Why Did God Make Scorpions?

Why Did God Make Scorpions?

Several days ago I was sitting out on the porch with our Siberian huskies, Shimmer and Cayenne.

Shimmer is our new three-year-old.

We love her so much!

She’s one of the most observant dogs we’ve ever owned.

I noticed her ears had perked up at one point and she was intently staring at the big brown ornamental rock right beyond our porch.

What in the world is she looking at?

A few minutes later I saw it too.

Ohhhhh noooooooooo.

A scorpion.

The hideously-disgusting creature was scurrying along that rock, way too close for my comfort.

I’m pretty sure it was about twelve inches long (okay, probably closer to two inches.)

I heard a scream (actually it was from me) and the three of us ran inside so I could get my husband to kill it.

Chivalry is not dead.

Why did God make scorpions in the first place?

Why did God make scorpions?

Even the pictures gross me out

Cringe-Worthy Arachnids: Why Did God Make Scorpions?

Why did God make scorpions?

I’m glad you asked.

We don’t fully know, as God is our Sovereign Creator.

However, some of the things we do know from a human standpoint is that scorpions eat other creepy crawlies like silverfish and spiders – that’s a good thing.

Even better, did you know that scientists are studying the scorpion’s venom for its possible health benefits?

Researchers isolated compounds of the scorpion’s poison indicating potential for treating certain illnesses and infections.1

Yet, despite these redeeming qualities, it’s also hard to forget that, depending on the species, scorpions can also be dangerous.

Their painful stings are mentioned in the Bible.

Here’s one example:

First the context, hordes of locust-like creatures will be unleashed for a short period of time during the Final Judgment (the Tribulation) “to torment” unrepentant souls.

And they were not permitted to kill anyone, but to torment for five months; and their torment was like the torment of a scorpion when it stings a person. – Revelation 9:5, (NASB).2

The horror to come for those Tribulation souls is yet another reminder for unbelievers to repent and put their trust in Jesus Christ for their salvation.

Cringe-Worthy Scorpions: Were They Ever Good?

Scorpions weren’t always the feared insects that we know them as today.

And God said, “Let the land produce living creatures according to their kinds: the livestock, the creatures that move along the ground, and the wild animals, each according to its kind.” And it was so. 25 God made the wild animals according to their kinds, the livestock according to their kinds, and all the creatures that move along the ground according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good. – Genesis 1:24-25, (NASB).3

Did you see that?

Scorpions were good.

I wanted to share Dr. Gordon Wilson’s perspective from Answers in Genesis:

A world where animals didn’t eat other animals is almost impossible to imagine. Though we don’t know how everything worked in a perfect world, we do know that scorpions didn’t harm human beings. That came after Adam’s sin brought death and suffering into the world. – Dr. Gordon Wilson, Answers in Genesis.4

Further, he writes . . . 

The scorpion is a vivid reminder of the Curse and the deadly consequences of our sin against a holy and just God. Adam’s one sin in the Garden of Eden brought all this pain and suffering into the world. But because of God’s love, He sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to experience death’s sting in our place and redeem sinful mankind (Acts 2:22–24; John 3:16). Someday God will redeem His fallen creation, as well. Then He will take away all predator-prey relationships— the poison and the pain, the fangs and the fears—and the scorpion will be restored to its original diet (Isaiah 11:6–9). – Dr. Gordon Wilson,Answers in Genesis.5

Another One?

Okay, so we know there’s both good and bad about present-day scorpions.

Even with the good, they’re still not my favorite creature in God’s Kingdom.

Meanwhile, we spotted a second scorpion at our house – this one was inside our house!

Oh heck no – we need to move.

Remind me to look down before I walk into a dark room.

# # # 

1 Source Credit, [2019] Stanford University. By Stanford News. From “Stanford researchers synthesize healing compounds in scorpion venom”, June 11, 2019. Web. Accessed 27th October, 2023. Retrieved from https://chemistry.stanford.edu/news/stanford-researchers-synthesize-healing-compounds-scorpion-venom

2 Scripture quotation is from the New American Standard Bible (NASB) Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation.

3 Scripture quotation is from the New American Standard Bible (NASB) Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation.

4 Quotation from Dr. Gordon Wilson (PhD, Environmental Science and Public Policy, MS in Entomology) – teacher, writer for Answers in Genesis. “Scorpions — Armed and Dangerous.” Courtesy of Answersingenesis.org. para.4. Web. Accessed 26th, October, 2023. Retrieved from: https://answersingenesis.org/creepy-crawlies/scorpions-armed-and-dangerous/

5 Quotation from Dr. Gordon Wilson (PhD, Environmental Science and Public Policy, MS in Entomology) – teacher, writer for Answers in Genesis. “Scorpions — Armed and Dangerous.” Courtesy of Answersingenesis.org. para.11. Web. Accessed 26th, October, 2023. Retrieved from: https://answersingenesis.org/creepy-crawlies/scorpions-armed-and-dangerous/

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One Day Closer

We Are One Day Closer

One day closer

Israel-Hamas War

No doubt, you’ve seen the awful headlines, but does the Israel-Hamas war signal that our generation is living in the End Times?

The disturbing images and reports on the news are horrific, including the mass murder of women, children, and the elderly.

We are witnessing blatant evil and depravity.

Reading the words of our Savior, we learn that Jesus taught His disciples about birth pains and the end times events to come.

It’s hard to miss the fact that countries are lining up against Israel, as prophesied.

But, there’s a big problem when people engage in date-setting and, in some cases, write books about specific dates.

Jesus said to His followers in Mark 13:

32 But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone.

33 “Watch out, stay alert; for you do not know when the appointed time is. – Mark 13:32-33, (NASB).1

“No one knows” means exactly that –  “no one knows!”

No book author, Christian preacher, false teacher, or church knows exactly when the glorious return of Jesus Christ (His Second Coming) will happen.

If God wanted us as His creation to know, He would have told us.

The Rapture hasn’t even happened yet.

The Church is still here.

Here’s what we do know for sure about God’s timing . . . we are 100% guaranteed, no question, absolutely sure that we are one day closer.

That’s it.

We are one day closer, and Jesus’ return is near – er.

Until His return, the horrific events we are witnessing in the headlines (and more to come) are the result of living in a fallen world.

The world needs Jesus!

The world needs Jesus

Photo by Elianna Gill on Unsplash

One Day Closer, But Why Don’t We Know the Date?

Why didn’t God tell us the date?

God is sovereign.

Only He knows the big picture of events – the beginning and the end.

Since we don’t know the time or date, we should always be ready.

The verse quoted above from Mark 13 is clear – in essence, “stay alert.”

On the one hand, it serves as a vivid reminder that the things of this world are temporary (cf. 2 Peter 3:11–13; 1 John 2:15–17; 3:2–3), and that the redeemed are citizens of an eternal kingdom that is yet to be revealed on earth when the Lord comes in glory (Phil. 3:20–21; Heb. 11:16). On the other hand, it provides a compelling motivation for believers to proclaim the glorious gospel of Christ to those who are perishing, so that they might be saved from the impending judgment of God (cf. 2 Cor. 5:20–21; 2 Peter 3:14–15). – as quoted in preceptaustin.org.2

In the meantime, please pray for the release of the hostages in this brutal war.

We should also continue to pray for God’s will to be done, and that what we’re seeing on the world stage will bring the unsaved around the world to Christ.

It’s only through Jesus Christ, as His Elect, we will have eternal security and safety.

35 Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will tribulation, or trouble, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? 36 Just as it is written:

“For Your sake we are killed all day long;
We were regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.”

37 But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. – Romans 8:35-39, (NASB).3

Come, Lord Jesus.

# # # 

1 Scripture quotation is from the New American Standard Bible (NASB) Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation.

2 Precept Austin quotation is from the Mark 13 Commentary, [2023] Courtesy of Precept Austin, Subheading, “Watch For Him” Web. Accessed 21 October, 2023.

3 Scripture quotation is from the New American Standard Bible (NASB) Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation.

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Too Stressed To Feel Blessed?

Are You Too Stressed To Feel Blessed?

Do you remember those pop quizzes we used to have in high school?

You know the ones.

too stressed to feel blessedWe would sit in class ready for a lesson and then the teacher would tell us to close our books and get ready for a pop quiz.

Those quizzes weren’t “open book” either.

Yikes.

We could see the stress levels rising on each other’s faces.

Considering the way things are going in today’s world, on a national and global level, you’d think everything is a pop quiz.

What are the answers? How are we to respond?

Disturbing situations we’d never think would happen . . . are happening.

Stress levels are high, and depression rates are soaring.1

Are we too stressed to feel blessed?

All the more reason to bend our knees.

God has a sovereign plan for all of history. He is working all times and epochs, as well as our times, after the counsel of His will, for our ultimate good (Eph. 1:11; Rom. 8:28). We can know that when tragedy hits us, God was not asleep or on vacation. His sovereignty is a great comfort in a time of trial. We can know that He has designed our distressing situation to teach us more about what it means to take refuge in Him. – Stephen J. Cole, author and theologian.2

Too Stressed to Feel Blessed? Pray!

Prayer is our opportunity to fellowship with God.

He hears you and me.

In fact, Proverbs 15:29 reminds us, “The Lord is far from the wicked, But He hears the prayer of the righteous.3

Too stressed? PrayIf you are alive, (and obviously you are because you’re reading this), God has a purpose for your life.

Our reason for living . . . is to glorify Him with our hearts, minds, and actions, even as the world around us is seemingly falling apart.

He wants to bless us.

When stressful times come into your life, trust Him to give you the strength that you need to withstand the challenge.

He loves you that much! 

14 For this reason I bend my knees before the Father, 15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name, 16 that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner self, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; and that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and height and depth, 19 and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled to all the fullness of God. – Ephesians 3:14-19, (NASB).4

God is the God of our past, present, and future.

We honor God by trusting Him through all of it – no matter what the stresses are that we face.

To sum up, this is great food for thought from the late Christian missionary, Hudson Taylor:

I am no longer anxious about anything, as I realize that He is able to carry out His will for me. It does not matter where He places me, or how. That is for Him to consider, not me, for in the easiest positions He will give me grace, and in the most difficult ones His grace is sufficient. – Hudson Taylor, Christian missionary to China.5

# # # 

1 Source Credit, [2023] Courtesy of news.gallup.com. By Dan Witters, from “U.S Depression rates Reach New Highs. ” Web. Accessed 13 October, 2023.

2 Steven J. Cole quotation is courtesy of bible.org. from “Psalm 31: The Remedy For Stress.”  April 18, 2013. Web. Accessed October 15, 2023.  Retrieved from https://bible.org/seriespage/psalm-31-remedy-stress

3 Scripture quotation is from the New American Standard Bible (NASB) Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation.

4 Scripture quotation is from the New American Standard Bible (NASB) Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation.

5 Hudson Taylor (1832-1905) quotation. From AZquotes.com. Accessed October 13, 2023. Web. Retrieved October 14, 2023.

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The Majesty of God’s Creative Power

Appreciating The Majesty of God’s Creative Power

God spoke creation into existence

Have you seen it yet?

The International Space Station (or ISS), that is.

It’s a blast to search for it if you know when to look up.

Depending on your location, the time of day, and some other deciding factors, you can see this technological wonder pass overhead in the darkened sky.

Fun fact: Did you know that the ISS travels at a speed of approximately 17,500 miles per hour? – as quoted on the nasa.gov website.1

That’s slightly faster than the average speed limit on some of our Texas highways. 😉

The ISS is amazing, but it’s just one of many other out-of-this-world technological advancements that we can appreciate.

As a nation, we’ve come a long way since 1969.

I remember watching that pivotal moment in history when astronaut Neil Armstrong announced after his moon walk, “that’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.”

Can you imagine the maximum operating power it takes in our modern day to operate the International Space Station?

The interconnecting systems are so complex that it’s hard for even an engineering genius to fully comprehend.

We are blessed with “even greater” than that.

The God of the Bible is the God of all power.

All power and all glory belong to Him.

Job tried, but even His description of God’s power doesn’t come close.

Behold, these are the fringes of His ways;
And how faint a word we hear of Him!
But His mighty thunder, who can understand?”– Job 26:14, (NASB).2

The Majesty of God’s Creative Power – Delight in God

The majesty of God’s creative power is on display every day in the world around us.

No human mind can conceive what it took to design our universe.

God spoke the whole creation into being!

The majesty of God's creative power

The concept of God as the Creator encompasses not only the role of a Designer and Engineer responsible for the intelligibility of the universe but also that of a skilled Artist. Nature can be amazing, almost to the point of incomprehensibility. The splendor of a sunset, the radiance of the stars, and the variety of animals are all evidence of a Creator and Designer. – Dr. Jonathan K. Corrado, PH.D., P.E., Christian theologian, and systems engineer.3

Heavenly Father, by the power of Your Word You made the heavens and the earth.

Thank You for who You are, and for sending us Your Son, Jesus.

# # # 

1 Nasa quotation [2020] Courtesy of Nasa.gov, “Science takes time, even in a lab moving 17,500 miles per hour ” Web. Accessed 30 September, 2023.

2Scripture quotation is from the New American Standard Bible (NASB) Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation.

3Quotation courtesy of The Institute For Creation Research. By  Dr. Jonathan K. Corrado, PH.D., P.E. From “The Beauty of Creation: Created for God’s Own Glory”, September 7, 2023. para. 7. Web. Accessed 27th September, 2023. Retrieved from https://www.icr.org/article/beauty-of-creation

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The Joy Of Early Morning Prayer

Starting Your Day Off Right With Early Morning Prayer

What better way to start the day off right than with early morning prayer.

Rise and shine!

It’s a new day to praise the Lord. 🙂

early morning prayer

How can a person really enjoy a beautiful sunrise or a sunset, a beautiful spring day or even a beautiful winter day, if he can’t thank the One who creates these things? –  Warren Wiersbe, Moody Bible Church.2

Early Morning Prayer – Does Lengthy Equal Better?

Many times, I wake up as early as 4:30 in the morning.

That would have sounded awful to younger me, but I look forward to the early morning hours now.

I relish the peace and the quiet at the start of each new day.

And, as a bonus, in a few hours I get to watch that magnificent sun rise!

For me, it’s the perfect time for praying and seeking God’s wisdom.

Be still, and know that I am God.
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth! – Psalm 46:10, (ESV).3

Do you know who else engaged in early morning prayer?

Jesus!

Mark 1:35 tells us that, “in the early morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house, and went away to a secluded place, and prayed there for a time.”4

How long do our early morning prayers have to be?

That’s between you and God.

Not only does He hear our longer prayers, He also hears our short praises, even a simple, “Thank You Jesus.”

When I first became a Christian, I got a little caught up in that.

I would hear a friend pray a lengthy prayer and it would sound so eloquent.

It didn’t take long for me to realize that it’s not the length of our prayers that matter.

Long or short, eloquent or simple, He hears us!

# # # 

1 Scripture quotation is from the New American Standard Bible (NASB) Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation.

2 Warren Wiersbe quotation from the Psalm 113 Commentary, [2021] Courtesy of Precept Austin. Subheading, “The Responsibility of Praise” Web. Accessed 2 October, 2023.

3 Scripture quotation is from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®, copyright © 2016 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

4 Scripture quotation is from the New American Standard Bible (NASB) Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation.

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