SETTING THE PACE / Living life with an eternal perspective
Living in a fallen world is hard. As long as sin exists, there will be storms, fear, and pain that we each have to deal with in this life. The great news is that God has provided everything we need to be able to endure the challenges we will face. With every storm, fear, and pain, we must understand that Jesus is greater!
In Mark chapter six, we are told a story that is incredible. Jesus had just miraculously fed thousands of men, women and children. When He was finished, He put His disciples in a boat and sent them to the other side of the sea. He stayed behind to dismiss the crowds, but ultimately to get alone in prayer with God the Father.
Not long after Jesus sent His disciples onto the sea, a terrible storm developed. This was not a regular storm, this was severe and it caused the disciples to fear for their lives. Most of the disciples were experienced fishermen, and not even they could navigate their way out of this storm. Without divine intervention, they were all going to die.
Jesus knew of the storm, saw His disciples struggling, and came to them walking on the water. When the disciples saw Him, they were terrified, for they thought it was a ghost. Jesus immediately spoke to them and said, “Take heart, it is I. Do not be afraid.” He then got into the boat, and the violent storm came to a screeching halt. When the disciples saw all of this, they marveled and worshipped Him. They knew they were in the presence of God.
They were soon on the other side of the shore, and when they got out, people immediately recognized Jesus, and brought people to Him with all kinds of pains and problems. Jesus healed many who came to Him.
There is much we can learn from this story, but there are three things I want to encourage you with today.
First, Jesus is greater than any storm. When Jesus made His disciples get into the boat, He knew a storm was coming. He purposely sent them into the storm because He wanted to grow them in their faith. In this life, Christians will experience two kinds of storms from God: storms of correction and storms of perfection. Storms of correction are meant to wake us up from a sin we are committing, repent, and turn back to God. Storms of perfection are meant to grow us in our faith as we learn to trust God completely. This was a storm of perfection. The disciples obeyed Jesus, got into the boat, and a storm came. They did not ask for this storm, but it nonetheless came.
In our lives, God often sends us into storms that we do not ask for, but He does this to grow us because He loves us. Remember this: God, who sends you into the storm, is far greater than the storm He sends you into! God is greater than any storm!
Second, Jesus is greater than any fear. Storms often go hand in hand with fear. When a tornado bears down, fear rises in the heart. Likewise, when a serious trial comes upon you, fear often rises in the heart. God does not want us to live in fear, though. He wants us to walk by faith. When storms come, you and I will either be controlled by fear or faith. Jesus came to the disciples in the midst of the storm and said, “Take heart, it is I. Do not be afraid.” Remember this today, God sees you in your storm, comes to you in your storm, and says, “Do not be afraid.” God is greater than any fear!
Finally, Jesus is greater than any pain! Once Jesus got out of the boat, He healed people with all kinds of problems and pains. He wanted to show that He longs for people to come to Him so that He might heal them and minister to them. While not all healing happens on this earth, for the believer, healing ultimately comes eternally. God wants us to bring our pain and problems to Him so that He might heal us in our heart now, but ultimately heal us completely in heaven later. Truly, Jesus is greater than any pain!
Today, remember, Jesus is greater than anything you face … anything! Turn to Him, trust in Him, cling to Him, and hope in Him. Jesus is greater!
See you next week.
