In Matthew 5:45 Jesus said, your Father which is in heaven…maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust, emphasising God’s love and mercy, extended to all people regardless of their actions and beliefs, a reminder of His impartiality and the importance of loving everyone even those who may seem unjust or evil (see Matthew 5:45-47).

This is all enshrined in what we can see – the sun, moon and the stars. As long as they are there, they serve as guarantee of His unchanging character and disposition to His people.

Thus saith the Lord, which giveth the sun for a light by day, and the ordinances of the moon and of the stars for a light by night, which divideth the sea when the waves thereof roar; The Lord of hosts is his name: If those ordinances depart from before me, saith the Lord, then the seed of Israel also shall cease from being a nation before me for ever. Thus saith the Lord; If heaven above can be measured, and the foundations of the earth searched out beneath, I will also cast off all the seed of Israel for all that they have done, saith the Lord. Jeremiah 31:35-37

And the word of the Lord came unto Jeremiah, saying, Thus saith the Lord; If ye can break my covenant of the day, and my covenant of the night, and that there should not be day and night in their season; Then may also my covenant be broken with David my servant, that he should not have a son to reign upon his throne; and with the Levites the priests, my ministers. As the host of heaven cannot be numbered, neither the sand of the sea measured: so will I multiply the seed of David my servant, and the Levites that minister unto me. Moreover the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah, saying, Considerest thou not what this people have spoken, saying, The two families which the Lord hath chosen, he hath even cast them off? thus they have despised my people, that they should be no more a nation before them. Thus saith the Lord; If my covenant be not with day and night, and if I have not appointed the ordinances of heaven and earth; Then will I cast away the seed of Jacob and David my servant, so that I will not take any of his seed to be rulers over the seed of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob: for I will cause their captivity to return, and have mercy on them. Jeremiah 33:19-29

Paul caught and testified in Romans 1:19-20.

Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead… Romans 1:19-20 KJV

David proclaimed in Psalm 119:89-91.

For ever, O Lord, thy word is settled in heaven. Thy faithfulness is unto all generations: thou hast established the earth, and it abideth. They continue this day according to thine ordinances: for all are thy servants. Psalm 118:89-91

Why then all our doubts of what He promised He would do? Look up at the unfailing appearance of the sun, moon and stars, they testify of His faithfulness to every promise and covenant! So when life throws you a lemon

“it may be the loss of a loved one, your health, your income, your marriage, your reputation, etc. The psalmist wrote, ‘When I am afraid, I put my trust in you.’

When bad times come, you need to hold on to everything you know about who God is. You must remind yourself that He is loving, caring, and worthy of your complete trust. Sometimes He will give you the answer; other times He will give you the assurance of His presence. In changing times, we must lay hold of the unchanging character of God. As the hymn says, ‘When all around my soul gives way, He then is all my hope and stay.’

Does that mean denying your feelings and emotions? No. David said, ‘I pour out my complaints before him and tell him all my troubles’ (Psalm 142:2 NLT). God is not asking you to deny the pain, the loss, and the reality of your circumstances. Even Jesus offered up prayers with ‘fervent cries and tears’ (Hebrews 5:7 NIV). If you don’t pour out your heart before God, you risk hardening your heart towards Him. Saint Augustine said, ‘For they are very deep in the deep, who do not even cry from the deep.’ It’s when you hit the bottom and turn to God that you discover He is there. It’s by being shaken to the core that you develop an unshakable faith in God. When that happens, you can stand on His Word which says, ‘I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go’ (Genesis 28:15 NIV).” – Taken from Word For Today

Selah.




Pastor Afolabi Oladele