It was a land of splintered peaks, of deep, dry gorges, of barren mesas burnt by the suns of a million torrid summers. The normal condition of it was warfare. Life here had to protect itself with a tough, callous rind, to attack with a swift, deadly sting. Only the fit survived.”
–William MacLeod Raine (Gunsight Pass)
“Salt is good; but if the salt has losts its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is neither fit for the land nor for the dunghill, but men throw it out. He who has ears to hear, let him hear!”
–Luke 14:34-35 (NKJV)
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My Pastor always preaches good sermons, but last Sunday bordered on great. I am going to borrow some thoughts from it as I write this morning‘s Echo. His text was from Luke 8:22-25, where the disciples are being overcome by the storm and Jesus is asleep in the back of the boat. Think about this, in fact, it might be more real than we think. Storms come into our lives and often catch us by surprise. Yes, yes, the media/weather people keep us informed, but who would have suspected that last week our area would have accumulated more than twenty inches of rain? We have tornado watches and warnings, but that doesn’t mean that we are fully prepared should one swoop down where we are. As Pastor preached, storms can even press the most experienced. Some of those in the boat were experienced sailors, but with this storm, they feared for their lives. They forgot, or they didn’t realize the magnitude of the Person in the boat with them. And that is a lesson for us: “God is bigger than any storm we may ever face.”
“God’s intention for our life is always bigger than the storm.” There are several things we could discuss here regarding His intention. We could throw in career, goals, family, material goods, the image of His Son, and on. However, one of His intentions is to get up to heaven to be with Him. In regard to this He will help and guide. Read through the Psalms of David, how God provided for him. The enemy of our soul intends for storms to confuse us, to bring us fear and anxiety, to add chaos to our lives, and even, if possible, to destroy us. But, remember! God’s intentions are bigger than the storm–He is there with us in the midst of them. We can be fully confident that God who began the good work in us will bring it to completion (Philippians 1:6).
The third point of his sermon: “God’s inclination is bigger than our storm.” The disciples were losing control of the ship, as often we lose control of the situation we find ourselves in–the storms that come into our lives can send us out of control as we are at wit’s end. The situation, the circumstance, the issue, the problem, the turmoil, the terror, the overwhelming storm can drive us into despair. Finally, the disciples realized who was in the boat with them, and they went to Jesus, no, they scurried to him with their anxieties and fears. And what did the Lord do, He arose to meet the storm. There was no fear in Him. He wasn’t anxious or concerned. In fact, as our Pastor said, the original Greek indicates that He was very calm and passive when He stood to meet the storm. He was tranquil and the water’s became as calm as the Lord’s spirit. Think of this–if God can alter the laws of nature there is not a problem that He cannot handle.
I skipped the second part of the message because I want us to dwell, meditate, and contemplate upon it. Perhaps you have thought of this before, but it hit me last Sunday. “God’s interpretation is bigger than the storm.” The disciples were afraid; Jesus was sleeping. The storm caused them anxiety; Jesus was resting in peaceful slumber. The storm was not as big to Jesus as it was to the disciples–there was a different perspective. In the midst of our crisis we may bemoan our circumstance and wonder how we are going to survive, but God–He never sleeps nor slumbers and He is there. He sees the beginning from the end. Remember, He is omniscient, omnipresent, and omnipotent. He is not bound by time or space. He recognizes things that are in the storm that we cannot see. He knows the height of the waves and the structure of our character. Perhaps the storm came to shore up a weak place in our character.
Greg A. Lane, wrote, “Every day we are faced with things that try to obstruct our view of Jesus. We must be determined that nothing will stand in the way between us and the Master.” I wrote that because of one of the most alarming Scriptures I pondered about on Tuesday and used in the Echo. It is from Jeremiah, and it contains a warning and guidance. “Thus says the LORD: ‘Stand in the ways and see, and ask for the old paths, where the good way is, and walk in it; then you will find rest for your souls. But they said, “We will not walk in it.”‘” (6:16, NKJV) The way is there, don’t let anything–storm or miniscule item–block your view of Jesus. There is a choice before you–continue to follow the “progressives”, follow those that detract or add to the Bible OR look and seek for the old paths. Walk in the way the God has intended, then you will find rest, peace, and contentment. Don’t let anything take your eyes off the One who is there!