This past week I went to Dallas, Texas to see a doctor. And it was hot there. 40 degrees. So the hot weather is nothing new to me; it’s just that I don’t like it. And I’m always glad when the cooler weather comes.
Last week we had a major earthquake in Japan. While the earthquake was not here in the Tokyo area, it did shake the place a bit. It even frightened KC and Simone a little bit. It was also in the newspapers around the world, so I sent emails to my friends back home to let them know I’m okay. They were glad to hear that and they assured me that they were praying for me. And if you remember last Sunday there was a little earthquake while we were here in church. We don’t have earthquakes back in Texas. At least up until now we haven’t. And I was aware of these before I came to Japan. In fact my Japanese friend who is a flight attendant with American Airlines, and is from Hiroshima called me in March. She said her mother told her Tokyo is due for a big earthquake. And I think most of you know what I’m going to share with you this morning.
Let me make a few qualifying statements. I am not a prophet. I don’t know if we will ever get a big earthquake in the Tokyo area. I pray that we don’t. But I told my friends in Texas that if we do get a big earthquake, I will see you in heaven.
I also need to share with you that I cannot prevent an earthquake. In our English worship service we are looking at the book of Philippians, and last week I shared from Philippians chapter 4. Let’s turn there for a minute. Verses 6 and 7 tell us not to be anxious for anything but to pray instead. When we pray we can experience God’s peace in the midst of our difficulties.
Our passage today is Psalm 46. If we are putting our trust and security in God, then He will protect us no matter what happens. If you have placed your faith in Jesus Christ then you are assured of God’s protective care over you no matter what happens. And this does not need to apply to earthquakes only. About 4 years ago, it was just another day in America. People went to their jobs, they went to catch their flights and it was just the beginning of the day. As many of you know, 4 airplanes that took off that morning did not reach their destinations. And many people went to their jobs in the
World Trade Center in New York, not knowing that in a few hours those twin towers would not be standing anymore. As an American citizen I can assure you that that was one of the most distressing days in America. People used to hijack airplanes to get the pilots to take them somewhere. Nobody had ever hijacked airplanes and used them to destroy buildings and lives. It affected me because I used to work for American Airlines. Two of our airplanes were involved on September 11 and it affected everyone at my company. Acts of terrorism did happen, but nothing like this. It is still hard for me to understand how something like this could happen. When something like this happens, if your security is God, then I can tell you you will make it through if you are trusting in Him.
I want us to look at several aspects of trusting in God as our strength and security. Verses 1-3 tell us how God is our security. In verse 1 we see God as our refuge and strength. That means that He is the one we come running to. Do you remember when you were little and some bullies tried to beat up on you? Who did you go running to? Probably one of your parents. You found strength and security there. You knew you were safe. KC and Simone come running to me too when they want shelter and protection. We also see in verse 1 that God is our ever present help in trouble. That means He is there RIGHT NOW. He is present with us.
If we know God is our refuge and strength and He’s there right now, what is our part? Look at verse 2. We do not need to fear. Verses 2 and 3 assure us that natural disasters like earthquakes do happen. In late December I flew to Tokyo, and on getting off the plane heard about the tsunamis that happened in Indonesia. Natural disasters do happen. Incidentally in Texas we have tornadoes. Does everyone know what they are? They usually are the result of a severe thunderstorm. They’re funnel clouds that spin very fast and they cause severe damage wherever they touch down. About 5 years ago I had just returned from Sydney Australia, and found out that while I was in Australia, there was a tornado not too far from where I lived. I worked in a hospital in 1979 when there was a bad tornado in Wichita Falls, Texas. Several of the victims were taken to our hospital in Dallas, and I saw the serious injuries that resulted.
When these things happen, who do we turn to? I remember a few weeks ago, at 1:30AM being awakened by an earthquake. I immediately began quoting this Psalm and praying, asking for God’s help and protection.
Whatever happens, remember God is our strength and He is there to help us right now. He will see us through. Can I ask you a question. Are you trusting in something or someone other than God? One thing that I’ve learned in the few months I’ve been in Japan, is that I cannot trust in anything other than God. Because when everything else is gone, He is still there. I don’t know if investing is big in Japan. It is in my country and when I see people put all their security in their stock portfolios, and the stock market collapses and they lose it all. Where do they turn to?
In one of my English classes I asked my students what are they most afraid of. Several said earthquakes. It’s scary enough for me as a Christian, but I wonder what a non Christian does when an earthquake happens. Who do they turn to?
The next point is that God is present with us and will destroy our enemies. Look in verses 4-7. We do not know exactly what was happening at the writing of this Psalm. But we see God’s safety and protection.
In verse 7 we have a river running through the city of Jerusalem. I always think of a river with flowing water as a peaceful place. There is peace and tranquility there. Have any of you been to Israel before. I know that Pastor and Mrs. Wada have been there. In case you don’t know this, there is no river in Jerusalem. But I think this illustrates peace and tranquility wherever God is present. If you have placed your faith in Jesus Christ, then you are assured of peace and tranquility. Because if you do, looking at verse 5 we are assured of God’s help. He is present with us now and He will be there the next day.
In verse 6 we have a war going on. I don’t know specifically what is happening, but look at God’s control over these. He lifts His voice, the earth melts.
Verse 7, shows us God is with us and He is the one who we take refuge in. I think we’re seeing that all over this Psalm. We’ll see this again in verse 11.
If you’re with me this far, I think it is very clear that we are not promised a life that is free of calamities. What we are promised is that God is right there with us to help us, and we are to go to Him for our place of refuge. This is comforting if you are a believer.
My third and last point is that we can take comfort because that God is in control of all things. Even though I don’t like earthquakes I am reminded that God made the heavens and the earth, and He did a lot better job than I ever could. I always like flying over the ocean. Because I look down and see the vast Pacific ocean and realize the earth is much bigger than Japan. I like to fly at night, because I look at the stars, and I am reminded how far away they are and how big they are. I am reminded who made the stars. And when I watch the sunrise, I am reminded that it is God’s doing. And so I know that God made the earth, and even though I do not like earthquakes, I know that God knows about it and He is still in control. I read a little story about an old woman who was very calm and joyful during an earthquake. Most of her neighbors were very much afraid. When they asked the woman if she was afraid, she replied, “No. I rejoice to know that I have a God who can shake the world.”
In verses 8 and 9 we see that God brings about wars and the end of wars. They are within His control. I had a little history lesson a few weeks ago when I learned that in August there were activities all over in Japan to commemorate peace on the 60th anniversary of Hiroshima and the ending of World War II. I shared with a few people that about 45 years ago in my country there was the cold war going on. The United States and Russia were building nuclear weapons that were much more powerful than the atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. And there was constantly the threat of war from Russia which was a communist nation at that time. I am so thankful it never happened, but it was very scary.
I don’t know if you have studied end time prophecy, but as we move closer and closer we read about wars taking place that are much bigger than what we’ve experienced before. But if you read the book of Revelation, you will see that it is God Himself who will bring about the end with the coming of His Son Jesus Christ. And because God is in control we can relax. This is specifically what we are told to do in verse 10. RELAX. Do you ever stop during your busy day and remember who is still sitting on His throne and ruling over this universe? If you truly know God and who He is you can do this. And I think that in the business and turbulence of our lives, we need to do this. And we need to do it often. If you are restless and not experiencing God’s peace then this Psalm is for you.
In this same verse we can relax knowing God will be exalted in the nations and in the earth. As we saw in the previous verse, He will do this forcefully, but He will be exalted. If you are not a believer in Jesus Christ, this may not be comforting to you, but if you are a believer do you look forward to that day when God will be exalted? When we pray the Lord’s prayer remember we pray, Thy Kingdom come.
The psalmist closes this Psalm like he already said in verse 7. He assures us that God is with us and He is the one we take refuge in.
I don’t know if we will get a big earthquake or not. As I said earlier I pray that we don’t. But I know that because I have placed my faith in Jesus Christ, I can look to God as my protector and He will be there to help me. That is comforting because I also know that if I die, I’m going to heaven to be with Him.
Whatever you are trusting in today, let me ask you to make sure your trust is in God. If it is you don’t have to fear.
I’ve been at Soka Evangelical Free Church for 5 months now. I know most of us are Christians but I would be remiss if I did not share this with anyone here today who has never placed their faith in Jesus Christ. The Bible tells us that God created us to enjoy Him and glorify Him. But because man has chosen not to obey God we are unable to do this. The Bible tells us that not to obey God is sin. Sin results in death, separated from God forever. The Bible also tells us that because of God’s love for us, He sent His Son Jesus Christ to pay the penalty for our sins. When He died on the cross, He took our place and died for our sins. By placing our faith and trust in Him He offers us eternal life. That means we can enjoy Him and glorify Him. And we can be assured of His presence with us and He will help us. And best of all, when we die, we will spend eternity with Him. If you have never done this before please do it now.
Although 11 September was a very tragic time for America, I would like to share with you a story. There was a man named Al Braca who worked for a brokerage firm on the 105th floor of the World Trade Center in New York. Al Braca was a follower of Jesus Christ. And he did not particularly like his work, or the place he worked because of being surrounded by non Christians. But he believed that God put him there to testify about Him. Many of Al’s workers were sarcastic with him and called him The Reverend. But these same people came to him for prayer and counsel when they were experiencing difficulties.
I read about that when the airplanes hit the World Trade Center they would not be able to escape. And I read that Al Braca shared the gospel with many of his coworkers who placed their faith in Jesus Christ. These people knew that their lives were about to end. And at that time all that mattered to them would be where they would spend eternity.
Al Braca was one who made God his strength and shelter. God was with him and use him to share his love with many of his coworkers who had no hope.
I don’t know what the future holds for me or for you. But my security is in God. And I know He is present with me right now to help. I can trust Him in an earthquake. He will see me through. And when my life is at it’s end, I’m going to be with Him for eternity. What about you? Can you say the same thing? Make God your strength and refuge.
