A paragraph from a devotional found in the Men’s Devotional Bible that I have, was especially meaningful for me this morning (August 27th). It was written by C. S. Lewis and I quote it verbatim:
“Everyone has noticed how hard it is to turn our thoughts to God when everything is going well with us. We ‘have all we want’ is a terrible saying when ‘all’ does not include God. We find God an interruption. As Saint Augustine says somewhere, ‘God wants to give us something, but cannot, because our hands are full – there’s nowhere for Him to put it.’ Or as a friend of mine said, ‘We regard God as an airman regards his parachute; it’s there for emergencies but he hopes he’ll never have to use it.’”
The scripture reference is in Nahum 1, and is prophesy against Nineveh, that wicked and godless capital city of Assyria. But Lewis brings this message to a personal level that includes you and me. For we each are part of a society that basically has what it wants, is satisfied with its opulence, and by and large has abandoned our thoughts of God. Oh, problem areas still confront us, but pleasure and gluttony on worldly offerings abounds.
Those of us are old enough to remember when the outcome of battles in World War II was sometimes in doubt, and when rationing of gasoline and sugar and other foodstuffs were commonplace. There was an appreciation for what God did provide in those days, prayers were lifted on the main streets of our cities, and our church houses were filled with worshipers. But then when God did meet our needs in all of these areas, and prosperity once again took the upswing, for many these signaled the beginning of a slide into godless materialism.
Jonah reluctantly finally did preach to Nineveh, and repentance took place! The people took his message personally, and God relented on his decree against that city! Dear one, you may be reading this and realize that you are one whose “hands have become full, and have no room for God anymore.” I encourage you to repent of that sin today, and return to Him. Revival in America will not happen until revival happens in you!
