Scripture for Today, 4-20-21: Heaven Locked?

Read Between the Lines:
"The Next Time God Shuts Heaven"

"Who giveth rain upon the earth, and sendeth waters upon the fields: To set up on high those that be low; that those which mourn may be exalted to safety. He disappointeth the devices of the crafty, so that their hands cannot perform their enterprise."

Job 5:10-12
 
4-15-21, Joseph Farrah, WND.com -- Does God not get enough credit for running things on Earth? Is He actually still in charge here? Do we have anything to truly worry about than the wrath of God? Does God actually guard jealously His sovereign ability to bless or curse His creation on the basis of humanity's spiritual health and obedience? Do we have more to fear from God because of humanity's rebellion than anything else? Will almighty God use weather or climate to get our attention and cast judgment on this earth? See Deuteronomy 32:2
 
With all you've seen, heard and read about climate change in the last 30 years, how about considering that God's still "got the whole world in His hand?" And how about the fairly recent plagues: catastrophic storms, floods, devastating earthquakes and raging wildfires – represent what God explains in His Word to ensure you do not "perish quickly from off the good land which the Lord giveth you?" (Joshua 23:16; Deuteronomy 11:17)

The two most grievous stories the Bible has to communicate to mankind follow:
 
Flood: The great deluge where all but one family and two (or in some cases, seven) specimens of each kind of animal perish in judgment against man's sin: "And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually." Genesis 6:5
 
Drought and famine: While God promised Noah never again to destroy the world in a global flood, He repeatedly promises to shut down the rains as a warning against unregenerate sin: "If I shut up heaven that there be no rain, or if I command the locusts to devour the land, or if I send pestilence among my people." 2 Chronicles 7:13 And in the very next verse God promises:

"If My people, which are called by My name, shall humble themselves, pray, seek My face and turn from their wicked ways; THEN will I hear from heaven,  forgive their sin, and will heal their land." 2 Chronicles 7:14
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Wait a minute! You've heard that last verse about beseeching God in humility and prayer for a healing of the land many times. But did you know it came in the context of drought, plague and pestilence? Note there is never any mention in Scripture of the size of our collective or individual carbon footprint guilt – not even in the more modern translations.

​Remember, these were God's actual words spoken to Solomon at the miraculous dedication of the First Temple. It's worth another look in the context of the overall message and what the people witnessed in its majesty and solemnity.

It is preceded a few verses earlier in 2 Chronicles 6:26-28 with this prayer from the successor to David: "When the heaven is shut up, and there is no rain, because they have sinned against thee; yet if they pray toward this place, and confess thy name, and turn from their sin, when thou dost afflict them; Then hear thou from heaven, and forgive the sin of thy servants, and of thy people Israel, when thou hast taught them the good way, wherein they should walk; and send rain upon thy land, which thou hast given unto thy people for an inheritance. If there be dearth in the land, if there be pestilence, if there be blasting, or mildew, locusts, or caterpillars; if their enemies besiege them in the cities of their land; whatsoever sore or whatsoever sickness there be." [..]
​Jesus warned days of Noah & Lot Luke 17:26-30

Jesus said: "As it was in the days of Noah, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man. They did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, and the flood came, and destroyed them all. Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded; But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all. Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed." Luke 17:26-30

 
​Maybe you think the Bible is just a collection of old folk stories. It's a history and prophecy book - many artifacts have been discovered proving it's true. God not only created the world and everything in it; including us ... He controls the weather as a principal means of reigning in our behavior ... and for our own good. He does so because He loves us and wants us to have the chance to be His children for eternity – but only if we love and obey Him. The Lord Jesus Christ is the Messiah, the King of Kings, the one and only Redeemer and Mediator between God and man. God's going to shut heaven again; and when you see it happen, don't blame carbon dioxide. Blame humanity's disobedience of God's commands and get down on your knees in humility and pray for forgiveness. More here