Battling the Storms

A few weeks ago when severe weather warnings were out, we had the TV on with Wayne Hart providing the play-by-play coverage. Our boys know that if a tornado warning directly affects us, then they are to go into the bathroom for shelter. It did not appear that we were in imminent danger, but that didn’t stop our boys from doing something about it. As the wind continued howling outside as we tried to get them into bed, Toby came up with an idea. He said, “I’m gonna go get my sword and fight the tornado.” Actually, he called it a “tormado,” which is probably due to too much exposure to Bob the Tomato, and it’s easy for a three-year-old to get mixed up.

Well, they got their plastic swords out and ran throughout the house swinging and fighting the evil tornado. I’m not sure how much good they would have done in the event of an actual emergency situation, but it did help them feel like they were doing something about it. And, yes, bedtime was much later than usual that night.

There were several damaging storms were to our south, where tornados did strike and leave dozens dead and many more injured. You know about the destruction at Union University in Jackson, Tennessee. Union is an excellent Southern Baptist, four-year liberal arts university. If you’ve seen pictures of the campus in the aftermath of the storms, you can’t help but believe that it was literally a miracle that, despite injuries, not a single student on campus was killed.

It makes you think that maybe they got their swords out. Not the plastic kind, but the one sharper than any doubled-edged sword. I’m referring to the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God (Eph. 6:17). What power and protection and provision there is for the one whose trust is the Lord!

For God’s purpose and for His glory, He chose to spare the lives of the students at Union University. As Christians we are not promised a life of ease and comfort, a trouble-free or pain-free life, but we are promised the victory in Jesus. In fact, Jesus said, “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart, I have overcome the world” (John 16:33).

God would not be any less God if there were students at Union who died in that storm. He would not be any less loving, any less caring, or any less concerned about the sufferings of His people. No matter what the circumstances of life around us, “we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28). And furthermore, “I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:38-39).

So, when the storm threatens and the sea rages and the earth quakes around your feet, you need not fear, dear friend, if your trust is in the Lord. Get your Sword out and discover for yourself the power of the Lord Almighty. “He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty” (Psalm 91:1).

Get your Sword out and find in His Word the wonder of His presence. “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me, Your rod and Your staff they comfort me” (Psalm 23:4).

Get your Sword out and examine and see that the Lord our God is mighty to save. “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging” (Psalm 46:1-3).

God is boundless in His love for you, dear friend. His love for you was expressed in ultimate measure by giving His Son, Jesus, to die on the cross for your sins, to save you from the dangers of hell and offer you everlasting life with Him in heaven. There’s a day coming that will be infinitely much worse for unbelievers than any storm on earth. “Some trust in chariots and some in horses (and some in plastic swords), but we trust in the name of the Lord our God. They are brought to their knees and fall, but we rise up and stand firm” (Psalm 20:7-8). The battle is real and the storms will come. What, or rather, Whom, are you trusting in?