An Appointed Time and Place

“And He made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined theirappointed times and the boundaries of their habitation.” ~ Acts 17:26 [NASB]

This year we celebrate 233 years since the Declaration on Independence was signed, marking the birthday of our nation. Ever since the first colonists arrived, there has been a sense of manifest destiny, the belief that our people were brought here by God and established on this continent for His purposes. Historically, we as a people have believed that our times are in God’s hand.

In a sense this is true for all peoples. The Apostle Paul told the Athenian philosophers that the Supreme God has determined both the times and the boundaries of all nations. We can see examples of this in history.

I saw this myself on a recent trip. When we were visiting Sedona, Arizona, seeking shelter from the rain while waiting for others, I found a display which told the story of the Sinagua people. The Sinaguas dominated central Arizona for more than 700 years. They farmed the Verde River Valley, built cities and villages on the cliffs, and mediated trade between peoples to the north, south, east and west. According to archaeological finds, they prospered and flourished. Then about AD 1450, they disappeared, leaving behind their cliff dwellings, canals, pottery and other artifacts. No one knows how or why. This does not necessarily mean the end of the people. The Mayan cities of Central America were abandoned long before the Spanish came, but the Mayan people still live in that area.

Like the Sinaguas, the Israelites occupied their land and dominated the surrounding area for about 700 years. Then they left their land. Unlike the Sinaguas, we know why, specifically why. They forgot God, who had given the land to them and had caused them to prosper. More than just forget God, they actually turned against Him. They gave their allegiance to other gods who were not really gods. So God caused them to be removed from the land. First the Assyrians took away those in the north in 722 BC. Then 136 years later the Babylonians took the rest away.

About 400 years ago, our civilization began to occupy this land. Later they established a nation, believing God had placed them here and made them a nation. This county has spread across the continent, from one ocean to the other. It now extends to the far north and to the middle of the world’s largest ocean. In our lifetimes, it has been the most powerful nation on earth. It has dominated the world’s economy. It has influenced the culture of almost every otherland on earth. It’s people have carried the Gospel to every corner of the globe. In many ways, itis seen as the greatest nation on earth.

Now we have reached the time when we, as a civilization and as a people, are turning away from the God who has made us a nation*. How long will God allow this to continue before He brings us down? How long before He removes us from our place among the nations? When will God determine the end of our time and our habitation?

* See the last verse of The Star Spangled Banner.

© 2009, Wesley G. Vaughn

The Tree That Almost Died

The Tree That Almost Died

Wesley G. Vaughn, © 2008

As published in The Outreacher <http://www.theoutreacher.com/index.php>

(in print, but not online)

One morning in mid-April, I got up to find that it was 29°F, and had been all night long. In Ohio, frost and freezing nights can be expected halfway through Spring, and this year was no exception. Since I had not worked the evening before, it was easy to forget about the potted plants outside. Coming home at 12:30 am, I would have seen them and brought them into the garage.

Alarmed, I went out to check the plants. To my dismay, the leaves on the grapefruit tree were curled with the frost. I didn’t know how badly it had been injured, but it looked bad. This tree was special. I had planted a seed from a grapefruit we ate, and it sprouted and grew. It was eight years old but not too big since it was a potted plant. We had brought it from Virginia to Ohio. It seemed such a shame to come this far only to freeze. With a sliver of hope, I took it into the garage and set it down far from the door.

Over the next few weeks, I checked the grapefruit tree almost every day. A few at a time, leaves dried up, beginning at the tip. It was apparent that all would go. But in the second week I saw what looked like a few, very few, new leaves emerging. A month later, all but a few of the frosted leaves had died, and these few were dying. Not wanting to damage the tree needlessly, I waited until a leaf was obviously dead before removing it.

Shortly after Memorial Day I pruned off dead wood. By then several sprouts were showing. Before the end of June, new branches grew from the lower trunk. These have now grown straight up like parallel trunks. The whole tree is lush with glossy dark green leaves. Of course, spines are growing too. The tree that almost died has not only made full recovery, but looks better than it had for a long time. The freeze which almost killed the tree stimulated new growth which gives it a greater glory.

In Psalm 51:8, David says, “Let the bones that You have broken rejoice.” [NASB] David referred to a shepherd breaking a leg bone on a lamb which kept wandering away. The shepherd
then carried this lamb every time he moved the flock. The lamb became dependent on and bonded to the shepherd. By the time the leg healed, the lamb always stayed close.

David was chastised for his sin. Job was blameless, yet God still let him suffer severe affliction. Though Job did not understand why, his faithfulness through this suffering brought glory to God. It also revealed Job’s real character to a scrutinizing world.

The apostle Paul says that God causes all things to work together for good for His children (Romans 8:28). He goes on to say what this good is: believers being fashioned into the image of Christ (verse 29). Since God is all sovereign and all powerful, nothing can happen to us unless and until He allows it. This is for His glory, and for our greater good.

Leaving the grapefruit tree out on a freezing night was unintentional. The good results were accidental. But God’s letting us go through suffering and loss is not accidental. It is intentional, and for the best intentions. Like the sheep whose leg was broken, it draws us closer to Him. And like frost that almost killed the tree, it stimulates new growth we would have never otherwise experienced.

Scripture references –Psalm 31:12; 34:18; 38:8; 44:19; 51:8, 17; 61:1; 69:20; 147:3; Romans 8:28-29