The earth is the LORD’S, and all that fills it

As the second part of this verse from Psalm 24:1 makes clear, this includes all “those who dwell therein.” Those who live under a brutal dictatorship know their place well, they know that if they step out of line they are in big trouble. Thankfully God is not a brutal dictator, but rather He is patient and longsuffering with us, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9). But let's make no mistake about it, the earth and all that fills it belongs to Him and He has the right to do with it exactly as He pleases. Again I am thankful this morning that our beautiful God is the very essence of love and of all the positive qualities, and more that mankind is capable of exhibiting. But again let's make no mistake about it, our God is a consuming fire to those who ultimately resist Him (Hebrews 12:29). And since in our unregenerate state the imagination of all of our hearts are continually towards evil (Genesis 6:5), then it is only by His Mercy that we are not consumed (Lamentations 3:22).

The Lord made mankind in His image, in His likeness in order that He might have fellowship with us. And throughout the Bible He continually invites us up to fellowship wth Him. In this morning's Psalm He asks “Who may stand in His holy place?” He answers “He who has clean hands and a pure heart” (verse 3b, 4a). One of the purposes of the Old Testament is to demonstrate that without the regenerating power of the Holy Spirit in our lives this is impossible. In fact the Law was there to teach us that it is impossible without Christ and therefore we need to come to Him for salvation (Galatians 3:24). All who will may come, and drink freely from the wells of salvation (Isaiah 12:3). We do need to realize however that when we come we are no longer our own, we are bought with a price, and that we should honour God with our bodies as living sacrifices (1 Corinthians 6:20; Romans 12:1).

Scripture knows nothing of a salvation that allows you to do what you want after you get saved. We are either slaves of sin, or slaves of righteousness (Romans 6:20). And we get to choose! Leaving aside the question of what happens to those who have not heard (but see Genesis 18:25), there is only one way to the Father (John 14:6). It is black and white, if we do not choose Christ, we choose the same side as the brutal dictator, the same side as those who feel they are masters of their fate, captain of their souls. And God will not always strive with man (Genesis 6:3), but rather like Pharaoh who after harden his heart many times God may choose to use you as a vessel of wrath for His purposes. After all, the earth is the LORD’S, and everyone in it!

Father the thought comes to mind that the ox knows its master, but oh so often Your people do not understand what is means that You are God and the earth is Yours and all its fullness. Teach us humility Lord and our proper place in You so that we may honour and glorify You as we aught in Jesus Name Amen