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"When
the Storms Rage"
Henry
Wadsworth Longfellow wrote: “Into each life some rain must fall.”
Rain may fall gently at times, however, it also falls
furiously in times of storm.
In our lives, there are many types of storms --
physical, financial, emotional, spiritual, etc. -- and
they all vary in size and intensity.
Storms are the common lot of ALL.
Where
can we turn when the storms of life rage?
Hear
the words of Jesus:
"Therefore
whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and
does them, I will liken him to a wise man who
built his house on the rock:
and the rain descended, the floods came, and
the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not
fall, for it was founded on the rock.
But everyone who hears these sayings of
Mine, and does NOT do them, will be like
a foolish man who built his house on the sand: and the
rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew
and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its
fall" (Matthew 7:24-27).
Into
every life, sooner or later, the rains descend,
the floods come, and the winds blow and beat.
For one man the “house” of his life falls
in ruins, while for another it stands secure.
The difference lies, not in the intensity of
the storm, but in the power to withstand its fury.
The power to withstand the storms of life
depends upon the foundation of one’s life.
In
Jesus’ teaching, the house of the wise man withstood
the storm because his house was built upon the rock. And who is the wise man?
The wise man is one who hears the words of
Jesus and does them (v. 24). Jesus assures us
that no matter what storms may arise, obedience to Him
is the only sure foundation on which to build our
lives – lives that will withstand the test of time
AND the Judgment to follow.
One
begins building upon the Rock through faith
(Hebrews 11:6), repentance (Acts 17:30-31), and
baptism into Christ for the remission of sins
(Acts 2:38). Then,
one must continue to build his “house” -- his life
-- on the Rock by continuing to hear and to
obey the words of Jesus and His inspired apostles.
In
the words of the beloved hymn, “There Stands a
Rock”:
Some
build their hopes on the ever-drifting sand,
Some on their fame or their treasure or their land;
Mine’s on the Rock that forever shall stand,
Jesus, the Rock of Ages.
Upon
what foundation are you building your life?
God
bless you!
David A. Sargent,
Minister
Church of Christ at Creekwood
1901 Schillinger Rd. S.
Mobile, Alabama 36695
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