3/27

Numbers 35:33

³³You shall not pollute the land in which you live, for blood pollutes the land, and no atonement can be made for the land for the blood that is shed in it, except by the blood of the one who shed it.

The tribe of Levi was given cities to dwell in within the other tribes. These cities were called cities of refuge. If someone accidentally killed a person, he or she could flee to one of these cities and be protected from anyone seeking to avenge the death. Jesus told us that if we hate our brother we are guilty of murder in our heart. Jesus is our city of refuge where our heart can be changed.

There is another lesson to be found in this passage. Pollution is a big topic today. It is only common sense that we should care for our environment. But what baffles me is that the more vociferous about pollution people become, the more trash I see along the roadways. It is the "everyone-but-me" syndrome.

The real pollution of a land is the shedding of innocent blood. We have more shedding of truly innocent blood in our abortion centers than at any time in history, and this is happening worldwide. We are polluting the entire planet. Those who shed innocent blood include all those involved, from the parents to the doctor to the lawmakers and voters that allow it to continue. This is one reason that I believe we are in the Last Days. If God drove the Canaanites from their land because of this, and threatened to do the same to Israel if they shed innocent blood, what should we expect from the hand of God?

There is little to no fear of God today. However, God has not changed. Armageddon will come. In the words of the Apostle Paul, "Because of these, the wrath of God is coming" (Colossians 3:6).

Consider: If I believe the judgments of God are coming upon the earth, how should I live today?