- Matthew 8:26 (KJV)
Here on the Eastern Seaboard this day, all eyes are warily watching the Atlantic. We are now in the most active period of hurricane season and, like clockwork, great storms are forming and moving toward the west. One in particular, Hurricane Florence, right now has her eyes set on a potential direct hit on the United States. She is powerful, fickle and could end up nearly anywhere from South Carolina to New England, but her course is still not certain. In fact, with hurricanes nothing is ever certain and it's why we call them fickle. They seem to have a mind of their own which keeps millions on edge until the last minute.
But storms like hurricanes, tornadoes, blizzards and other events in nature are just a few of the storms within our earthly sphere. What about the internal storms we face such as making choices between good and evil and how a bad choice creates a storm which can destroy our life and soul? And why are we so easily frightened by earthly things and look for human solutions which never really fulfill our need? Just like Jesus said to His Disciples above when He walked to them on the waters of the Sea of Galilee, saved Peter from drowning when he faltered in his trust, and asked why they had such little faith. Well, it's because they like we today, are mere sinful mortals and we just can't fully take care of ourselves yet we don't like to admit it. We think we have all the answers until something goes awry and then we often seek solace from the wrong source.
Whatever makes you fearful, be it a major storm like a hurricane or the storm of conflict within your heart and soul, take it to Jesus. He is the one who can comfort you and ease your fears. After all, He died for each of us to give us the opportunity to live forever in His Kingdom. All we have to do is believe in Him by faith and live for Him in this world. Then your fears will melt away, your future will be assured and you can deal with whatever you must face, even a hurricane.
Sometimes the storms of life are a test, often delivered by the Evil One who was banished from heaven to live on earth and try and work his evil ways on wayward hearts. He is a beguiler and can take many forms. Perhaps he is the Captain of the hurricane, steering it to create destruction and death. But whatever storm we my face, if we face it with the Lord in our heart and at our side, we can be comforted knowing that this life we are living, just a blip on the timeline of earthly life, gives us the opportunity to make the decision of a lifetime if we choose the Lord. And if we do, then we will depart this life for a life and place so beautiful and so joyful that it's beyond our wildest dreams.
I know what choice I made. How about you? There will be no hurricanes in that place, only fair winds and following seas.