Taking Things for Granted

The storm rolled in and even at a distance it looked nasty. The lightening flashed in great white jagged bolts from the clouds to the ground followed by claps of thunder. The lights in the house flickered on and off for about fifteen minutes and then it happened. I saw the flash and the thunderclap followed almost immediately afterwards and the electricity went off.

We knew what had happened even before we checked. That particular strike had been close enough to trip the safety bracket on our transformer. There was no way of getting power until the workmen arrive to climb up there and put it back. After ringing the company and telling them about our problem we climbed into bed for the night because we figured nothing was going to happen before daybreak anyway.

Around midnight I woke up needing to go to the bathroom and headed down the hallway. As I opened the door I had to chuckle to myself, I had a touch in one hand but my other hand automatically reached out to switch on the light. I recalled how I had tried to turn on the lights a lot during the storm. As I settled down again I thought about just how dependent we are on electricity and how much we take it for granted.

I also thought about how it is very easy to take God’s care for granted. We expect the sun to rise in the morning, the moon to shine at night. We may even take it for granted that we are going to be able to find something good even on the worst of days. Sure we might have to look a bit harder than usual but God has a way of sending something good each day.

Yet, one day it will all stop! We won’t be able to take his care for granted anymore. For some of us, His love and care will stretch out in front of us like a grand vista. It will be so great that we will gratefully praise God for it constantly and forever. “And a voice came out of the throne, saying, Praise our God, all ye his servants, and ye that fear him, both small and great. And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying, Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth.” Revelation 19:5-6. For everyone else no matter how hard we try we will never be able to find any peace, goodness or love ever again. “The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity; And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.” Matthew 13:41-42.

I was again reminded not to take anything for granted not even that God loves me but to appreciate everything about Him with thanksgiving.