Potential

I sit, looking at the blank screen in front of me, and wonder what to write. My brain is tired from thinking of all the things that consume my day. It is difficult to come up with any creative thought. The screen stares back at me, waiting... Sigh! "What should I write about?" I ask myself. There is potential for a literary masterpiece, but there is also the possibility of producing something terrible. Most likely, hopefully, it will be something in between.   

This new year also holds the potential to be the best or the worst, but more likely, it will fall somewhere in between. In previous years, I would have seized the opportunity to write with wide-eyed optimism about what the year might hold in store, but after the past few doozies, I'm feeling a little hesitant to do so this time. We have witnessed great and terrible events unfold before us, and our lives have been touched by the ripples and waves they have created. The moral foundations of our society have been shaken, causing them to shift, crack, and sometimes crumble beneath us. Does that mean things have changed forever? Will we ever return to the world we once knew, where we could rely on certain time-tested constructs that seemed engraved into the earth itself? How can we stand in a faltering world?  

If you attended church as a child, you probably remember the parable of the wise and foolish man found in Matthew. There was a song about it.   

 “The wise man built his house upon the rock.   

The wise man built his house upon the rock.   

The wise man built his house upon the rock and the rains came a-tumbling down.   

The rains came down and the floods came up.   

The rains came down and the floods came up.   

The rains came down and the floods came up and the house on the rock stood firm.  

The foolish man built his house upon the sand.  

 The foolish man built his house upon the sand.   

The foolish man built his house upon the sand and the rains came a-tumbling down.   

The rains came down and the floods came up.   

The rains came down and the floods came up.   

The rains came down and the floods came up and the house on the sand went “SPLAT”!!  

“Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:  And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.  And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.” Matthew 7:24-27 (KJV) 

This parable reminds me of the first time I went to the beach as an adult. I hadn’t been since I was very young and didn’t remember much about it, so when my family visited Florida, I insisted we make a stop by the beach. I couldn’t wait to get into the water. As I stepped in, ready to relish the whole beach vibe, I quickly found myself struggling to stay upright. With every wave, I felt the sand shifting from beneath my feet. I decided to sit in the water instead – since I’m not much of a swimmer and am VERY afraid of sharks. Sitting in shifting sand brought about its own set of problems but at least I could stay upright – ish.   

To “stand firm”, we must have a solid foundation beneath us. Ask any builder. If you want a structure to stand strong and last, the first step is to build it on something solid. If I had been standing on rock, I would have been better able to stay upright.   

In our spiritual life, that rock foundation is Jesus. He is the ONLY thing that is unchanging in this ever-changing world.   

Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever. (Hebrews 13:8)  

For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. (1 Corinthians 3:11)  

With all the things happening in the world, one would think people would be flocking to God; that our churches would be crowded with people hungry for answers and reassurance of God’s promises. Yet, it’s surprising to note the number of people who do not even believe in God. Many prefer to believe in science – something that can be “proven”. Others prefer to believe in nature, art, or music – something that can be seen, heard, and experienced with the senses. Some people place their faith in another person – the basis for many cults. And even more, put their faith in false religions – many of which revolve around the worship of idols or false deities.   

False religions fail their congregations time and again, yet God never fails. He keeps every one of His promises. Throughout the Bible and our lives, God has proven Himself to be true and faithful.   

Know therefore that the LORD thy God, he is God, the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations; (Deuteronomy 7:9) 

For the word of the LORD is right; and all his works are done in truth. (Psalms 33:4)  

To those who believe in God, the evidence of His existence is all around us; it is difficult to understand how anyone can NOT believe in Him. The archeological finds that support people, places, and events described in the Bible, scientific discoveries that support the existence of a supreme creator, and discoveries in nature that support its creation by an all-powerful, all-knowing God serve as tangible and observable evidence that God is real.    

For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: (Romans 1:20) 

With so many people searching for answers, reaching for a handhold amid all this turmoil, seeking a strong foundation on which to stand, we as Christians and the Lord’s churches, have a lot of work to do. The harvest is ripe.  

Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest. (John 4:35) 

How can we help them? We can lead them to experience the forgiveness, peace, and security of knowing Christ. We can teach them God’s Word so they, too, can learn of His promises, faithfulness, and love. We can be an example of what life can be like with Christ. There is room on Christ the Rock for everyone. Think of what the world could be like if everyone followed Him.  

So, can we be optimistic about this coming year? Yes, we most certainly can if we are children of God, because we know that although Satan may be wreaking havoc in the world right now, God is still ultimately in control. 

These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world. (John 16:33)

Have things changed forever? Will we ever know the world we once knew? We most likely will not return to the way we once knew it. Change is inevitable. But God stays the same. We can depend on Him to love, support, strengthen, and keep us always.  

I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty. (Revelation 1:8) 

Can we stand in a faltering world? Yes, we can if Christ is our foundation. 

Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity. (2 Timothy 2:19) 

May we all experience the best year ever with Christ as our foundation and may we all seize the opportunity to share Him with others every day.  

*May God bless! 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nkIr6eHjqXI