EARTHLY GOODS LET GO

Every once in awhile things happen in life to remind us of what’s important. These are necessary reminders, for without them most of us would just get carried away with the way things are and our daily effort to maintain the status quo. I was struck by this last week while preparing for Sunday’s sermon on Jesus’ calming the storm. His disciples were doing something very ordinary in taking a fishing boat across the Sea of Galilee – something very usual and familiar in their way of life. It was so normal and comfortable that Jesus was asleep on a cushion in the back of the boat. But suddenly things changed – a vicious storm arose to threaten their earthly lives and their earthly goods. Then in their distress they called out to Jesus to save them.

What gave me pause to look again at the personal implications of this familiar Bible story were the events of the previous Sunday when suddenly things happened that were unexpected and life threatening. We were returning home from what had been a very delightful vacation trip, making new friends and seeing new sights, learning about our nation’s history and some family history too. Then the first wave struck, while we were still sleeping in our camping trailer. Thieves broke in and stole some expensive and valuable goods from our Jeep tow vehicle as it was still attached to our portable home on wheels but, alas, unlocked. That was enough to cause distress, for with the loss of my laptop computer and digital camera hours and months of labor were lost, not to mention all my vacation pictures except for several rolls from Nelda’s camera. But our little storm wasn’t over and when a light rain fell on a twisted narrow highway in Kentucky we were left skidding across the road into a granite hillside bank on the other side. Needless to say we were shook up but were not hurt. God had preserved us from what could have been a fatal end. Like the disciples, who suddenly found that the storm had been stilled, we were left standing beside the road alive and well despite our scare.

Some things, of course, had changed. Damage to our Jeep and trailer will have to be fixed. Extra trips to retrieve them will be needed when ready. Many hours of rebuilding lost data and steps needed to prevent identity theft and fraud if files on my computer are misused. But the best change is to realize that none of these earthly matters matter in the real scheme of things in this world. Only our faith in the living God and trust in Christ our Savior and life with the indwelling Holy Spirit are the things that ultimately matter. That was the lesson for the disciples in the boat and that is our lesson anytime we are brought to realize that earthly goods can be let go and we cannot be destroyed by such losses. Even if our lives had been lost in a head-on collision as we crossed the centerline of the highway or a cliff had awaited us instead of a solid bank, our life with Jesus had been secured forever. This is the joy of true Christian faith, not that we will be spared of problems and threats, but that whatever happens we will in the end see Jesus in the Promised Land.