Weathering The Floods!!!
Matthew 7:24-29
Already in 2025 we have seen massive fires, cyclones/hurricanes, earthquakes and all sorts of significant natural phenomena occurring (irrespecitve whether or not they ahve been triggered by people). These emergency events can be catastrophic. They devastate homes, businesses, communities and livelihoods. Some people never recover, others take a lifetime to recover - a few…very few can just weather the events and quickly get back on their feet, resuming their lives like nothing happened.
In the Bible, events such as these are often used as imagery to describe larger, broader themes and occurrances in both the physical and spiritual realms.
One of the most common themes is that of a flood. Biblical floods tend to be linked to some sort of judgement (like Noah’s Flood) or times of severe trouble and trauma.
The prophet Isaiah says “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you.When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned;the flames will not set you ablaze.” (Isaiah 43:2)
We see here that the floods (the waters, the rivers) will not consume us…yet we will experience them.
So, as beleivers in Jesus as the Messiah, as the Son of God, and one in unity with the Godhead (the Trinity) - how do we navigate the floods which are certainly going to batter our shores during our lifetime?
Well, let’s see what Jesus HIMSELF says about it….
In wrapping up the greatest sermon ever preached - the Sermon on the Mount - Jesus
Matthew 7:24-29 says…
“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.” When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching, because he taught as one who had authority, and not as their teachers of the law.”
A) The Wise Man: What defines a wise person? - one who listens to the words of Jesus and acts on them, lives them out and makes them a part of their lives. By doing so we set a firm foundation for ourselves and our lives (including our families and our employment). Throughout the Old and New Testaments the concept of Jesus (and/or Yahweh) being seen as a rock, or foundational stone piece is used. Here Jesus is talking about HIMSELF to the crowds, implying that if they listen to HIS words and act on them they will have a firm foundation - no matter what happens to them in their lives. Their lives (the house) will not fall becuase of that firm foundation that they have built upon.
B) The Foolish Man: What defines a foolish person? - one who hears the words of God (of Jesus) and does not act on them. Becuase of that lack of engagement with Jesus, the foolish eprson decides that they can go and do whatever they want, whenever they want with whomever they want - and its their life, they are going to do it their way. That kind of life is built upon shifting sands that easily get moved and dislodged when trouble and struggle come their way. And if a foolish person keeps living on a sandy foundation - well the verse is very clear about the consequences - they not only get washed away, but their house (thier life) collapses with a ‘crash’. How often do we see people’s (be it family, friends or celebrities) lives just collapse in aheap and everything comes undone becuase they have been living in such a messed up sinful state that everything comes apart at teh eseems and they literally hit rock bottom.
Which are you?
Is your relationship with Jesus where it should be?
Do you even have one?
Without Jesus in your life, without having an active, engaging relationship with HIM - you cannot possibly survive this world and all the chaotic and catastrophic events that you are facing, or will face. Without Jesus in your life, as the rock upon which you cling to - you will be crushed by the weight of the world.
In John 16:33, we read an encouraging statement by Jesus - “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
Jesus guarantees that we will experience problems in this life - all because we live in a sinful world. So, we should come to expect them.
But we - if we listen, if we obey, and if we place ALL our trust in Jesus - then we can ride out the storms, we can survive the floods. But only IF, we do those things - otherwise we will get swamped by life’s circumstances.
Real victory in life comes from our willingness and our ability to abide in Christ, and to hold onto HIM at all times - even if it is by our fingertips and we feel like we’re about to lose it all.
So, I hope and pray that you draw close to Jesus in 2025. No matter what comes your way (because it’s already been a crazy year so far, and it’s not even Fubruary yet) - keep your eyes on Jesus, keep your faith in Jesus, keep all your hopes in Jesus. Becuase this world cannot save you, nor will it bring you peace and joy. You can weather the floods that come…but only if you are grounded in Jesus.