Security in Difficult Circumstances

Written by Ed Allen
Saturday, 05 June 1999 19:00

The Stories of Jesus

A 7-year-old boy named Juan Pablo spoke softly when he was introduced to President Clinton. ?I lost my whole family,? he told the President. I miss them, my mama and my papa.? Juan Pablo became an orphan last October, when Hurricane Mitch tore across his village in the country of Nicaragua. The heavy rains sent a sea of mud sliding down a nearby volcano, burying farms and homes. Juan was buried in mud up to his neck for 2 days before being rescued. Juan?s story was multiplied by the thousands and people throughout Central America lost everything they own, including over 9,000 fatalities in the wake of Hurricane Mitch.

Local authorities as well as relief agencies have struggled with how to explain this vast human tragedy. The answer seems to be at least partly economic. Central American countries do not have the infrastructure to withstand the kind of tragedy that Mitch presented them. They do not have the warning systems so that people could prepare. They do not have the roads to support the people exiting desolate areas. They do not practice proper soil erosion protection. And their homes are often nothing more than mud huts.

I recently read a case study contrasting the effects of differing infrastructures. This study covered an earthquake, which registered 7.6 on the Richter scale, and hit CA in 1972. One person was killed. A lesser earthquake registering 6.9 hit Managua Nicaragua that same year and several thousand were killed. The study surmised that the difference was almost completely due to preparedness and the way building and roads are constructed. The author summarized the point saying, ?Appropriate infrastructure can provide a sense of security in the face of inevitable natural disasters.?

Jesus makes exactly the same point about my life and yours in one of his stories. Let?s look at it this morning. It comes from Matthew 7:24-27.
 

• "Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand.  The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash."  Matthew 7:24-27

Diane and I have just built a new home. I have learned the importance of a proper foundation.

Jesus says the person who builds their life on the foundation of obedience to his word will survive life?s difficulties

What word?

When Jesus told this story, he had just ended a long sermon, which is recorded for us in Matthew 5-7. In this sermon Jesus tells us that we are in the right place if our spirits are needy, if we mourn, if we are meek, if we hunger and thirst for knowing God and being like Him. He tells us we are getting it right we when are merciful and pure in heart, when we try to bring peace and when we are persecuted. In those instances God will meet our need.

He tells us that we are light in a dark world and that we should shine. That we should not break any of the commandments; that if we are violently angry with someone it is the same as murder; that if we lust in our hearts it is the same as adultery; that we should not divorce except in instances of unfaithfulness; that we should not swear; that we should never seek revenge; that we should love our enemies; that our religion should not be showy. He tells us that we should pray sincerely and diligently; that we should not make accumulating wealth a priority; that we should not worry about the circumstances of our lives. He will take care of us. He tells us not to judge, but to seek Him and ask of Him and we will have what we need.

If we build our lives on this word, according to Jesus, we will be secure in difficult circumstances.

The person who builds their life on the foundation of obedience to the word of Jesus will survive life?s difficulties.

Why?

1. The word of God is firm and sure.

• "The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul; the decrees of the LORD are sure, making wise the simple." Psalm 19:7
• "Your decrees are very sure." Psalm 93:5


2. The word of God is permanent.

• "All flesh is like grass and all its glory like the flower of grass. The grass withers, and the flower falls, but the word of the Lord endures forever." Isaiah 40:6-8


3. Jesus is the word of God.

• John 1:1-4, 14 "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of men... The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth."


That?s why Jesus? word had power. For instance, Matthew 8:16 says, ?Many who were demon possessed were brought to him, and he drove out the spirits with word and healed all the sick with his word.?

He also claims that his words are eternal. ?Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.? Matt. 24:35

We were called into being by the word of God.

Just Do It!

Many people, perhaps thousands, heard Jesus sermon that day. But he knew that most of them would not benefit. He knew that most of them would agree, but it would make no difference in their lives. That?s why he said, ?Everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice?? In other words, in order to have security in difficult circumstances we must be doers of the word.

Francis Bacon got it right when he said, ?It is not what we eat, but what we digest that makes us strong, it is not what we gain, but what we save that makes us rich; not what we read, but what we remember that makes us learned; not what we preach or pray but what we practice that makes us Christians.?
 

James 1:22-25 "But be doers of the word, and not merely hearers who deceive themselves. For if any are hearers of the word and not doers, they are like those who look at themselves in a mirror; for they look at themselves and, on going away, immediately forget what they were like. But those who look into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and persevere, being not hearers who forget but doers who act-- they will be blessed in their doing."

1 John 5:3 "For the love of God is this, that we obey his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome."

1000 years ago people used to think that they got sick because they had too much or too little blood. The standard cure for sickness was bloodletting. Within the last 100 years we have discovered that sickness comes from germs. That?s why it?s so important to keep things sanitary. But that information does us no good if we don?t act on it.

If we know but don?t act on it we cannot benefit from it. It doesn?t matter that we agree with Jesus? words. We must build our lives on them. Then we can benefit.

The person who builds their life on obedience to the word of Jesus will survive life?s difficulties.

For some of you this morning, this is a new word and an encouraging word. You?ve never heard the word in a way that really makes sense to you like you?ve been hearing it lately. You are ready to act on it. You are ready to build your life on the word of Jesus. The Bible tells you to make that decision public so that others can encourage you in it. You need to let somebody know today.

For some of you, this lesson gives hope. You are in the midst of difficulty. Today, you needed to hear that even though the winds and waves are tossing you about, you will make it. Your life will stand up.

The person who builds their life on obedience to the word of Jesus will survive life?s difficulties.

But Jesus? story does not end there. There are two characters. One guy builds his house on a rock, which is firm and sound and secure. The other guy builds his house on sand. And according to Jesus, the person who refuses to follow Christ in discipleship is building a life vulnerable to collapse.

(Rob's testimony)

How do I build a life on the word of Jesus?

1. Invest time in God?s word. (John E. testimony)

• Psalm 119:9-11 "How can a young man keep his way pure? By living according to your word. I seek you with all of my heart; do not let me stray from your commands. I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you."


2. Invest time with Jesus

3. Pray

4. Be with other people in whom Jesus lives. (Jordan with Daniel)