Surviving Life’s Storms

Illustration: Having lived in the middle-east for a long time, I have experienced the impact of torrential rains, flash floods and other natural disasters which are not only life threatening but impact the nation (s) otherwise. This illustration by Christ would stir the hearts and minds of all the listeners. They exactly understood what Jesus was talking about. I have seen …

2. Anchor to what doesn’t move (v. 25a)

In Judea, and in all countries in the neighborhood of the tropics, the rain sometimes falls in great torrents, producing rivers, which sweep away the soil from the rocky hills; and the houses, which are built of brick only dried in the sun, of which there are whole villages in the east, literally melt away before those rains, and the land-floods occasioned by them. There are three general kinds of trials to which the followers of God are exposed; and to which, some think, our Lord alludes here: First, those of temporal afflictions, coming in the course of Divine Providence: these may be likened to the torrents of rain. Secondly, those which come from the passions of men, and which may be likened to the impetuous rivers. Thirdly, those which come from Satan and his angels, and which, like tempestuous whirlwinds, threaten to carry everything before them. He alone, whose soul is built on the Rock of ages, stands all these shocks; and not only stands in, but profits by them.

God promised, "Yet once more I shake not only the earth, but also heaven." He guarantees "the removal of those things that are being shaken" in order that "the things which cannot be shaken may remain." We have embraced an unshakeable kingdom, therefore "let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire" (Heb. 12: 26-29, NIV).

Illustration: Monday, November 15th as I watched the news late morning, (it was Nov. 15th night) they were reporting live from Delhi about a building (with numerous apartments) collapsed in Delhi which was very close to the river bed. Number of people were killed with many being injured and some missing. Last summer they had had enormous amount of rain resulting in a flood of areas of Delhi surrounding the main river. Apparently the river bed doesn’t have rocks but is composed of sandy soil. Moisture had invaded the basement. What could one expect when the building was not grounded on a rock(s). Obviously it collapsed! That’s what happens to our lives when we are not anchored on Christ who doesn’t move but gives us strong foundational support.

3. Remember that your Christ is greater than your crisis (v. 25b) [1 Corinthians 10: 4]

These several metaphors of "rain", "floods", "stream", and "winds", may design the temptations of Satan, the persecutions of the world, the corruptions of a man’s own heart, and the errors and false doctrines of men; from all which such a man is safe, who is built upon the rock Christ Jesus; see Isa_32:2 not but that the rain of temptation may descend upon him, with great violence and force, but shall not beat him down; he shall be made able to bear the whole force of it; the gates of hell cannot prevail against him; the floods of persecution may be cast after him, but shall not carry him away; the stream of corruption may run strong against him, yet shall not overset him; and the wind of divers and strange doctrines may blow hard upon him, but not cast him down: some damage he may receive by these several things, but shall not be destroyed; he may be shaken by them, but not so as to be removed off of the foundation, on which he is laid; yea, he may fail from some degree of the steadfastness of his faith, but not so as to fail totally and finally; the reason is, because he is founded on the rock Christ Jesus, which is sure and immoveable: whence it appears that such a man acts the wise and prudent part, and may be truly called "a wise man".