ultimately, in this life or the next we have God and that is MORE THAN ENOUGH!

When people ask me how I am, I reply: Every day above ground is a good day, even the bad ones. And every day way above ground is called HEAVEN!

Christian, believe this, for it is TRUE!