Withered Corn
Ask ye of the LORD rain in the time of the latter rain; so the LORD shall make bright clouds, and give them showers of rain, to every one grass in the field. - Zechariah 10:1
As I rode down the road I saw the corn starting to wither and turn brown. I began to pray “Lord why have you withheld the rain, why do you prevent the land from yielding its fruit?” So I intended to pray to the Lord for rain, and as I began to pray I was repelled from doing so. I became angry and could see why the Lord withheld the rain. For just as the Lord sends rain on the just and the unjust, so to he may withhold rain from the just and the unjust. I was angry because of the greats sins the Land has committed. The legalization of sin¹, the ongoing holocaust², the corruption of the children through evil teachings³ in schools and many churches. The question is really “Why would the Lord send us any good thing?” We are blessed in the fact that he has not brought more destruction.
Also, I perceived that droughts, hard times, and disasters should be bringing us to our knees before the Lord. But has it? Though He smite the land man continues in his wicked way, why should He show any mercy? And so I prayed and thanked the Lord for all that he has done.
In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. - 1 Thessalonians 5:18
I prayed that men may turn from their wicked ways and seek the Lord.
Say unto them, As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel? - Ezekiel 33:11
I thanked the Lord that even if the righteous perished with the wicked they would remain faithful to the end.
Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him. - Job 13:15
For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God: - Job 19:25-26
For upon their death they enter into the joy of the Lord.
His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord. - Matthew 25:21
We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord. Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him. - 2 Corinthians 5:8-9 Also see Romans 14:8, and Philippians 1:20-21.
But I besought the Lord that he would not let the righteous perish, but that they may be blessed not only after their physical death, but in this world as well.
And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified. What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth. Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. - Romans 8:28-39
I prayed that the Lord would spare the land for the sake of the righteous that dwell therein. Or that he would rescue the righteous from the land he smites before it is smitten, as he did when he rescued Lot from Sodom (Genesis chapter 19).
Who are the righteous? Those whose sin is washed away by the blood of Christ. Those who are justified by Faith in Jesus Christ. Those who have confessed with their mouth and believed in their heart that Jesus Christ is Lord. Those who walk in the Spirit, and do the will of God. Those who come to the Father through the only way they can - through Jesus Christ, who is the only begotten Son of God, the Way, the Truth, and the Life. Him by whose Life we have life, and Him through whose death, death has been destroyed. (Hebrews 9:22, Romans 3:28, 5:1, Galatians 2:16, Romans 10:9-10,Romans 8:1,14, 2 Thessalonians 1:7-8, John 3:16, John 14:6, John 10:10, 1 Corinthians 15:54-58)
To the end that my glory may sing praise to thee, and not be silent. O LORD my God, I will give thanks unto thee for ever. - Psalm 30:12
¹Gambling, Homosexual Unions, and Abortion are three examples
³ Evolution, Inaccurate history, and sinful behavior of all sorts, and sinful attitudes are encouraged.