God has His own way of getting everyone’s attention. The COVID virus is one of the most recent ways to show that Matthew 3:12 is relative, “whose fan is in his hand) whose winnowing (fork or [fan-an instrument for cleaning grain] or shovel) is in His hand, and He will clear (purge his floor)” His threshing floor and will gather His wheat into the barn; but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.” This shovel was used for throwing the grain. It was after the grain was threshed into the air. By this way the wind would drive away the chaff. This a mode for separating the grain from the chaff. The threshing floor was an open space (about 30 or 40 paces) in the field with no coverings or walls. A high place allowed to keep the grain dry and made it convenient of winnowing the grain by the wind.. Usually oxen tread the grain or sometimes beaten with flails or sometimes with a sharp threshing instrument made to roll over the grain and to cut the straw at the same time. Do we dare be so bold as to talk about the “fire,” which here spoken of refers to an unquenchable fire which cannot be extinguished. Why should be talk on a subject which is so piercing? Let’s be realistic. Millions of people are dying and becoming sick. One might say, how is God expressing love through such a stark manner. God has done this great thing by sending one from the dead (Jesus Christ, the Messiah) His only Son to show forth His love for all. Who will listen and understand the message? Who will pause? Who will reflect inwardly and confess that their actions are inconsistent with God’s ways and acknowledge that they need “a saviour.” ? OR will they be like those in Revelation 9:20-21, a part of the trumpet judgements “Now the rest of mankind who were not killed by these plagues still did not repent of the works of their hands. They did not stop worshiping demons and idols of gold, silver, bronze, stone, and wood, which cannot see or hear or walk. 21Furthermore, they did not repent of their murder, sorcery, sexual immorality, and theft.” Let’s consider this straightforward scripture into a message of hope and LOVE. The messages of disaster and message of success are for our knowledge and understanding. Jesus Christ came to SAVE. His messages are about what to do to be saved…..how should we act….who to listen to….who to associate with….who to marry….what things we play and indulge in, and worship….how to look into ourselves and discern right from wrong and hold a moral conscience using our moral compass. This and more are taught us through His Holy spirit and through reading and studying the scriptures. These fires, airplane crashes, strange happenings, buildings collapsing, uprisings in the world, the Afghanistan, Taliban and other worldwide problems show guidance. Do we really want to be left behind? Do we think there is a partial salvation and if we do just a little we will get by? Can one be a partial, marginal Christian? Thanks for reading! Jeanette Grattan Parker, Founder-Superintendent Today’s Fresh Start Charter School 323-293-9826 www.todaysfreshstart.org; Askdrjeanette® www.askdrjeanetteparker.com [email protected] “Inquiring minds want to know.”© All rights reserved. Ask Dr. Jeanette® Scripture references: Matthew 3:12; Acts 16:16; Revelation 9:20,21
