Grace and peace to a peculiar people, and greetings to those who are still groping about in darkness.

Today I got my gas bill (thank God, it was not astronomical) and it caused me to reflect on the goodness of God.  You see, we in the Midwest and in the South have been enjoying unseasonably warm weather for this time of year.  In St. Louis, Missouri, February is one of the coldest months of the year, and normally we would be having quite a bit of snowfall.  But we have only had one snowfall this winter, and what had fallen was gone in a couple of days.

I had gotten accustomed to this warm weather and therefore, had not given much thought to the fact that this warm spell is proof that God is good all the time; and all the time, God is good.

For you see, it is not only Christians; that is, those who are trusting in the blood of Jesus Christ for their salvation, who are enjoying the blessing of warmer temperatures than normal, but also those who have not, as well as those who will not, accept the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  Yet, God, in His mercy, allows the sun to shine on the unbelievers as well as the believers.

And don’t, for one minute, think that God could not make the sun to shine only on those who obey Him, while leaving all those who disobey Him in total darkness; or send freezing rain and snow on the ungodly, but allow the sun to light on the faces of those who fear Him.  He could certainly do these things, and more, if it were His will.

Recall that God smote the Egyptians with all manner of plagues, including the plague of darkness—darkness so profound, that one could not see one’s hand in front of one’s face: darkness so deep, that it could be felt (Exodus 10:21).  But in the land of Goshen, where the Israelites lived, not one plague visited them.  God smote only the wicked and spared His people.

Oh yes, God can do it.  But He doesn’t; because He is merciful.

We would do well to study this objective lesson from the Egyptians.  God can indeed smite only the disobedient and spare those who fear Him, but because He is merciful and gracious, He blesses the ungodly as well as the righteous.

“[God] giveth food to all flesh: for His mercy endureth forever.

“Oh give thanks unto the God of heaven: for His mercy endureth forever” (Psalm 136:25-26).

Be encouraged and look up; for your redemption draweth nigh.

The Still Man

Copyright © 2012 Anthony Keeton, The Still Man ®.  All rights reserved.