The lives of men are dictated to an extent far greater than most men wish to admit, by events beyond their control.  Man rides the ocean of history and does what he can to weather its storms.”
              –Louis L’Amour  (Under the Sweetwater Rim)

    “So the men marveled, saying, ‘Who can this be, that even the winds and the sea obey Him?'”
              –Matthew 8:27 (NKJV)
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         “Well, I left my soul out in the rain
          Lord, what a price, I’ve had to pay
          The storms of life are washin’ me away.”
                   –Randy Travis

I finished reading a book last week that depicted a storm in the middle of the second half of the 19th century.  This storm, a hurricane, wiped out the thriving city of Indianola.  The city at the time was one of the leading ports in Texas, but it laid in ruins only to be hit again a decade later.  Twice, and the city never recovered, though it did cause men to warn Galveston to build a seawall–the warning wasn’t heeded.
    There are all kinds of storms, and they come in different sizes.  I’ve been through hurricanes, tornadoes, hailstorms, snowstorms, blizzards, thunderstorms, windstorms, duststorms, and add to that a storm of a different kind, drought.  There is a key words I used–through.  I’m still here, I wasn’t maimed or killed.
    Then there are the storms of another sort.  I’m speaking of the storms of sickness, sorrow, suffering, depression, despair, finances and debt, marriage, kids and their personal storms, death, and a myriad of other types.  Currently we are in the midst of a virus storm.  We wonder will it ever go away, will like return to normal?
    Right now, stop–listen as I ask you–what about your next storm?  Don’t shake your head for one will surely come.  It may be minor, or it may be major.  It may be sickness or it may be a terror attack.  Storms are coming; storms are here; storms have always come.  How will you prepare yourself?  Let me take you to two men who prepared for the coming storm.

         “Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock.
         “But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall.”
                   –Matthew 7:24-27 (NKJV)

    Two men, both build houses.  Both sought shelter and safety from the outside, a place where they could come home and real safe.  Both faced the same storm.  One held firm through the storm, the other collapsed.  There was a major difference in the two houses–the foundation.  That also showed a character flaw.  One depended upon a foundation built upon the sand–false ideologies, lies, cults, perhaps his own wisdom and because of this foundation when the storm it the house collapsed, and “great was its fall.”  We are not told if anyone was injured or if anyone was killed, just that it was a “great fall.”  The other man, not leaning on his own understanding, but built his house on the firm foundation.  The rock–the Word of God and Jesus Christ.
    One of my favorites stories in the Bible is about a storm.  You might recall it.  Jesus got in a boat and His disciples followed Him.  He must have been very tired for He went to sleep, and while He was sleeping a massive storm arose.  The waves rocked the boat and even covered the boat.  Jesus slept on.  Let’s continue reading,

         “Then His disciples came to Him and awoke Him, saying, ‘Lord, save us! We are perishing!’ But He said to them, ‘Why are you fearful, O you of little faith?’ Then He arose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm.”
                   –Matthew 8:25-26 (NKJV)

Fear struck the disciples because of the storm.  Terror arose in their hearts.  The Master didn’t care about them.  I like the way Jesus handled the situation.  First, He rebuked the disciples for their fear and little faith.  Then, He rebuked the storm bring about a “great calm.”  Who is this man?  He is the rock upon whom you can build your house!
    I don’t know your storm, or the ones you have been through.  I do know that often we do not learn the lessons of the storm.  We want this victory, or we want this to happen, but we often do not see what the Lord is doing.  “Sometimes he works on our inside before he works on our outside.  In doing this, he prepares our hearts for deliverance.  You see, when we’re stuck, our only thought is, “I just want to walk again.’  Jesus’ thought is, ‘I want you to live.’  We think, ‘I want to run.’  Jesus’ thought is, ‘I want you to be whole in body, soul and spirit.'” (David Wilkerson)  
    Build upon the solid rock.  Learn the lessons of the storm.  Perhaps if the people of Galveston would have heeded the warning from Indianola there would not have been 8,000 (or more) people dead in the catastrophe of 1900.

It’s a dangerous thing when a man’s stubbornness makes him act like a fool.”
              –Stephen Bly (Stay Away From That City)

    “I have seen the foolish taking root, But suddenly I cursed his dwelling place.”
              –Job 5:3 (NKJV
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Do you get tired of the antics of the bureaucrats?  I’m sure there are a few that do, but most do not have a fear of God.  Most serve themselves, and will do anything to get power, get more power, and along with that financial gain.  Do they not think that God is watching?  Today, contemplate Psalm 53.  It is a powerful warning to those who have no fear of God.

         1 – The fool has said in his heart, “There is no God.”  They are corrupt, and have done abominable iniquity; There is none who does good.
         2 – God looks down from heaven upon the children of men, To see if there are any who understand, who seek God.
         3 – Every one of them has turned aside; They have together become corrupt; There is none who does good, No, not one.
         4 – Have the workers of iniquity no knowledge, Who eat up my people as they eat bread, And do not call upon God?
         5 – There they are in great fear Where no fear was, For God has scattered the bones of him who encamps against you;
You have put them to shame, Because God has despised them.
         6 – Oh, that the salvation of Israel would come out of Zion!  When God brings back the captivity of His people,
Let Jacob rejoice and Israel be glad. (NKJV)

    This psalm is for the “fool.”  By that I mean the person who does not believe in God, the person has an external religion while acting as if God does not exist, and those who have replaced God in their heart and mind with themselves.  These people are corrupt.  Look at verse 1, they have “done abominable iniquity.”  This would be equivalent to the gay agenda and abortion–abominable.  They may say they are deeply religious yet they practice abominations in the sight of God.  They are fools.
    “All have sinned and come short of the glory of God,” (Romans 3:23) and here we see that all are “corrupt.”  None does good.  Both notice also that God makes a distinction between “workers of iniquity” and “My people”.  Will evildoers never learn?  The answer is a resounding “NO” unless they come to the knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ.  Evil will continue to devour God’s people and God’s ways.  They have no fear of God.
    These people think they are brilliant.  They are the enlightened or in modern language, they are the “woke”.  “Professing to be wise, they became fools.” (Romans 1:22, NKJV)  To see the abominable practices of a fool read the rest of Romans 1.  I like what George Wood says about this Psalm, “This psalm asserts that the real reason persons do not believe in God lies in moral disobedience rather than mental brilliance.”
    Don’t trust the wise for the answer.  Don’t trust the new culture and those who are woke with the answer.  Don’t fear the bureaucrats and become anxious with their threats.  Fear the Lord and rejoice in Him.

         “Are all the foes of Zion fools,
          Who thus devour her saints?
          Do they not know her Savior rules
          And pities her complaints?”
                 –Isaac Watts

Your smile is like the sunrise.  Every time you smile, you pour your warmth all over me.  Every time you laugh, you set my blood on fire.  Every time I see you, I regret every day I have spent without you, and that’s a lot of days for a man to regret.”
              –Jesse Storm (Final Ride for Justice)

    “For I am jealous for you with the jealousy of God himself. I promised you as a pure bride to one husband—Christ.”
              –2 Corinthians 11:2 (NLT)
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              “I never went much on this lovin’;
               I allus was bashful from birth,
               But now to the front I am shovin’,
               An playin’ the game all it’s worth.”
                       –E.A. Brinistool

It’s that time of year again; it seems to roll around about this time every year.  The one day when people swoon, and they spoon by the light of the moon.  Ahhhh, ain’t it sweet.  Do you remember those giddy feelings?  I surely can.  Once I found the right gal, I went hard into the fight.  I shoved my way past other guys, pushed them out of the way, for I was gonna marry this gal I found.  It didn’t take me long to figure that out, by the third date, now it was up to me to convince her.  The persuading took me half a year.  I think she knew it before she acquiesced that night  in August.
    Maybe it was that downpour that we drove through around midnight on the Pennsylvania Turnpike, or maybe she just came to her senses, either way, I pulled over off the road and with the traffic and 18-wheelers flying by I asked that fateful question:  “Will you marry me.”  A year later the knot was tied.  My, my that was back in 1970, whooeee.
    I did have to shove some out of the way.  There was one guy in particular who was infatuated with Annie, so much so it seemed that he was stalking her.  One day I had enough, I pulled him aside in the hallway and told him to scram.   I didn’t want to see him pestering or following her again.  It worked.
    I am so thankful for her, not just on Valentines Day, but everyday.  I am a much better person because of her.  My rough edges she has been able to wear down, and I know how to behave as a gentleman in polite society.  She has always stood the test whenever we had to move or change careers.  It’s a comfort to know that she was standing with me through it all.
    That makes me think of those eyes of fire (Revelation 1:14).  We know He is a jealous God (Exodus 20:5).  He is looking down from heaven, watching the world try and taint His bride.  Those eyes of fire are burning for two reasons:  first, the desire He has for His bride.  He has gone to prepare a place for her, and is ready to come to carry her to His home.  I’m sure He is more anxious than I was.  Second, His eyes flash fire for He sees the world trying to sully her.  It is trying to dirty her, shame her, trick her, deceive her into not being faithful and true.  Jesus will not allow this to happen anymore than I would allow someone to stalk my girl.  His countenance is shining brightly and He is brandishing His sword.
    Just as it took a half year to persuade Annie to marry me, and then almost another year before the marriage took place so it has been with the Lord.  He has been gone preparing a place, now He is ready to come back and claim His bride.  The table is spread in heaven, the food is being prepared, all that is left is to sound the trumpet and take her to His house.

A man was what he did, how he shaped up at work, or against trouble.”
              –Louis L’Amour  (Tucker)

    “So he called ten of his servants and gave them ten minas. ‘Put this money to work,’ he said, ‘until I come back.’”
              –Luke 19:13 (NIV)
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I can remember sermons being preached regarding the ascension of Jesus to Heaven.  At least every year, there was a message on Ascension Day, but in the last score of years I cannot recall a sermon.  Now, that doesn’t mean one wasn’t preached, it is just that there is nothing there to jog my memory concerning it.  However, it is one of the most important days in history.  The ascension prefaces the Book of Acts.

         “And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel, who also said, ‘Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven.'”
                   –Acts 1:10-11 (NKJV)

    Jesus, the Word from the beginning, who had departed His throne, leaving His glory there had come earth in humility as a man, a baby, helpless, vulnerable.  Now look at the scene; He ascends Christlike.  Angels heralded His birth, the universe was notified.  His ascension takes place with His disciples, and the two angels stand there and ask them a simple question.  There was no fanfare, no cheering–Jesus was going back to assume His duties as the King of kings and Lord of lords.  George H. Morrison wrote, “The event that ends the earthly ministry of Jesus begins the ministry upon the throne.”  Jesus is now sitting on the right hand of the Father making intercession for us.
    I have always thought that one of the issues that Jesus faced on earth was that His glory wanted to return to Him.  He laid it aside, but Satan tempted Him and I think the glory wanted to return.  On the Mount of Transfiguration there is a feature that Peter, James, and John saw when His face began to glow–His glory wanting to return.  He had to lay it aside for no man can live and look upon God in all His glory.  Now, with the ascension He was going back to clothe Himself once again, and forever, with it.
    “Jesus had to leave them [disciples] as the self-limited Jesus who had taken on our humanity.  As the glorified Christ He commanded all power in heaven and earth which He had promised would be released in prayer in His name” (Lloyd J. Ogilvie).  Notice that this takes place at the beginning of the Book of Acts; the rest of the book shows the power of the ascending Lord beginning with the sending of the Promise on Pentecost.
    Look at the angels’ words, “why do you stand gazing…”  Jesus is gone to Heaven, back to His throne, now it is time for them to get on with His work on earth.  They were to tarry for the Holy Spirit.  Remember back to the Transfiguration, there was talk of wanting to stay on the mount, but Jesus said that there was work to be done back in the valley.  Don’t gaze, but work until He comes.  That is the second part of their statement, “He will come back in like manner.”

         “Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.”
                   –1 Thessalonians 4:17 (NKJV)

He ascended into the clouds to Heaven and in like manner He shall return to catch up His bride.  This is not the Second Coming, but the Rapture of the Church and it will be for His disciples.  The Second Coming will be heralded and every eye shall see Him.
    We are to occupy.  Jesus has come to an end of his earthly ministry, but is with us always.  One more thing to ponder, at the ascension there were unknown disciples.  Two will be named shortly afterward, and one will take the place of Judas–Matthias.  They had to fulfill the obligations and requirements of a disciple.  Before this time Matthias was not mentioned, now he is one of the chosen.
    One more thought:  there is purpose in God’s delay in returning.  Think about it, the disciples thought His return was imminent.  If it had been there would be no hope for us.  Throughout church history, the return of the Lord was thought to be close at hand.  If the rapture had occurred during one of those periods, we would not have had the opportunity to accept Jesus as Savior.  There is reason for His delay, until the last one has accepted Him.