Lessons from Oz: When Your House is Turned Upside Down Matthew 7:24-27
L. Frank Baum wrote “The Wonderful Wizard of OZ.” in 1900. Tradition has it that he was in his office trying to come up with a name for the magical land he was going to write about. He looked at his filing cabinet and saw the drawer marked “O-Z”
Dorothy and her dog Toto find themselves transported to another world by means of a tornado.
Their only hope is The Great and Powerful Oz.
Along the way they meet The Scarecrow, Tin Man, and a Cowardly Lion.
The Wicked Witch of the West wants to stop them.
We will journey through God’s Word over the next several weeks learning some valuable life lessons!
Matthew 7:24-27
“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. 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. 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. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”
A. Storms are Inevitable.
Dorothy was not immune to storms. She was an orphan and now about to experience a life changing storm.
Causes:
Natural
Fallen World
Our Sin
Sin of Others
The Enemy
Unexplainable
Storms come in many forms:
Loss of a loved one
Broken relationships
Disease
Financial Loss
Persecution
Pain and Suffering
Storms come to both the righteous and the wicked
B. Reactions are Natural.
Confusion “Toto, we are not in Kansas anymore.”
Fear of the unknown or the future.
Anger toward God or others.
Doubt about whether God is real, listening, or acting.
Depression due to overwhelming stress.
Bitterness over betrayal by others or a sense of desertion from God.
Guilt over sin that may have led to the disaster.
Joy- there can by joy even in times of storms.
C. Foundations are Critical.
Where will the road you are on lead you to?
Yellow Brick Road? (Led to the Emerald City)
Red Brick Road? (It is never clearly stated where this road led.)
The Bible is a love story with a crimson thread of Jesus from beginning to end.
The things of this world are like sand:
Riches
Fame
Power
Health
Pleasure
We have a scarlet thread of Christ that will lead us.
God’s Word
The Holy Spirit
Wise Counsel
How do people without faith survive? They do not. They crash.
D. Hopes are Eternal
The right foundation produces a godly reaction to inevitable storms producing a hope that is eternal.
The trials and storms of this life are temporary.
Our hope is not in this world.
Peace (It is well with my soul)
When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll;
Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say,
It is well, it is well with my soul.
And Lord, haste the day when the faith shall be sight,
The clouds be rolled back as a scroll;
The trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend,
Even so, it is well with my soul.
Heaven: NO MORE STORMS.
Our hope is in Jesus Christ and heaven that is our destination.
No more cancer.
No more betrayal.
No more sin and temptation.
No more pain.
No more storms.
No more darkness and night.
