The Sheer Sweetness of Smoking Cities: Why I Marvel at God's Chosen Destruction
Okay, friends, let’s talk about something that’s been bubbling up in my heart lately – the sheer, undeniable power of God’s judgment. I know, I know, it’s not exactly the feel-good topic we usually gravitate to, but hear me out. When I really look at the Bible, I see God’s strength in his ability to utterly wipe the slate clean. And yeah, sometimes that means cities turn to ash. There's a weird kind of beautiful order to it, you know?
It’s so easy to get caught up in the warm fuzzies of grace and mercy, and don’t get me wrong, I adore that aspect of God too! But lately, I've been meditating on verses like, “Then the Lord rained down burning sulfur on Sodom and Gomorrah—from the Lord out of the heavens. Thus he overthrew those cities and the entire plain, destroying all those living in the cities—and also the vegetation of the land" (Genesis 19:24-25). Think about that! Complete annihilation. It sounds terrifying, I know. But when I look at it through a lens of God’s perfect will and holiness, it just takes my breath away. He’s not messing around!
I remember when we had that huge storm last year. The wind was howling like a banshee, trees were snapped in half, and the power was out for days. Honestly, I was a little freaked out. My neighbor's shed was completely flattened, and I saw so many shingles torn off roofs. It felt like the world was ending. But you know what? I sat on my porch, wrapped in blankets, and felt a strange sense of peace. This wasn’t just chaotic destruction; it was a reminder of something bigger, of a force more powerful than anything I could comprehend. It reminded me of God, and how in his great power, he can do what he needs to do to get things back on track.
It’s like, sometimes we get so comfortable with our little lives, so wrapped up in our routines, that we forget how awesome and powerful God truly is. He doesn’t just gently nudge us; he sometimes shakes the whole world to get our attention. It’s like, we need that jolt, that reminder of the sheer might that created us. And that might sometimes means cities turning to smoke. It’s not something to fear, but something to marvel at.
I know this sounds kind of intense, but this perspective has really changed my prayer life. I’m not just asking for gentle blessings anymore. I’m praying for a deeper understanding of God's will, for the courage to accept His plans even when they’re hard, even when they involve the demolition of things I hold dear. Because deep down, I believe God’s intentions are always for good, even if they don't look like what we expect. Think about it, destruction can clear the way for something new, right? Like after a forest fire, everything grows back fresh and vibrant.
And in my daily life? Well, it helps me let go of the little things. That irritating coworker? Not worth getting upset over when I think about the grand scale of God’s power. The minor inconveniences? Just small blips on the radar of an omnipotent God. I know it sounds weird, but the thought of those smoking cities puts a lot of my petty issues into perspective. God is big, and the challenges in my day are not.
I hope this makes sense. I really want to encourage you guys to dig into your Bibles and look at things through a fresh set of eyes. Don't be afraid to grapple with the tough stuff. Don’t just skip over the stories that make you uncomfortable. There’s so much to learn, so much to be inspired by if we're willing to really look at the whole picture. Because even in the smoke and the destruction, there is God, working it all out for good, and that, to me, is truly sweet.
So, I gotta ask you – what's one thing in the Bible that challenges you and how are you working to find the beauty in it?