A Beatutiful Beast - Storms

Awesome in power and beautiful with its lightning strikes when viewed on television. Fearsome in its savagery and destructive power when engulfed by it. Such is the paradox of the ‘beautiful beast’ called a storm.

The first recorded storm comes from the Biblical account of the worldwide flood in Noah’s day. The sign in the sign afterwards proclaimed a promise wrapped up in the first ever rainbow. In Scripture there are a number of rampaging ‘beautiful beasts’ mentioned. Most are associated with sailing. We recall Jonah but forget Jehoshaphat’s wrecked ships at Ezion-geber (1 Kings 21:48).

In the Gospels there are three specific references to storms. Each of them have an application to how our faith is tested and shaped by life’s storms. This is true whether we find ourselves in midst of a furious physical storm, an ethical, emotional or spiritual one.

Storm 1. Is mentioned in a parable by Jesus as He sums up the Beatitudes. We all build our lives on some foundation, which Jesus classed as Rock or Sand. Both lives, depicted as houses, suffer the assault of the ‘beautiful beast’. In both houses fear would have been felt but only one would be destroyed. The life built upon the ‘Rock’ which refers to the Word of God, prevails. That doesn’t mean to say that there wasn’t damage or pain or fear to the life. No! What is being stressed by Jesus is the life is not shattered even though it has been battered.

Storm 2. In the very next chapter 8 in Matthew’s account is a storm. These professional fishermen were unable to cope with its ferocity. A strange picture is presented by a sleeping Jesus in the midst of the boat being swamped. Many of us have found the storm of life smashing into us and our voice being raised “Jesus, wake up!” Why did Jesus ask them what appears to be a silly question? He said “Why are you afraid, of you of little faith?” The implied answer is, no vessel can sink when the Lord is on board, awake or seemingly asleep!

Storm 3. In Matthew 14 is the feeding of the 5,000 men. Afterwards Jesus went up into the mountains to pray. The disciples took to their boat and merrily sailed away with warm and exciting memories. Evening darkness enveloped them and an unexpected ‘beast of a storm’ pounced. But there wasn’t any sleeping Jesus. He was absent. Why didn’t the Lord rush to their aid, for He could see their plight from the heights? How often have we wondered where Jesus is in the midst of our personal dealings with our own ‘beast of a storm.’ Could one of His reasons be to teach us He is able to come to us ‘walking on the water’ for He is the master over the ‘beautiful, ferocious beast.’ As with the fishermen so to with us, our response is a deeper faith and gratitude in Him.

Storm 4. This happened to Paul in Acts 27. Dispatched to Rome to be tried by Caesar the authorities ignored the season’s changing weather situation. It was approaching the time for the Euroclydon (northeaster) to arise and blow. It did!  The account shows the magnitude of the storm. Why did they suffer the fear, the loss, the harrowing of those fourteen days? Because of a fateful and rash choice. Why were all on board not killed? Because God had promise years before to Paul he would bear testimony to Jesus before Caesar. Because of that promise all on board the doomed boat were under God’s protection.

The reason for these accounts to be in Scripture is to teach us, warn us and encourage us to cling by faith to Jesus, the Lord over the storm. We live in an unstable world which seems to breed these ‘storms’ of emotional, spiritual, ethical and relational categories. Jesus, through His word, wants us to be faithful in the storm, strong when the ‘beast snarls’ at us to cower us. He also wants us to be merciful when for no reason of our own we are caught up in the storm caused by others. Turn it into a testimony of grace in the name of Jesus.

I'm a Fundamental Christian

Does that mean I’m a gun-toting, knife wielding blood thirsty assailant?Actually, it means the exact opposite. The word ‘Fundamental’ means ‘Forming a foundation. Essential.’ (World Book Dictionary) Therefore a fundamentalist is a person who believes the foundational, the essential tenants of his or her faith and ideology. This conviction motivates them to live out their foundational beliefs and it becomes their world-view.’

Yes, it is correct to say certain religious and political groups have a basic belief system that promotes barbaric behaviour and cruel oppression. However, such a worldview cannot be laid at the feet of Christianity’s founder, the Lord Jesus Christ. On what basis do I make such a statement? Simply on the authority of the Bible!

For me, to be a Christian Fundamentalist requires me to know, understand and apply the foundational truths of the Christian Faith. The most basic one of course is the person and work of the one named Jesus in the Gospels. He is the promised Messiah of the Old Testament; He is the Song of God; He was crucified according to the scriptures, entombed and on the third day rose again. (John 20:31. Romans 10:9-13)

When you ask Him to be your Saviour and Lord you place yourself under His authority. In turn that requires you to get to know, understand and endeavour to live out His teachings. That is fundamental to your Christian life. As you read the Gospels and the New Testament letters you do not find any jihadist teaching or allowance for such behaviour. In fact a far great test for moral and spiritual courage and faith is demanded.

The fundamentals of my faith flow from but do not cease at the Beatitudes in Matthew 5:1-48. In the context of which fundamentalism is now portrayed as being terrorists what do you make of the following:

‘Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called the children of God.’

‘Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake’

‘Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account’

‘I (Jesus speaking) say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you so that you may be children of your Father in Heaven…”

‘In everything do to others as you would have them do to you; for this is the law and the prophets.’ Matthew 7:12.

History has an unfortunate record of disobedience to these fundamentals by true and pseudo disciples. The Inquisition is a case in point. Jesus never authorised His followers to perpetrate such intolerance and cruelty towards those who reject Him. In fact in the parable of the ‘Weeds’ in Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43. The Lord calls for patience and kindness. Why? Because only He can discern the ‘Wheat from the Weed’ for He alone sees the heart. He alone is the Supreme Judge and hasn’t delegated that to anyone. He has set aside a judgement day when all will give an account of their fundamental worldview, behaviour and view of Him.

Jesus Christ isn’t demanding of His followers what He hasn’t experienced Himself. Isaiah 53 prophecy was fulfilled in Christ on the cross. He could have called the angelic hosts to rescue Him, but no, He trusted in the Heavenly Father’s promise of victory over Sin, Death and the Devil. This could only be accomplished through the medium of the cross and the declaration of victory by the resurrection from the tomb.

It is on the evidence of the Bible, secular and sacred history that I bowed in faith before Him and became His disciple. I have grown in that relationship for nigh on sixty years and have found Him faithful to His word. It hasn’t always been easy (however a lot easier than my Christian family in other countries), it hasn’t always been pleasant. Nor has it always been appreciated while being exploited by Christ’s opponents. However, the sense of walking in His light and approval combined with the promise of one day seeing Him face to face puts everything in proper perspective. Both my walk in this life and my abiding with Him in the next is simply, solely and eternally due to the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ.

They are some of the reasons I’m a Christian Fundamentalist. There are others and you can read about them in the Judeo-Christian Bible.

 

© Ray Hawkins October 2014.