Finding the Balance: The Impact of Sun and Clouds on Our Environment
- Sister Janet K.
- Oct 1, 2024
- 2 min read
A sunset photo with two sides - one side the setting sun shows freely reflecting in the water while the right side is restricted by the cloud cover. As I was reading in Galatians 5 this morning, this photo seemed to depict what Paul was trying to teach in verse 13. Freedom based on our God given free will versus liberty to exercise that free will within society.
We have all witnessed what too much sun and clouds or rain can do to the scorched land while too much clouds and rain as just seen in the Southeast is devastating. When I took this photo, it picturesquely displayed the divide of all sun versus some clouds.
Of course, what Paul is saying here is that a loving God has given us free will (The power or right to act, speak, or think as one wants without hindrance or restraint) , however, to exist in a society, we cannot overstep into others freedom for our personal benefit but instead we can obey God’s command to love others as ourselves. We need a combination of full sun (freedom) but also the constraints of clouds (moral responsibility) to bring about a perfect weather pattern, a harmonized society.
“For the love of Christ controls and compels us, because we have concluded this, that One died for all, therefore all died; and He died for all, so that all those who live would no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died and was raised for their sake.” 2 Corinthians 5:14-15
God gave us free will but out of His love, mercy and grace towards us through the death and resurrection of His Son (John 3:16), we are given the power of the Holy Spirit to not misuse that liberty. Instead, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away, and look, new things have come.
Everything is from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, certain that God is appealing through us. We plead on Christ’s behalf, “Be reconciled to God.” He made the One who did not know sin to be sin for us, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” 2 Corinthians 5:17-18, 20-21
Because of original sin, our freedoms will be impinged upon and we will at some point step over our own bounds into others freedoms, but God has given us His Word to help us find that perfect atmosphere in our hearts to be a calm to a troubled world.
Thank you Lord for your gift of free will constrained by the love displayed through your Son. You have given us a “spirit of love, power and self-discipline “ to be the perfect sunset to this world.
Amen. 🌅❤️❤️❤️❤️🫶👆
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