By: Juliet Constantine
He shall come down like rain upon the mown grass: as showers that water the earth. (Psalm 72:6)
I am convinced history repeats itself. Back in the 60’s mini skirts, sleeveless tops, and high afros were the order of the day. Back in the 80’s and 90’s these things seem so weird; but like most things, fashion just recycles itself. Today, they are the trend setters.
In Noah’s days, animals which use instinct seem to be wiser than humans who have common sense. After preaching for 120 years, far more animals had prepared themselves for rain than did humans. The animals went into the ark freely with no one guiding them. And history has repeated itself. As reported in the great 2004 Indian Ocean Earthquake and Tsunami, dogs sought higher ground-they went to the mountains. Back then, no one thought it strange that the animals were migrating to the mountains. Animals had prepared for the destruction. Today, animals are still preparing. Look at ants-by their actions, you can tell it is going to rain. Still, as humans, we prepare for other things.
The farmer will prepare his field and plant his crop in good time to ensure that it receive the early and latter rains. It is such a refreshing aroma of rain on freshly mowed lawn. The gardener will ensure that the grass is mowed, ground swept before the rain comes. Yet, in our spiritual affairs, we have become careless in our preparation for the infilling of the Holy Spirit to finish God’s work.
Just as we mowed our grass and swept the round; we stop-leaked roof and shuttered windows, we need to clean away everything that is anti God from our hearts-from our lives. We need to have our vessels clean to receive the latter infilling of God’s Holy Spirit. The song says, “root them up, pluck them out, these little things in this heart of mine, envy, jealousy, malice and pride, these should never in the heart abide.” There is much in my heart to root up and pluck out. What about you?
“You are not to wait for any special period for a wonderful work to be done; it is today. I give myself to God today…. Are you ready to make the surrender now? You are to put away your sin right now when you see it…. Do not make leeway [that] you are going to overcome by degrees; you are going to try little by little to give up sin. Now, while it is called today, heed the invitation and harden not your hearts.” (EGW The Upward Look pg 283).
When history repeats itself, will it find you prepared? When the Latter Rain is being outpoured, will your vessel be clean – will mine? Let us start a spring-cleaning now in our lives – anything that is anti God, let us root them up and pluck them out. They have no abiding place there. Let us start today.
Dear Heavenly Father, you are such a wise God. You gave us everything so that we can be saved. Thank you for warning us to have clean vessels ready for the final outpouring of your Holy Spirit. Please help us to clean our lives and to keep it that way, in Jesus’ name we pray, amen.
Copyrighted by Juliet Constantine 2014 (for “Alone With God – Finding Jesus In The Scriptures” Daily Devotional)
