Matthew 7:24-27 NIV
“Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. 26 But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. 27 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”
Panic and fear are horrible houseguests and lousy motivators. With the current unease in the financial markets and the uncertain political future in our country, even mature believers are finding it difficult not to panic or make decisions based on fear. I believe these times are meant to shake everything that can be shaken and to reveal those things that have been established on biblical principles. Jesus told us this would happen. This is the hour to put the teachings of Jesus to the test. It does seem like the rain is coming down in buckets and the wind is blowing with hurricane force. These storms will reveal what is established on Christ. The only reason we should be afraid is if we have not established our families, our finances and our faith on the proven principles of Scripture. I am convinced this is the finest hour for the local church.
Remember, without faith, it is impossible to please God. Now is the time to pray fervently, give generously, serve willingly, love always and stand firm. The testing of our faith will produce a pure and spotless bride, free from the corruption of our world. Make no decisions that are based on fear and refuse to panic. The Rock has never been swept out to sea or destroyed by the winds of chaos. While institutions and governments may crash, God is faithful to provide and defend His church and His bride.
October 22, 2008 at 6:32 pm
Faith, I’d propose, is the modality that God placed in our hearts/spirits that, once made alive through the power of the Holy Spirit at conversion, allows us humans to see BEYOND this three-dimensional world (and its visible, touchable, “hearable” components) into the FOUR- (or n-) dimensional world that is the Kingdom of the Heavens, or the Kingdom of God.
An instrument pilot taking off and climbing up through a layer of clouds before breaking out into the bright sunshine above those clouds could see only the airport and its foggy surroundings upon takeoff, but he knew (by a faith of sorts) that a “new world” of flight was awaiting him once he broke out “on top” of the clouds.
Jesus’ invitation and challenge 1,975 years ago was to transfer our trust from merely our 3-D senses and experiences and begin to exercize trust (faith) in a new reality, a whole different world “beyond” / above this one.
When we look up and see a heavy chandelier appearing to hang from a flimsy ceiling, we know that the chandelier is anchored to something stronger and more significant ABOVE the ceiling panels, even though we cannot see it. We know by a faith of sorts that the girders or superstructure of the attic is providing the strength.
In these days of three-dimensional turmoil, we must keep our eyes on the unseen (by 3-D eyes) Kingdom of Heaven rather than the kingdom of this world. Therein comes our confidence by the promises of God.
“Now faith is the assurance of {things} hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” (Heb 11:1)
We need to keep our eyes of faith on the unseen world, the sunshine above the clouds, the girders above the flimsy ceiling tiles. That’s where ETERNAL reality resides, beyond this 75-year existence. That’s where our King sits on His throne, The Father beside The Son, looking “down” and encouraging us to press on through the challenges.
We’re in Good Hands, and it’s not Allstate 🙂
October 30, 2008 at 5:53 pm
One thing that I am a little guilty of is praying only when I need something or feal fear. I know that I should just trust in God and do not spend my life worrying about things that just don’t matter. I know that I’ve come a long way (New Life Church has helped me do that) and I feel that God is asking me to come a little further.
Often I find myself asking God what is my purpose on earth – it is a question that I just can’t seem to get an answer to. I drift aimlessly through life, a day passes, a week passes, and then another year has gone by and I am still asking the same question. God will not reach down and just pull me up, I have to meet him half way. Maybe that is the secret.