DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- THE SHAKING PROCESS

DAD'S RAMBLINGS – THE SHAKING PROCESS

"Now this, 'Yet once more,' indicates the removal of those things which cannot be shaken, as of things that are made, that the things which cannot be shaken may remain. Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear." (Hebrews 12:27-28)

Shaking has the effect of sifting out the junk that is extraneous to the essential material. I used to watch my Mom sift the flour to bake bread. What was left after the sifting was the good flour that was suitable for baking.

The writer to the Hebrews says that there is coming time of shaking of the heavens and earth – the entire universe – that will remove all things that are made and only that which cannot be shaken will endure. Only God His kingdom will remain.

We sometimes go through the sifting process in our lives. The purpose is to eliminate the nonessentials and leave only those things that are truly important – God and spiritual things.

The shaking and sifting can be painful as we are tossed about and ground through the sieve. But it has the effect of bringing us back to the reality of what is truly important. When only God and His kingdom are left, and that is all we have to turn to, we learn to trust Him more. God and God alone.

When we have lost our precious possessions and only God is left, we can find that He is enough. When we have our material things to lean on, we don't need God so much. But take them away, and He is all that is left. Then we truly find the grace to live acceptably, with reverence and godly fear.

It may be that God is allowing the United States to be shaken and sifted, to help people see what is truly important in this world. Whatever the case, may our eyes be focused on what cannot be shaken so that we can find grace to live acceptably with reverence and godly fear.

Love, Dad