Monday, August 30, 2010  02:49 AM

From wire reports

JAKARTA, INDONESIA — A volcano in western Indonesia spewed hot lava and sand high into the sky in its first eruption in 400 years.

The eruption of Mount Sinabung in North Sumatra province sent sand and ash up to a mile high, said government volcanologist Surono, who uses only one name. He said Mount Sinabung last erupted in 1600.

As many as 10,000 people have fled the area.

As I read this news blurb this morning I couldn’t help but think how the very nature that we have as human beings parallels the devastation that nature can bring.

I was reminded of Mt St Helens in May 1980.  At the time of that eruption I happened to be visiting friends in Longview, Washington and woke up to my car covered with ash.  That was something I had never seen!

The devastation left by Mt St Helens was an incredible sight to see.

Mt St Helen was 9,677 feet high before the eruption and 8,363 feet after.

It produced the largest landslide in recorded history.

The lateral blast produced temperatures as high as 660 degrees F and the power of 24 megatons of thermal energy, snapped 100 year old trees like toothpicks.

Those are real facts. Real facts about the “Power of Nature”

What are the facts about our Human Nature?

The Bible has many definitive lists of natural human tendencies . . .

Envy, Strife, Division, Unforgiveness, Judgment, Immorality just to name a few.

The Apostle Paul said . . .

“For when we were controlled by the sinful nature, the sinful passions aroused by the law were at work in our bodies, so that we bore fruit for death.” Rom 7:5-6

The fact is we have a sinful nature.  The fact is we are controlled by our sinful nature, before Christ comes into our lives.

Our “Natural” tendency to give in to sin is, well . . . . “Natural”

But when Christ comes into our lives our “Spirit” is awakened and connected to “His Spirit” and now we don’t have to give in to our old sinful nature.

“Oh I’m like this because . . . . My parents, my environment, my upbringing etc.”

Our sinful nature has the potential not only to bring devastation to our lives and the lives around us, but it also gives us plenty of excuses for lack of change.

We don’t have to be controlled by our sinful nature.  We can be controlled by our “Spiritual” nature.

How do we do that?

King Solomon said . . .

“Can a man scoop fire into his lap without being burned? (Proverbs 6:27)

Don’t play with fire!

The fact is we have a God that doesn’t want us burned.  We have a God that is here for us.  We have a God that can and does help us.

We just need to get to know Him and the “Power of His Nature”

As we’re headed into the new season let this also be a new season for you.  If there are natural fires burning in you that you know have the potential to bring devastation to you, and those you care about, you need to know that He is there for you.  Just be real with Him.  The “Nature” of God will direct you to real help.

“I lift up my eyes to the hill – where does my help come from? My help comes from the LORD, Maker of heaven and earth” Psalm 121:1-2

Learning, from the . . . “Nature of things”