Hebrews 6:7-8

Hebrews 6:7-8 Land that drinks in the rain often falling on it and that produces a crop useful to those for whom it is farmed receives the blessing of God. But land that produces thorns and thistles is worthless and is in danger of being cursed. In the end it will be burned.

Genesis 1:27-28 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every living creature that moves on the ground.”

God created the earth for mankind. He mandated mankind to be fruitful, to increase in number, to fill the earth, and to subdue it. We have been fruitful, we have increased in number, we have subdued the earth, and we are destroying it. Rather than be at peace with God and his place for our dwelling, we have attempted to be as He is, and we are now in the process of destroying the animals, the fish, the birds, and the natural resources. We are destroying the only habitat for life that we can detect anywhere in the universe. Why? Uncontrolled self is sin, and it is like cancer; sin eventually destroys the life it depends upon, devouring that which allowed it to exist. Sadly, there is no end, no resting place, for the self. Self is like a toddler playing with other young children: the toddler not only wants his toy but demands the toys of others. Sin keeps demanding, keeps devouring, keeps moving. The American lifestyle illustrates the uncontrollable self: we want bigger, better, and more of everything. Even some Christians come to believe the blessings of God equate to bigger, better, and more things, rather than perfect peace with God and an intimate, satisfying relationship with him that leads to obedience to his will and service to others.

God sends the blessings of rain on the good and the evil, upon those who know God and those who do not. God intends to bless people who are made in his image, to bless their lands and their lives. However, sin marred man's image. He no longer remains in God's perfect image because he builds his own image of distorted passions and worldly desires. But God still sends his goodness on the earth in the form of refreshing rain. He still blesses man, even his enemies, with an environment that can produce life. However imperfect, abundant life still exists on this earth. But God has a better plan for his people. He desires to establish the kingdom of God within each person, a kingdom that will not end. He blesses the "born again" with his Spirit as they produce the fruit of the Spirit mentioned in Galatians 5: love, joy, peace, long suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and temperance. God blesses and protects the soil of the "born again," producing much fruit: tenfold, a hundredfold, and more.

IN CHRIST we are no longer bound to this earth, tied to its destiny and judgment. As aliens, new creatures IN CHRIST, SET APART for God's purposes, we avoid the earthly deception that acquiring more things leads to peace. We do not settle down and make this world our final home. We pass through this earthly existence with God's peace in our hearts and a desire to obey him. We are not on a journey to accumulate as much as we can; our purpose is to live for God's glory and to share our hope with others. However, if we do not dedicate our hearts fully to God's purposes, we will eventually fall back into the meaningless and futile journey of self; we will look and act like the world and neglect our souls. But praise God, He has freed us from the sins of the flesh: we are hid with Christ in God. We are not like those with no hope of eternal life; we are the beloved children of God, adopted into his family through faith in Jesus Christ's death and resurrection. We live HIS LIFE, not ours. Consequently, rejoice that your name is written in the Lamb's Book of Life and that God sends the rain upon us in in the form of the Spirit, making the soil of our lives useful to those for whom it is farmed. As we take up the cross and follow the Lord, we continually receive the abiding presence of the Holy Spirit along with his blessings of peace, contentment, and hope for the future. We rejoice with great joy because we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. (Ephesians 2:10)