GOD PURIFIES FROM THE PUTRID

GOD PURIFIES FROM THE PUTRID
God designed a wonderful way to deal with pollution in nature, even before there was pollution in nature.

He created the world with an enormous water supply, which not only provides for the hydration of all living things, but it is also a reclamation system, waste water treatment system. The private and municipal water treatment plants and purification systems are built as smaller versions of God's plan.

There is no indication that His plan ever fails the needs of this world But we see it stretched to a dangerous level during the Tribulation, because of the abundance of corruption in the world.

I have lived in places where the stench of polluted water, or sewage saturated ground, fouled the air. Sometimes a septic system fails because of neglect or overuse or damage or change in the area. When that happens the ground becomes nasty and disease ridden and the air becomes noxious.

IT HAPPENS IN HUMAN RELATIONSHIPS TOO.
When people do not allow God's purification system to work in their own lives they experience a buildup and back-up of filthiness that produces noxious thoughts, words, actions, deeds, which contaminate themselves and their relationship with other people. Sometimes they stink to high heaven, but refuse the help and guidance which would purges their soul and cleanse their lives. They smell up the community, but they want to blame the nastiness on their neighbors.

In fact, sometimes it is the life of the Christ follower that is obnoxious to the non-believer. Offenders are so accustomed to the stench of anger, jealousy, greed, suspicion, gossip, pride in their own lives that they are repulsed when someone enters their space, giving off the beauty of Jesus. Interestingly enough, they are sickened when another person gives off carnal fumes that are identical to their own repugnant lives.

We cannot help how someone else "stinks" but we can choose the odor we give off.

2 Corinthians 2:14-16
(14) But thanks be to God, the One always leading us in triumph in Christ, and the One revealing through us the odor of the knowledge of Him in every place.
(15) For we are a sweet smell to God because of Christ in those being saved, and in those being lost;
(16) to the one, an odor of death unto death, and to the other, an odor of life unto life. And who is sufficient for these things?

Ephesians 5:1-10
(1) Then become imitators of God, as beloved children,
(2) and walk in love, even as Christ also loved us and gave Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for an odor of a sweet smell.
(3) But let not fornication, and all uncleanness, or greediness, be named among you, as is fitting for saints;
(4) also baseness, and foolish talking, or joking (the things not becoming), but rather thanksgiving.
(5) For be knowing this, that every fornicator, or unclean one, or covetous one, who is an idolater, has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.
(6) Let no one deceive you with empty words, for through these things the wrath of God comes on the sons of disobedience.
(7) Then do not become partakers with them;
(8) for you then were darkness, but are now light in the Lord; walk as children of light.
(9) For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth,
(10) proving what is pleasing to the Lord.