|
A
Pastor’s Perspective
“Mosquitos, R.I.P.” by Mike Hill,
pastor of Calvary Chapel Aberdeen
Mosquitos top the list for least requested guests at outdoor
events. But they brazenly
show up in droves everywhere, even without an invitation.
I hate mosquitos. They irritate and distract as they dance near my ear.
They leave me in torment with itchy skin.
They potentially carry harmful diseases to humans and horses.
I want them utterly wiped out.
No mercy…DEAD!
Yeah, I hate ‘em alright.
The Bible describes a
different kind of futuristic flying creature whose torment is
exponentially worse than mosquitos. The Apostle John describes locusts
that will ascend out of the bottomless pit whose “torment
was like the torment of a scorpion when it strikes a man” (Revelation
9:5b). If these were
normal locusts, I suppose many people would think, “Ah,
these insects just attack plant life.
Don’t worry ‘bout it.” But these aren’t normal
locusts.
The Bible says these
creatures will be “commanded not
to harm the grass of the earth, or any green thing, or any tree, but
only those men who do not have the seal of God in their foreheads.”
The pain and torment of these insidious things will compel people
to “seek death and will not find
it; they will desire to die, and death will flee from them”
(Revelation 9:4,6).
Insect repellent can be
a preventive measure against an onslaught of mosquitos. But what can possibly protect a person against these hordes
of demonic locusts? The
seal of God. The people who
have the seal of God are shielded from having any encounters with these
frightening creatures. But
what exactly is the seal of God? And,
do you have the seal of God?
The ancient practice of
sealing a document with wax comes to mind.
The owner’s signet ring would be pressed into the warm wax
denoting that the contents came from him alone.
The contents would be secure and protected by the authority of
the one the signet ring represented.
When a person believes the testimony of the Bible concerning
Jesus Christ, and places their complete trust in Him for their
acceptance with God, that individual is “sealed
with the Holy Spirit of promise” (Ephesians 1:13b).
This seal expresses ownership and protection.
God has set His ownership and provides all the authority of
heaven to protect those who belong to Him through Christ.
A person is not sealed
with the Holy Spirit through a ritual or a pilgrimage to or through a
religious building. Only
through a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.
Do you belong to God?
Do you genuinely know the Jesus of the Bible?
If you do, then you are already sealed!
You may not be shielded from pesky mosquitos, but thankfully, God
will faithfully preserve your soul from true harm.
Comments concerning this article may be sent to mjhill@ida.net
|
