Waterlogged and Spiritual Fog

Jesus tells a story in Matthew 7 relevant to our recent Nashville freak flood incident. From the Message interpretation, "These words I speak to you are not incidental additions to your life, homeowner improvements to your standard of living. They are foundational words, words to build a life on. If you work these words into your life, you are like a smart carpenter who built his house on solid rock. Rain poured down, the river flooded, a tornado hit - but nothing moved that house. It was fixed to the rock. But if you just use my words in Bible studies and don't work them into your life, you are like a stupid carpenter who built his house on the sandy beach. When a storm rolled in and the waves came up, it collapsed like a house of cards."

Whether or not we realize it, this flood was a test of faith for many people. The flood was not sent by God to destroy our city in order to find out who still had faith after devastation. However, in the same way that God allowed storms, raids, disease, and destruction to rain down on Job in the Bible book Job, God allows the world to throw storms at us because we have caused the earth's groans. If you think for even a second that we can live however we want without consequence, then you are a fool. God allowed this flood to happen because natural disasters are a consequence of mankind's sin and rebellion against God. Floods, tornadoes, earthquakes, etc. are all our fault for rejecting God and living independently of His will. The Bible can handle the questions people have stemming from natural disasters because God can handle our sin that we fail to acknowledge and confess.

Know this: many people in this city survived the flood without trusting in God and His providential care. I read a quote recently from someone unknown that said, "Sometimes God calms the storm, and other times God lets the storm rage and calms His people." When disaster strikes, God calms His people and gives the human-logic-defying peace and grace to conquer heartbreak and loss of physical possessions with faith, joy, peace, and love.

This world is not our home, and disasters make us put our money where our mouth is. If we confess Christ but mourn the loss of anything we can't take with us to heaven, then we're showing what we truly care about. Listen to me, my friends: God is love, and He is the only One worthy of our hope and trust. He cares for us, goes with us through valleys of despair, and leads us as our Good Shepherd who knows our needs and comes to rescue us from wolves when we wander off. He loves His people more than you and I love each other, and the only way to learn how to love someone more is to learn more about how much God loves us!

This waterlogged city revealed that a spiritual fog exists, keeping many families and individuals from trusting in Christ because when disaster struck, their hope was in homes built on sandy beaches rather than solid rock. Our church has been planted in this community in order to help people know how to build on the solid rock of faith in Jesus Christ: Savior of mankind and King of Heaven. If we don't understand our purpose as born-again believers, then we will simply drift through a lifetime of spiritual fog as empty shells of lost potential. You can be waterlogged AND have a firm foundation under your feet. Yet, even flood insurance can't insure our assurance of eternal life. Christ alone can help us permeate the spiritual fog and find meaning in the middle of the storm. Trust in Him and share with others the peace found in Him.

I am praying for you and I hope you are praying for me. We've got a big summer of ministry. I hope you're ready to reach out and love our community like never before.

James