Through the Flood & Fire!!!
Both floods and bushfires are devastating in their effect on the landscape, on communities and on individuals.
Floods are violent in their devastation as they physically tear the landscape and buildings apart and move them to distant regions. Floods scour the land of plant and animal alike. If we cast our memory back to the devastating floods of the 2001 tsunami, we can see the effects of flooding on communities. Death lives in the midst of floods.
On the other-hand, fires…fires act like a pack of ravenous predators, consuming all before it and reducing it to ashes. Fire sucks the life out of all things that it touches. Humans, animals, plants…all wither and are consumed by ferocity of a fire. Buildings weaken and crumble, and are reduced to a pile of useless debris.
What these natural disasters show us, is that human endeavours often pale in comparison to their power and energy. Our greatest achievements can be wiped from the face of the Earth by floods, fires and storms.
In our lives there are times where it seems as if everything around us is getting consumed, destroyed, removed from us violently and all we are left with is utter devastation. Sometimes these traumatic events are the death of family and friends. Sometimes it is chronic illness - both physical and/or mental. Sometimes it is never-ending financial difficulties. Sometimes it is repeating cycles of relationship breakdowns. Sometimes it is abuse at the hands of trusted people. Our lives end up seemingly left broken and worthless - laying on the ground.
Even though evil and sin does dwell on Earth and it often impacts on our lives, but the Bible has much to say about God’s response to that, in relation to those who place their faith and trust in Him.
One such scripture is Isaiah 43: 1-3 which says…
Verse 1 - “But now, O Jacob, listen to the Lord who created you. O Israel, the one who formed you says, “Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you. I have called you by name; you are mine.”
God created our soul, just as he created and birthed the nation of Israel (which still exists today - and they as an ethnic group have gone through the flood and the fire). This places us in a special place within creation.
Furthermore, he has ransomed us from our sins - through the death and resurrection of his son Jesus of Nazareth.
because of this we - who believe in his son Jesus - are God’s. It is this position that ensures God will look after us, even when we are going through some terrible times.
Verse 2 - “When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown. When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you.”
We will face troubles during our lifetime - it is a given. It is because we live in a fallen world - we all sin, and the effects of sin over the whole of human history are still being felt today.
In John 16:33 Jesus says, “I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.” - This is something that we need to realise and to keep in mind. We need to set aside the whole “I need to be comfortable, and in a good situation.” - Jesus never said that we should seek that. If you focus on being comfortable, being rich, having everything you ever wanted - then when hard times come you won’t be able to endure.
We tend to focus on the circumstances that we are currently experiencing in life - be they good or bad. But we tend to be consumed by the difficult times and think we are going to be totally destroyed….yet God is saying clearly…”You will not be consumed by these things, no matter how horrid they are. I am here with you and you will endure”
Either we trust God or we don’t. It is our choice, and how we come out of the traumatic times of our lives depends entirely on that choice.
Verse 3 - “For I am the Lord, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Saviour.
I gave Egypt as a ransom for your freedom I gave Ethiopia and Sheba in your place.”
Verse 3 provides us the framework and the reason for why we need to place our trust and faith in God.
He is the Holy One…He is our Saviour…he is the Lord your God!!!
There is no other who can save us, or take us through terrible events that we face in our lives. Turn to him….ALWAYS & FOREVER!!!
If you are facing the fire and the flood, may you draw close to God, ask for his help, place all your faith and trust in him - and watch the blessing of his protection brings to your life - even if things do not seem like you are receiving any blessings and things are getting worse. God knows that you will make it, because he is there with you.