FOR THE LOVE OF GOD

Wind is the flow of gases on a large scale. On the surface of the Earth, wind consists of the bulk movement of air. In meteorology, winds are often referred to according to their strength, and the direction from which the wind is blowing. Short bursts of high-speed wind are termed gusts. Strong winds of intermediate duration (around one minute) are termed squalls. Long-duration winds have various names associated with their average strength, such as breeze, gale, storm, and hurricane. Wind occurs on a range of scales, from thunderstorm flows lasting tens of minutes, to local breezes generated by heating of land surfaces and lasting a few hours, to global winds resulting from the difference in absorption of solar energy between the climate zones on Earth. The two main causes of large-scale atmospheric circulation are the differential heating between the equator and the poles, and the rotation of the planet (Coriolis effect). Within the tropics, thermal low circulations over terrain and high plateaus can drive monsoon circulations. In coastal areas the sea breeze/land breeze cycle can define local winds; in areas that have variable terrain, mountain and valley breezes can dominate local winds.

In human civilization, the concept of wind has been explored in mythology, influenced the events of history, expanded the range of transport and warfare, and provided a power source for mechanical work, electricity and recreation. Wind powers the voyages of sailing ships across Earth’s oceans. Hot air balloons use the wind to take short trips, and powered flight uses it to increase lift and reduce fuel consumption. Areas of wind shear caused by various weather phenomena can lead to dangerous situations for aircraft. When winds become strong, trees and human-made structures are damaged or destroyed.

Courtesy of Wikipedia.org, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wind

Wind. Breezes, movement, invisible, yet evident.

The last few months I have been thinking a lot about it, mainly in a spiritual way. Sitting in my living room on our couch, I have a perfect view out through our sliding doors at the neighbors various trees behind our house and looking out the front picture window, a beautiful, unobstructed view at the trees across the street from us.

Living in Delta, Colorado, a small, predominantly farming and agricultural community, I had no idea of the amount of wind we have witnessed over the years. Coming from a mountainous area of central Arizona, it was a big change and yet the wind has always fascinated me and captured my imagination. I guess in retrospect it is no surprise that I would think of the spiritual implications of what we really don’t see.

My wife, Sue, and I have talked a lot about the similarities between the natural phenomenon and the unseen spiritual world. She reminded me of a poem her grandmother used to recite to her when she, my wife, was just a little girl and she has never forgotten it. Over the years, the lyrics changed ever so slightly from the original, but it was easy to find the author of this simple yet profound poem while searching on the internet. The following is the original:

Author: Christina Rossetti (1830–1894) This poem is in the public domain.

Wind.

As I said, there is something fascinating to me about it. Most people really don’t give it much thought but rather, for the most part, take it for granted, unless of course they live in Tornado Alley or in one of the Hurricane Corridors. But then, these areas are the extremes. For the most part, people who experience this necessary natural phenomenon, recognize it as a mild breeze, subtle and at times gentle upon their personages. Only rarely does it get gusty enough to draw attention to itself, but then in most cases it can’t be ignored.

Last night, I slept very little as I was thinking very much on this phenomenon. True, I had been praying, communing with the Lord and thinking about this as it has filled my mind for a while now. This morning upon waking, sure enough, outside the bedroom window, I could see the wind rustling through the neighbor’s trees and even as I sit writing this, looking out my office window, I see the effects of the wind going by.

Some of those trees out back remind me so much of schools of silver fish as they group together in the ocean and sway and move with the currents of the ocean. The leaves on some of the trees in the yards behind us, look a lot like that, swaying and moving with the currents of the wind.

But still, all we see is the effects. We don’t actually SEE the wind itself. Of course, science can explain that away due to the fact that the wind is comprised of the varying gases that comprise the earth’s natural atmosphere. You can’t SEE the gases, but they can be measured and quantified, but mainly due to their effects. These invisible forces react to those natural things that we CAN see, all around us.

Can you imagine, what early man must have thought when viewing the influence and results of the invisible wind on nature around him? No wonder the wind had such an impact on mythology, at least until scientific reason could finally explain it sufficiently. To me it all goes along with the course of history, man’s ability to grow in knowledge and Biblical prophecy that explains that man would find answers to some of his most concerning questions.

If you read Daniel 12:4 like many do, you can see that in the end-times, the last days, the angel told Daniel that knowledge would be on the increase. But when you read it in the context that it is meant, it IS stating a fact about the very end-times of mankind’s history, but also that before those times knowledge WILL be steadily increasing. This coincides with the truth of history as well as the prophetic, for as we are living in the last days now (as all signs point too) you can see that while knowledge has been steadily increasing, it is actually increasing at a rapidly exponential rate!

In this, I truly love the Apostle Paul’s teachings, for he makes things so clear concerning the spiritual, that unseen realm that many believe in and a few truly KNOW to be the only true reality!

“For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.” – 2 Corinthians 4:17-18.

Paul is saying that those things that have an affect on us, influence us, are only momentary in the scheme of eternal reality. Just like the wind rustling through the leaves of a tree, causing leaves and seeds to fall and scatter, the invisible unseen wind is doing a natural work to insure the species of tree continues to flourish. This was God Almighty’s doing, this was/is the Creator’s work, to insure that life continues. The wind could be considered a light affliction in the sense that the standing tree loses some of what makes it so glorious, yet in that process, that glory and majesty continues to propagate in other areas that haven’t been touched by the original tree’s splendor.

Remember what the Beloved Apostle John wrote, one of my favorite verses:

“God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.” – John 4:24.

God’s Spirit is unseen. But His Spirit, His Power is real, it is TRUTH, it can be measured, it can be quantified. Despite how atheists and doubters try to convince themselves and others that God doesn’t exist; like the wind, invisible to the seeing eye, God’s Spirit, the Holy Spirit influences those things around you that you CAN see. The RESULTS of His Presence can be seen and felt and it is only those who CHOOSE spiritual blindness that deny that fact. These same people, these doubters would deny the reality of the wind if they could!

“For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened.” – Romans 1:18-21.

For the wrath of God is REVEALED, it is seen, it has an effect on those who are unrighteous. Why and How? Because what IS known of God is demonstrated, it is shown, revealed IN them directly!! Paul goes on to emphatically state that since the beginning of Creation, God, Who is Spirit, His Character, His Attributes, His Nature, HIS VERY PERSONALITY are clearly seen. Notice, not MAY be seen, but rather CLEARLY seen. Man is without excuse, no matter how he tries to spin the doubt of God’s existence, because man HAD known God and the only reason he chooses now to be blind and foolish, is because of his own futile thinking and understanding and because they refused to honor and glorify God as Father and Creator!!

“Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths. Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the LORD and depart from evil. It will be health to your flesh, And strength to your bones.” – Proverbs 3:5-8.

Do NOT lean on your own understanding! The very thing the wisest man in the world wrote to not do, is what mankind in general has chosen to do, and thus they wonder why they can’t recognize the invisible God when His affects are influencing everything around them that their eyes CAN see!! Lord forgive us and heal and open our blinded eyes that we might recognize the TRUTH that is ever present in front of us!

“For we walk by faith, not by sight.” – 2 Corinthians 5:7.

“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” – Hebrews 11:1.

“For we were saved in this hope, but hope that is seen is not hope; for why does one still hope for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with perseverance.” – Romans 8:24-25.

Here is a thought, from the Living Words of Jesus, Himself;

“The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit.”

Nicodemus answered and said to Him, “How can these things be?”

Jesus answered and said to him, “Are you the teacher of Israel, and do not know these things? Most assuredly, I say to you, We speak what We know and testify what We have seen, and you do not receive Our witness. If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you heavenly things?” – John 3:8-12.

Jesus used a very practical example for this great teacher, Nicodemus, even back then. He shows a direct correlation, between the unseen wind and it’s results and compares it directly to the unseen Holy Spirit, the Spirit of God, the Father! Even during this time in history, this analogy should have been as clear as could be and especially to a renowned teacher as Nicodemus. But notice verse 12, a statement that I have to reiterate in the face of doubters and unbelievers everywhere; “If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you heavenly things?”

I am at a point in my life, in my journey, my walk with the Lord, where I do not need proof of His existence. Experience and life have taught me every step of the way, that my Heavenly Father exists and that Christ Jesus, the Son was not just a historical figure. God is Spirit; like the wind, He is unseen and invisible and especially to our natural eyes, but Jesus has assured us that when we see Him, Christ Jesus in His glorified body, we WILL see the Father.

“Jesus answered them, “I told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in My Father’s name, they bear witness of Me. But you do not believe, because you are not of My sheep, as I said to you. My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father’s hand. I and My Father are one.” – John 10:25-30.

“Philip said to Him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is sufficient for us.”

“Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and yet you have not known Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; so how can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? “Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me? The words that I speak to you I do not speak on My own authority; but the Father who dwells in Me does the works. Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father in Me, or else believe Me for the sake of the works themselves.” – John 14:8-11.

I long for that day; not because of unbelief or desiring more proof, but rather knowing at that time, the natural will no longer have a hold on me and I will no longer be seeing only with natural eyes, but will being seeing my Lord, my King, my Redeemer with eyes no longer clouded by a veil, or by the fog of the carnal that still binds us all to this temporary portion of the eternal reality. When I step over that threshold, when I am able to walk through that door, then and only then will I be truly alive and ever one with the Lord! What a glorious day that will be!

For now, I watch the influence of the wind upon those things around us. In the spiritual, I sit still in the presence of His Spirit and at times feel the gentle breeze and warmth of His presence upon my being. Some may call it the “still small voice,” but I choose to identify as that subtle breeze blowing through my spirit. Just like the wind, it’s influence causes movement and a stirring within me.

There have been times and I believe there are times coming when the movement of the Spirit upon God’s children won’t be so gentle and subtle. I believe like strong gusts, it will shake us to our core, awakening the spirit deep within us, a call to attention as it were. I believe we will recognize not just the force behind that spiritual gust, but also walk in the power of it. Just like in early history when sailors felt the breezes quicken and lowered their sails to catch the full force of the wind and used it to propel them. So it will be with God’s children in a time that is coming quickly upon us.

When that time is recognized, the doubters, the naysayers will feel the force of that spiritual wind and they will either ride along with it or be blown over by it. Their excuses, there darkened and futile minds will no longer have a place to hide for they, in the force of that spiritual gale will be without excuse. The time is coming and it may even now be dawning right now.

The Holy Spirit has given us tools, gifts as it were and the main one for every child of God is discernment. It is like a meteorologist’s barometer, but it is a spiritual instrument. It is time God’s children start watching the signs, for a strong movement of spiritual proportions is about to take place. What a time in the history of mankind to be living!

“The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit.”