“That we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine.” Ephesians 4:14 (NKJV)
As if the year 2020 wasn’t bad enough with the Covid-19 pandemic and a tumultuous presidential campaign, five hurricanes ravaged the Louisiana coast and adjacent areas. With buildings toppled, roofs ripped off, trees uprooted, and power lines downed, the winds transformed many square miles into a catastrophe that would make a city landfill look like a luxury suburb. The storms destroyed some staid old buildings that had endured previous hurricanes. Gale force winds were certain to take down any unsecured, compromised, or poorly built structure.
Not all storms are alike. Some are mild, some are extreme; some track quickly across the land, others feature sustained winds that blow for hours. Some drench the land with multiple inches of rain; some cause flood waters to overflow the barriers, dams, and dykes. Some come unannounced; others give days of warning. Nearly all of them, however, rake across exposed structures and dislodge anything not previously secured. The greatest damage occurs when the owners fail to prepare for them or assume that the damage and casualties will be minimal.
Spiritual events often mirror naturally occurring phenomena. Few events fit this prescription more closely than hurricanes or tornadoes. Once vaunted and long-held scriptural and moral institutions like doctrinal truth, holiness, spiritual authority, and church loyalty have been subjected to sinister questioning, and sometimes brazen rebellion. Yet, these developments do not catch us by surprise because the Bible forewarned us about these attacks on the church. “Now this, ‘Yet once more,’ indicates the removal of those things that are being shaken, as of things that are made, that the things which cannot be shaken may remain.” Hebrews 12:27 (NKJV)
Fierce winds blast every generation, and the gusts do more than howl. People get rattled. They move off their foundations. Confusion, panic, and loss of perspective set in. Familiar and reliable standards of thinking flip upside down and inside out. How will the storms affect you? The question is not whether you can feel them; the question focuses on whether they will change you. Will they damage you? Uproot you? Displace you? Or will you survive unscathed? You must not be surprised at these storms as though you were unfairly targeted or that you were unaware of their strength. They will come and you must be prepared.
Do not make the mistake that you cannot be changed. No matter how old you are, how long you have lived a certain way or how remote the storm may be to you, you are still vulnerable. Whether they be huge blows or subtle shifts, you can come out on the other side an essentially different person. Moreover, the storm may even affect someone else—like a spouse, a child, or a close friend—and your world will morph into something you never anticipated.
Your children or loved ones can shake you. Hophni and Phineas, the two sons of Eli, the High Priest, fell into deep and egregious sins, openly violating the sanctity of the tabernacle. Their father rebuked them but failed to rein in their shocking behavior. Eli showed deference to his sons and compromised his convictions on their behalf. Because children exert a powerful sway over their parents, mothers and fathers need to vigilantly guard their beliefs. The rebellion of a child must not alter the convictions of the parent.
Personal tragedy can shake you. Few things test your spiritual stability than a serious car crash, a house fire, a devastating loss, a job termination or a life-threatening illness. Afflictions, reversals, and misfortunes of life can cause a person to rearrange his or her priorities. Paul admonished the Thessalonians about such calamities. “That no one should be shaken by these afflictions; for you yourselves know that we are appointed to this.” 1 Thessalonians 3:3 (NKJV).
A change in thinking can shake you. So, you’ve met an amazing new friend who has very different ideas, or you’ve read a book critical of your faith, or you saw a documentary that questioned your basic assumptions. All of us encounter contrary winds of doctrine, philosophy or convictions as we navigate our way through life. It is possible that a new thought can intersect with you at a vulnerable period of life and take advantage of your temporary weakness. “For Demas has forsaken me, having loved this present world.” 2 Timothy 4:10 (NKJV) This young man had a momentary lapse in spiritual fitness and abandoned his calling. Again, Paul warned us “not to be soon shaken in mind or troubled, either by spirit or by word or by letter.” 2 Thessalonians 2:2 (NKJV).
A dramatic change in circumstances can shake you. The acquisition of a degree, a new job, or a significant promotion can quickly thrust a person into a position of authority or prominence. A windfall profit or a sudden inheritance can cause a shift in attitude. While good fortune may not be considered a storm of life, the net affect can be negative in terms of personal faith. Many so-called blessings can turn into curses. The believer’s commitment to God must resemble the marriage vow: “For better or worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness or in health, to love and to cherish, until death do us part…” If God never changes in His commitment to us, neither should we change toward Him. “Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear.” Hebrews 12:28 (NKJV)
Check your foundation. Storms may cause superficial damage, but if your foundation is intact, most often surface damage can be easily repaired. Jesus told the parable of the two houses precisely for this moment. “He is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently against that house, and could not shake it, for it was founded on the rock. Luke 6:48 (NKJV)
Stand strong. Stand firm. Stand true. Never make major concessions to change because of someone else’s convictions. Never allow personal tragedy to eviscerate your faith. Solidify your mental and moral convictions so that you remain impervious to novel ideas or aberrant thinking. Don’t allow your blessings become curses to your walk with God.
Storms will come. They will shake you. They don’t have to destroy you. Whatever happens, you can survive and grow even stronger.