Welcome to the workshop. One of my mates just dropped in and told me he went fishing the other day but the type of fish he wanted seemed to have gone from the harbour.
Well, after he went, I just carried on sharpening my chisels, as you know blunt tools are more dangerous than sharp ones, the reason is you put more effort in using the blunt ones and you are more likely to slip and whoops, where’s the first aid kit.
You know, the bible is the greatest tool God ever gave to man, and the more you use it the sharper it gets, Hebrews 4: 12. For the word of God is quick and powerful, and sharper than any two edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
But back to the fish, have you ever considered that when God created all the creatures and animals, He said, “It was good” Genesis 1: 21. And God created great whales, and every living creature that moves, which the waters brought forth abundantly, after their kind and every winged fowl after his kind: and God saw that it was good.
In this instance the word good means to be “agreeable to the senses” which in the case of the fish they have sensed the change in the water temperature and have moved into deeper water until next summer when the temperature rises.
And the fish don’t have this sense all to themselves but consider the great migrations of the herds in Africa, the herbivores travelling hundreds of kilometers to other regions where the rain has caused the rich grasses to grow in their season.
Also, we see the migratory birds that fly thousands of kilometers each year and feed up in the Southern summers and return North to breed in the Northern summers.
Sense or instinct has been placed in all of the birds and animals so that they survive.
The bible gives an example of some birds that are common in the Middle East, North Africa and Europe, Jeremiah 8: 7. Yes, the stork in the heaven knows her appointed times; and the turtle dove and the crane and the swallow, they observe the time of their coming: But My people know not the Judgement of the LORD.
Yes, in New Zealand we have the Godwit which flies from the Alaskan Tundra regions all the way South, non-stop to NZ in about 8-9 days, and they usually arrive about early September and leave mid to late March with one stop on the way home where they nest and breed in May. Don’t you think it’s a bit far-fetched to think they just checked their calendar and saw it was time to fly south to good old NZ. God saw it was good.
But God has a quarrel with His people who understand about birds but are ignorant of His warnings, before speaking of the birds in verse 7 we must read verses 5-6.
Jeremiah 8: 5. Why then is this people of Jerusalem slidden back by a perpetual backsliding? They hold fast to deceit and refuse to return.
6. I hearkened and heard, but they spoke not aright; no man repented of his wickedness, saying, “What have I done?” Everyone turned to his course, as the horse rushes into the battle.
As in the days of Jeremiah the people of the 21st century display the same attitudes and in the main ignore the fact that God has spoken in so many ways to get our attention.
It has been recorded that several times when planes have had engine trouble and it seems the plane is doomed to crash that the majority of people start screaming out for God to intervene, all of a sudden God is brought into the equation but in some cases, it has been too late.
Think of the earthquakes and bush fires, Tsunamis, floods, and landslides. The bible in Romans 8: 22. For we know that the whole Creation Groans and travails in pain together until now.
A sign of the return of Christ??
Isaiah reminds of the faithfulness and affection of animals and sadly the forgetfulness of God’s people, Isaiah 1: 3. The ox knows his owner, and the ass his master’s crib, but Israel does not know, My people do not consider.
The peoples from Britain and Europe who pioneered lands in the 18th -20th centuries had roots in Christianity and Scripture and as a result became strong and prospered, but today with an abundance of everything they have forgotten who blessed them. The bible records the word “return”263 times and most refer to returning to God.
Isaiah 44: 22. I have blotted out, as a thick cloud, your transgressions, and, as a cloud your sins: Return to Me: for I have redeemed you.
As one of my timber suppliers said, “You can’t get a better deal than that,” and yet we still ignore and do some strange and foolish things.
My fishing friend locks up his house and boat each night, and I make sure the workshop is secure but what about our souls, are they secure from the one who is out to Rob, Kill, and Destroy, the biggest padlock in the world won’t save us from him.
Christ alone is our strong and mighty tower where we are safe, He is our Rock to stand on, our Shield to defend us, His Word is our Sword to fight, His blood is the ransom that has been paid for our sin, it’s pretty simple if you want to go to heaven.
Well time has gone and it’s time to lock up the workshop for today but before I relax, I must check on my Sword and use it no use leaving it in the scabbard, like the valiant men of old their sword was their best friend, it was their constant companion, cared for and loved at all times. Hey! Check yours often.
One more reminder, check your sword, keep the blade sharp by constantly having it in your hands and using it.
That’s all from the “Workshop” today.
