The Approaching Storm

Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong. 1 Cor. 16:13

Not forsaking our own assembling together, as the custom of some is, but exhorting one another; and so much the more, as you see the Day approaching. Heb 10:25

In looking at the news headlines, we should see that things are not looking good. There is a supervolcano forming under China Lake in California, more massive than Yellowstone. In the past seven days, over 200 earthquakes with a five or above have taken place in the United States alone. There are 10 million acres that were not planted in the US compared to 2018. There are food shortages in some areas of our nation this week. 

 We are a divided nation. We have an increase in deaths from cardiovascular disease. I could go on, but I think you get the point.

For some time now, I have been sensing that for believers, followers of Christ, that we need to be seriously preparing for a coming season of storms, but sadly many of us are not. Why are so many willing to find themselves in the predicament of being unprepared?

We don't know the meaning of all things. We don't have all the answers to explain all the tragedies in the world and our neighborhoods. However, we know, we are sure that the LORD has promised to be with us. His words I will never leave you or forsake you is a comfort. Knowing the LORD's promises, our questions completely change. Instead of asking, "Why did this happen to me?" or "Why doesn't God care about me?" we say, "Well, I know God loves me; I know that. So, what can I learn from this experience?" How can I prepare for the storms that are coming?

Sometimes we think our trials come because we did something wrong. That's not always true. Adversity is simply part of life. From it, we can grow and progress if we choose to. Yes, some trials come because of our disobedience, but many tests are simply part of life.

It seems like common sense to prepare ahead of time for a hurricane, tornado, or blizzard. How about the storms of life? Should we prepare in advance for periods of trial and suffering?

Most of today's churches are caught up more in the social issues of the Day or trying to determine how they can grow their congregation. To not offend, the Gospel message has been watered down so much that it is no longer served as a meal full of the truth that saves and restores the hearer but is cheap grace that does nothing for the soul.

We do not want to be seen being intolerant and unloving, so the Gospel message of repentance and needing a Savior is hardly heard anymore. Some pastors are teaching that a God who would require a Savior to be sacrificed is a heartless, ruthless God that they would not want to follow! The mood always has to be upbeat, and the music has to be appealing enough to get one's emotions stirred up. The goal is for all to feel good about their walk with God. However, we don't want to bring up any discussions that may make us do solemn self-examination about how we are living, or how we are allowing sin and our flesh to keep us as babes who still need milk, who cannot tolerate even the sight of meaty truth. 

How will believers, who are being taught to expect only the best from God, that they will have no difficulties in life, and who have feel-good sermons and worship services every week, be able to handle the storm that is soon to come? 

How will they be able to discern good from evil when Scripture tells us that it is only spiritually mature that will be able to do such a thing? Hebrews 5:14 reads, "But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil." How are these babes in Christ (if they are genuinely born-again believers) going to handle things when all they can handle now is milk and not the solid meat of the Word? 

Sadly, many have little desire to learn about what they consider tedious Scriptural teachings such as the need to become spiritually mature and holy, how to pray and intercede, the need and benefits of fasting, and, more importantly, the lessons regarding spiritual warfare. They see no need to learn how to defend themselves from the attacks of the enemy by growing closer to their Lord and Savior. The enemy is gathering his troops, planning his strategy. The first line of attack will be against these very people who were too complacent or did not want to be bothered to learn how to grow strong through prayer and a stronger relationship with their Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. 

I believe that it is essential to prepare our minds and hearts for the inevitable trials of life. Without a Biblical foundation in place for how to face such storms, we are at a higher risk of being blown over by the fierce winds of suffering when they arrive.

You must have a Biblical foundation. What does it mean to have a Biblical foundation? It means having a theology of suffering: knowing what we believe and why about God, his sovereignty, and the hardships we experience in this world.

The prophet Ezekiel was alive during the time the Israelite's were taken captive to Babylon and was taken along with them. The book of Ezekiel is his record of what happened while in Babylon. While trying to reassure his fellow captives that they would be restored to their land after the time of God's chastening, there were many influential false prophets who, claiming to speak for God. These prophets tried to convince the captive Israelites that everything would be okay, that there would be peace regardless of what they heard from Ezekiel. They were doing everything they could think of to undermine God's warning that was being brought forth from Ezekiel.

We read in the book of Ezekiel 13:1-5 that the Word of the Lord condemned the false prophets who were saying all the things they knew the people wanted to hear, that they were not conveying what the Lord wanted was His people to listen and understand. They were claiming that what they were saying were the actual words of God, all the while; they were blatantly lying to the people to keep them deceived. Later in verse 10, it says, "Because they lead my people astray, saying, 'Peace when there is no peace'."

What are some practical ways we can prepare for the storms of life? Here are four simple ways that we can prepare for the storms of tomorrow.

Study the Word. We need to study what the Bible says about trials and suffering. How does God use pain in our lives? We also need to investigate what Scripture teaches about God, who he is, and his character. It makes a big difference whether we believe God is out to get us or whether we believe that He is holy, righteous, and right in all that he does.

Affirm God's sovereignty. What we believe about God's sovereignty plays a significant role in how we face suffering. Do we think that he is in absolute control over everything that happens? Do we trust that He will use all things, even our pain, for our good and his glory? How can we believe in and find hope in His sovereignty?

Memorize Scripture. We need to learn and memorize verses that point to the truth about suffering and the trials of life. We can memorize passages on God's promises toward us, the hope we have in Christ, and how God uses suffering in our lives for our transformation and his glory. There are several essential verses in Romans 8, such as Romans 8:18, 28–30, 35–39.

Pray. We need to develop an active prayer life. During the mild seasons of life, we need to grow in prayer and learn to turn to God for all things. The more we trust and rely on God in prayer, the more we will utilize prayer during the trials of life. In a crisis, we tend to do things by instinct. Prayer should be like breathing.

Facing the storms of life, unprepared is frightening as well. It's in the times of peace and calm that we need to develop a theology of suffering by steeping ourselves in Scripture and praying through hard questions. And we need to pray for a faith that faces the devastation that storms of life leave behind, a belief that can say, "Blessed be the name of the Lord!"

Are you ready for the coming storm? If not, you can see today, now is the time. Don't put it off it any longer. Find that place along with the LORD and get your soul ready for the coming storm.