Godly-Tips: A HEARTFELT THANKSGIVING

  

In the days of old, altars are raised to different deities and for different purposes. An altar serves as a platform where communication is being established between man and the deities. Altars could be raised to appease the gods after an offense has been committed against the gods, or, to appreciate the gods after a perceived benevolent act from the gods has been received, and, also to seek the gods in a quest to get a solution to certain problems. But, Noah built an altar unto the true God in a heartfelt thanksgiving service for God's goodness towards him and his household. 

Nowadays, the same is still in practice when we gather before the altar of God in our different churches offering thanksgiving unto Him, asking Him for the forgiveness of our sins, and asking for His divine intervention in certain areas of our lives.

Thanksgivings have been offered in different forms, but, when it is heartfelt, we must know that it cannot be the common, usual, and popular way of rendering thanksgiving to God. It has to be original! 

Therefore, a heartfelt thanksgiving is a sincere, an unfeigned, non-hypocritical, and a genuine thanksgiving that comes directly from the deepest bottom of the heart. 

Please permit me to say there are different types of thanksgiving programs here on earth; some are just a mere gathering to merry, where people wine and dine. Some are just avenues to showcase our different types of beautiful and expensive attire. Some are simply a platform for competition and some are just a routine that must be observed. 

But, there is a thanksgiving service that is void of all mundane purpose where God is the only reason for the service and every activity is simply centered on God and God alone. Such is the thanksgiving service organized by Noah having survived with his household, the horrible flood that destroyed the earth in his days. Genesis 8:20, "And Noah built an altar unto the LORD; and took of every clean beast, and every clean fowl, and offered burnt offerings on the altar".

To establish our point further, let us look at the account of Cain and Abel when they offered their gifts unto God in a thanksgiving service.  Genesis 4:3-5, "And in process of time, it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the LORD. 4, And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the LORD had respect unto Abel and to his offering: 5, But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell". Cain offered unto God fruits that are as good as condemned, fruits that are supposed to be left on the ground for animals to feed on. This is what Cain deemed fit to offer unto God, but God deserves our best at all times because there is nothing we have that was not given to us. John 3:27, "John answered and said, A man can receive nothing, except it be given him from heaven".  

However, Abel offered of the firstlings (first fruit) of his flock unto God and God was pleased with it.

Results indeed may vary when thanksgiving is rendered differently as described above. For instance; people will get drunk and pay several visits to the toilet when thanksgiving is simply based on merriment. Someone will also be recognized as the most powerful and expensive dresser at the end of a thanksgiving that is centered on showcasing our fashion senses. Another person will emerge a winner at the end of every thanksgiving where the competition takes the center stage. And, when it is a routine, it will always end, just as usual, captioned in total boredom. 
But, when it is heartfelt and directed only to God, God takes the center stage and respond by manifesting His power to do and undo. Noah offered a heartfelt thanksgiving to God and the result explains better the point we are trying to drive home. Genesis 8:21, "And the LORD smelled a sweet savour, and the LORD said in his heart, I will not again curse the ground any more for man's sake; for the imagination of man's heart is evil from his youth; neither will I again smite any more everything living, as I have done".

HOW DO I KNOW NOAH OFFERED A HEARTFELT THANKSGIVING?

Well, I know that God is not a man and He can not be mocked. He is a Spirit and beyond our outward dispositions, He sees our hearts.

Jeremiah 17:10, "I the LORD search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings". 

Simply put, what you give is what you get. Beyond our body dispositions, God sees deep down into our hearts and it does not matter how much we pretend, He can not be deceived. 1 Samuel 16:7, "But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart".

Moreover, God's response towards the offering of Noah speaks volumes to prove the authenticity of the thanksgiving. The aftereffect of the which got God provoked to reverse the irreversible by withdrawing the curse He previously placed on man for his disobedience and cancelling the punishment thereabout. Genesis 8:21, "And the LORD smelled a sweet savour, and the LORD said in his heart, I will not again curse the ground any more for man's sake; for the imagination of man's heart is evil from his youth; neither will I again smite any more everything living, as I have done".

Without any further arguments, this high level of response garnered as a result of the sacrifice to God tells us more about the kind of thanksgiving offered by Noah.

POWERFUL EFFECTS OF A HEARTFELT THANKSGIVING?

1. God is provoked to change His mind even after He might have decided to be hard on us for one reason or the other. Genesis 8:20, "And the LORD smelled a sweet savour, and the LORD said in his heart, I will not again curse the ground any more for man's sake; for the imagination of man's heart is evil from his youth; neither will I again smite any more everything living, as I have done".
2. Curse would be reversed to blessing. Genesis 8:20, "and the LORD said in his heart, I will not again curse the ground any more for man's sake; for the imagination of man's heart is evil from his youth".
3. General punishment and simultaneous death of all living can no longer occur. It was abolished, canceled, and life was restored from death. Genesis 8:20, "neither will I again smite any more everything living, as I have done". Looking at the world around us today, it is obvious, the present world is worse than the days of Noah. Howbeit, God is yet to unleash His anger on earth as He did in the days of Noah credit to His declaration in the scripture above. This however is made possible having offered His only begotten son in sacrifice for the sins of the world. Therefore, Jesus has been made a propitiation for our sins, meaning that each time we go against the commandment of God and commit sin, Jesus is always at the right hand of God pleading on our behalf making it impossible for God to release judgement as required.                Aside from this, there is no way what happened in the days of Noah will not repeat itself because God is a just God and can not behold iniquity. But, God put an end to this when He offered His only begotten son to die for mankind. It will be very unwise today to reject the offer of salvation that has been presented to all men.
4. The timely judgment of individuals according to their works. Genesis 8:22, "While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease".
5. Wholesomeness healing from all deadly diseases. Luke 17:11-19, "And it came to pass, as he went to Jerusalem, that he passed through the midst of Samaria and Galilee. 12, And as he entered into a certain village, there met him ten men that were lepers, which stood afar off: 13, And they lifted their voices, and said, Jesus, Master, have mercy on us. 14, And when he saw them, he said unto them, Go shew yourselves unto the priests. 15, And it came to pass, that, as they went, they were cleansed. 16, And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, and with a loud voice glorified God, And fell on his face at his feet, giving him thanks: and he was a Samaritan. 17, And Jesus answering said, Were there not ten cleansed? but where are the nine? 18, There are not found that returned to give glory to God, save this stranger. 19, And he said unto him, Arise, go thy way: thy faith hath made thee whole".