The Sermon on the Mount is a well-rounded message that never ends. It has just about everything we need to know to live right. The truth and facts are there about life and about God. Here we’re reminded of something we really know but forget. It is His sun and His rain.
Matthew 5:45 “That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.”
Jesus is speaking about the laws in effect at that time. He said “you’ve heard that it’s been said.” He was applying their moral traditions at that time to his words. What they “heard that had been said” was probably taught in their synagogues. Love your neighbor. However, they thought it was all right to hate their enemies. This was against Old Testament scripture, but they were under the heavy arm of Roman rule. Although wrong, in one sense you can understand why they adopted that principle. Even today we justify hating people. We’re to hate evil and sin but not people. We’re not to despitefully use anyone. It’s tough. Human nature wants to turn like for like. However, as Christians, we’re to give the unexpected response, the different one. Verse 45 reminds us of something about God. He still rules in heaven and earth. He’s still God and in control of the blessings whether they are on the just or the unjust.
The sun gives us life. It’s essential to heat. We’re the right amount of distance from it to live. We can’t make it without the sun OR the rain. Before we need food, we need water, but we need both to survive. Jesus reminds us of whose sun it is. It’s not mine or yours. Whether we are wicked or living close to the Lord is of no effect to this. The sun is God’s, and he wants us to know who is in charge of both the sun and the rain. “He maketh HIS sun on rise in the evil and on the good.”
Learn something. Life seems upside down. We know how much better off we are if we’re saved. We avoid sin; we keep our sins confessed. Yet day to day we have troubles and trials. It seems as if the promises of God are not working. The devil whispers his propaganda. “Look how good the wicked have it.” Look around. Sure enough, those who mock sin are prospering. They have a good life. Here you are trying to live for the Lord; you aren’t prospering; you’re lonely. You’ve been shortchanged. The devil says “See there. God is being better to them than he is you.” If we listen, it will get us down.
We all know people who have looked around and said it’s not worth it. NEVER SAY THAT! We’ve been down these roads before and made it. The devil will have us focus on how much rain and sun the wicked receive and how little we receive. He loves to do that. Are THEY really having it better? They do smile. The do enjoy the pleasures of sin to the hilt. They appear happy and poised. Here we are us old, pitiful Christians. We’re so denied. That is exactly what the devil wants us to think. Jesus perceived this for the crowd that day as much as he does for us right now.
The sunshine and rain that fall are not mine. It doesn’t mean the lost won’t get it. It doesn’t mean our life will be smooth. We are to endure as soldiers. What’s the use? It’s better to let go and live in sin. Living for the Lord is a whole lot more if we’d just realize the truth. The prosperity of the wicked is transparent. Remember things do not appear as advertised. The image of sin is appealing. The fruit Adam and Eve ate was much more appealing than it was tasty. It still got them knocked out of the Garden.
We feel like God ought to be better to us. HE IS! There will be a balancing day. God is just, fair, good, and deliberate. He’s as fair to the most wicked as he is to us. If the sun shines on those who curse him, is it fair? It is. God loves this world. Justice will be served in eternity. God doesn’t bless sin, but his blessings shine on the unjust by the same mercy that we receive them. An unsaved person can’t look around and say God is better to the Christian than he is me. He shines on the just and the unjust. That excuse can never be used against God. No one can ever look God in the face and say “if you’d blessed me more I would have gotten saved.” He blessed us before he saved us. It wasn’t because we deserved it. He simply showed us mercy.
Our failure is recognizing we are all equal in God’s sight. One day every knee will bow. All will have to say God was good. His mercy is as impartial as his judgment. None of us deserves his mercy, but the evil in the world receive it just like you and I do. The pleasure of serving sin eventually tears you apart. Our pleasure is much higher. We have the pleasure of the Holy Spirit, of fellowship with God and each other, and it’s all because we’re children of God. God so loved all, not just those he knew would be saved.
If God wanted to stop the sun right now, he could. If he wanted to stop his blessings, he could. We have more now in our valley than we ever had on the mountaintop of sin. God is good to everybody and none can say otherwise.
Don’t focus on the sun and rain of the wicked. Focus on your sun and rain. You have real riches. You’re getting much more than you think. You see the sun through a prism with colors like you’ve never seen before you were saved. Be thankful God causes HIS sun to fall on the just and the unjust. It means you’ll have enough to make it.
Remember how many rain drops and how much sunshine you have. See the reality of the condemnation of the wicked. The unsaved will go to hell with God being good to them.
It is not my sun. It is HIS Sun. Let’s live everyday counting those raindrops in the beautiful sunshine of God.
And enjoy them.
Adwolfe Freewill Baptist Church 