Yesterday we had a very smoggy day here in Los Angeles. I don’t suppose there would be need to mention that to most of the residents of this area for the results were quite evident. Most everyone you met would mention how their eyes were smarting and that they were quite uncomfortable, due to this smoky blanket that had settled down upon us. I see a spiritual lesson in smog which I would like to share with you.
Scientific men tell us that the Los Angeles smog’s are caused by an atmospheric condition that will not permit the smoke to rise and pass away into the upper atmosphere. This reminds me of the activity of our adversary. The Bible terms him the “prince of the powers of the air”. He endeavors to seal off the earth from heaven above so that our prayers will be hindered from getting through to God and at the same time smothers us with a combination of many undesired things .
For our scientific friends tell us that this Los Angeles smog is composed of many waste gases coming from many different sources, from our automobile exhausts, factory and refining smoke and from the backyard incinerator. This is certainly like sin. The hindrances to the Christian life are from many different sources and the combination of all of them becomes a real challenge to the Christian life. The word mentions some of them in the parable of the sower: Some fell among thorns; some on stony ground; some the birds of the air came and ate as it fell by the wayside; some fell on good soil but the soil was too thin and the sun smote the new plants and they withered. Yes there certainly are many hindrances to our spiritual living in these days and it seems that only the greatest of determination will assure us of success in this Christian life.
At times this smog hangs like a choking blanket next to the ground but then in response to an ocean breeze it is driven away back over the mountains to the east. Prayer exerts and influence like a cool ocean breeze. It gains the mastery over the forces of evil and causes them to flee before it. After prayer has prevailed, we can again breath deeply of God’s great blessings. I was thinking how terrible it must have been in London, England some time ago when they had that black fog. During those days when that heavy blanket of fog refused to move from that great city, the air became more and more polluted until it became almost as dark as night. Men could not find their way to work or to their homes. Traffic came to a virtual standstill and many died because of the choking polluted air that penetrated homes and offices until the residents could not see but a few feet from them, even when they were inside the buildings. Sin is just like that. It may manifest itself in a small way at first but as time goes on it picks up momentum until it smothers men in it’s inky black shroud.
Last night two pitiful specimens of humanity came to the doors of “Old Pisgah”. Both these men were under the influence of drink. They had gone far down the road to ruin a drunkards grave. After we fed them some supper, (for they were hungry), I talked to them about God. I found out that one them, a soft spoken man who spoke with college English, had been a major in the United States army. I thought as I stood before that poor, broken man, dirty and disheveled; what would this man look like in the uniform of the United States army. No doubt one time he was a young man full of hope and great ambitions until drink became ruin. He kept muttering over and over through his tears, “I’m no good, I’m just no good”. The cloud of sin had finally engulfed him. As I looked at these men and as they told me of one of their buddies, who came from a good home and whom I knew well, and who was now in San Quentin for attempted burglary to get money for more drink, I remembered the scripture “the wages of sin is death”.
Though you may not live in this Los Angeles area and you therefore escape the smog we suffer under at times, still a spiritual smog is covering the whole world today. It is made up of many confusing elements that tend to distress and destroy man. Our only hope is from the Lord, for as in this area though we may have high-salaried men who try to alleviate this evil condition and so far have miserably failed, so in the spiritual sense, there is no hope outside of God. But I hear a voice of prophecy speaking out of the ages past and gone, “Hope thou in God, for I shall yet praise Him”. Yes, regardless of your condition today, poor needy, lost, sick, or dying...there is help for you from above. Let us fall upon our knees and beseech the father of mercies to send us help. Certainly deliverance shall come on the wings of prayer for God is faithful. “Prayer changes things.”
I realize that perhaps listening to this broadcast today there are some who have been ill for a long time and you have despaired almost like this poor man we have been talking about. You have thought that there was no longer any hope, but as I spoke to him last night, I want to speak to you. Your condition may not be the same as his but after all the adversary of our soul afflicts us in so many ways. Sometimes we have mental afflictions, sometimes physical. Sometimes habits fasten themselves upon us from which we cannot seem to free ourselves. From all of these things Jesus came to deliver men. I am so glad this morning He is just the same as He always was. He is able to do exceeding, abundant, above all we could ask or think. I am glad He has never changed and that prayer still avails and God still moves when we call upon Him. Though you may be sick and despair of health, let me exhort you to turn your face toward God and as you kneel in prayer, commit your ways unto the Lord, trust also in Him and He shall bring to pass that which is needed. Perhaps God wants to work a miracle in your life or in your body, even today. Will you trust in the Lord and lean heavily upon him for God is the portion of all needy men.
If you are listening to this broadcast and you do not know Jesus as your personal savior; you are lost in sin. You have felt those icy fingers clutching you for you are not prepared to meet God and you feel them pulling you down, down, down, farther along the road of sin until you are beginning to despair that you will ever be able to get back. Let me encourage your heart to seek God. Let us remember that Jesus is the just same yesterday, today and forever. Though the smoggy, cloudy, dark blanket of sin may have settled down over your life, blinding you, smothering you, frightening you, remember this; One day Jesus died upon the cross of Calvary to bring you out of it all into the glorious light of eternity. He had to pass through the gloom also but thank God He arose from the tomb triumphant and today He is exalted at God’s right hand; our sufficient Savior. Regardless what your need may be, He is sufficient.
CLOSING PRAYER
Bless thy people, dear Lord, with blessings that make rich and add no sorrow. May men everywhere come to know thee, whom to know is eternal.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.
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