Pushing Up Daisies

Today's chronological reading plan found on esword, gives brief accounts of some kings of Judah and Israel. The thing that really strikes me is the violence and sinfulness found especially in verses 13-16 of 2 Kings 15. Menahem, assassinates Israel's king and succeeds his throne. From there, he ruthlessly attacks a city and the surrounding area. Since the people resist him, he rips open all of their pregnant women.

Pretty horrifying stuff! Not too much unlike the violence of society today.

In 2 Chronicles 26, King Uzziah of Judah did what was right in the eyes of the Lord and in the defense of his kingdom "he made in Jerusalem engines, invented by cunning men, to be on the towers and upon the bulwarks, to shoot arrows and great stones withal." The philosophy of technology undoubtedly offers up explanations for the development of weaponry but it overlooks the inherent sinful nature of mankind.

So many people are abhorred by the crimes in our present society. Yet, no one really talks about how it has been human nature to be sinful ever since the fall of man in the Garden of Eden. Adam and Eve's son Cain committed the first murder against his brother Abel and the bloodshed and misery continues.

The good news is that God loves us so much that Jesus died for our sins. Since the beginning of time, He has shown us His love through His created things like this lively field of daisies. But this patch of flowers is more then just pleasing to the eye. It is one of the many things in nature that attest not only the existence of God but also of the fact that there will be no excuse for mankind's sinfulness. Eventually, God will hold each and every person accountable.

I don't know the origin of the old idiom pushing up daisies. But what can be so bad about being underneath a beautiful site like this while resting in peace IF the next thing you know is that Jesus has returned for you !!