HE'S THERE
Updated: 2 days ago
Life on planet earth is full of changing conditions. One minute you’re sailing on smooth seas and the next minute a typhoon is trying to tear the boat apart. Such was the situation with Jesus’ disciples in Mark 4: 36-41. If you read it, you will see that they had every reason in the world to be alarmed about their situation, but forgot about the One reason they had not to be alarmed about their situation. Jesus was there with them.
Sometimes we have to realize that our reaction to situations is largely a matter of perspective. Are we looking at things with fearful eyes or faithful eyes? Loving eyes or hateful eyes? Prideful eyes or humble eyes? Confrontational eyes or peace-seeking eyes? Weak eyes or meek eyes? Are we allowing the Spirit, and not the flesh, to influence our initial reactions to our experiences and changing conditions?
While serving in the military at Ramstein Air Base, Germany in the late 1970’s, I was told that if I didn’t like the weather just wait a while and it would change. Interestingly enough, life on planet earth is very similar in that it is full of ever-evolving, constantly changing conditions. Though we seek stability and continuity, only one entity in this universe never changes and that’s God. “For I am the LORD, I change not.” (Malachi 3: 6)
Therefore, quoting the title to a song written by Sam Cooke of the gospel group The Soul Stirrers over 60 years ago, which spoke of faith under distressing circumstances believing ultimate liberation would arrive, we can expect that “A Change Is Gonna Come” when we are enduring life’s troubling moments. During our journey here on earth we will pass through difficult seasons, experience severe storms and have to navigate rough roads. But we won’t go through these things alone. How wonderful it is to have the Lord on our side upon Whom we can call, day or night, to help us through these turbulent times.
But if Jesus said, “I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee” (Hebrews 13: 5), that means He is right there whenever those things come up. So, if you’re irritated, He’s there. Sick? He’s there. In pain? He’s there. Grief-stricken? He’s there. Persecuted? He’s there. Confused? He’s there. Discouraged? He’s there. No matter what situation or condition you find yourself in, He’s there.
So, if He’s there, if the God of all comfort, peace and strength is there, then there should not be anything to worry about, right? But we do. He never said that you would not go through assaults on your mind, body and soul, but that He would be there to bring you through these attacks. “Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them all.” (Psalm 34: 19) His goal for us is to “Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” (John 14: 27) So let’s read it right. It doesn’t say let your heart be troubled and afraid and then call upon Me. Not that you can’t call on Him, but since He’s with you, by faith you have immediate and direct access to His power and glory at the very moment your heart wants to be troubled or afraid.
The intention is not for us to get peace after the storm, but to have peace in the storm. Why? Because He’s in there with us, upholding us, strengthening us, calming us, comforting us, leading us as we walk through the valley of the shadow of death waiting for the clouds of human misery to gloriously dissipate before us. Because of Jesus, “We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed.” (2 Corinthians 4: 8-9) He may not be here with us physically but He is always here with us spiritually as stated in verse 7 which tells us the reason we have the ability to have patience with blessed assurance: “But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.” And what is that treasure? It’s actually not a what but a Who. As God told Abram (Abraham) thousands of years ago, “I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward.” (Genesis 15: 1)
Take for example the Hebrew boys in the fiery furnace, or Daniel in the lion’s den, or Paul and Silas in prison, or Abraham going to sacrifice Isaac, or Job in his multiple, simultaneous afflictions. With the Hebrew boys even the smell of smoke wasn’t on them. In Daniel’s case, the lions weren’t allowed to touch him. But Job suffered tremendously, Paul and Silas were beaten and handled roughly and Abraham had to raise the knife with the intent to kill His own son.
But no matter what the situation was or what their humanity felt, as with the woman with the issue of blood, virtue was injected into their situation. Some of their bodies may have been bruised and their emotions tattered but there is no indication that any of their hearts were troubled or afraid, for they all had one thing in common. They all had faith. A total trust that God was with them regardless of what the situation was telling them. They found complete soul contentment in that fact alone, regardless of their carnal condition or emotional urgings.
Back to the 4th Chapter of Mark, after the disciples got in a frenzy and then accused Jesus of not caring about them, He got up from His nap, stopped the storm and calmed the sea. Jesus' earthly body may have been asleep but His power, His glory, His majesty and His grace are never asleep. And after His powerful and authoritative display, He asked them some penetrating questions. The first was, “Why are ye so fearful?” Taken in context, the word “fearful” in this case is not alluding to dread, timidity or cowardice, but the implication is “ being faithless.” This perspective is confirmed by His second question when He asked, “How is it that ye have no faith?” Wow!
In the final verse it says, “And they feared exceedingly,” not referring to fright or alarm, but meaning “to be in awe, to reverence.” They were absolutely astounded and stunned and humbled at the glory and power they had just witnessed! They even asked each other, “What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey Him?”, although they had seen Him perform miracles before!
What they didn’t realize was this was a training ground for them. Jesus was working on their faith because they were going to need it for the mission ahead. And it didn’t take long because if they thought the storm was bad, as soon as the boat came ashore in Mark 5, they were confronted with a raving maniac. A man possessed with thousands of demons who men could not confine. His tormented rage allowed him to even break any chain or other restraint that was put on him. A pitiful creature who “…always, night and day, he was in the mountains, and in the tombs, crying, and cutting himself with stones.” How sad.
But in the presence of Jesus, even demons must bow and tremble! So, as the story goes, the demons had to flee out of the man and into a herd of pigs driving them crazy and causing them to jump into the sea and drown themselves. The people from the town were told and came to see this amazing sight. “And they that fed the swine fled, and told it in the city, and in the country. And they went out to see what it was that was done. And they come to Jesus, and see him that was possessed with the devil, and had the legion, sitting, and clothed, and in his right mind: and they were afraid.”
As for the man, his pain was over. He wanted to go with Jesus but Jesus said, “Go home to thy friends, and tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee, and hath had compassion on thee.” And though Jesus would not be with Him physically, He would be with him spiritually, so the man did what he was told. “And he departed, and began to publish in Decapolis how great things Jesus had done for him: and all men did marvel.” Don't let situations or people in your life cause you not to do what Jesus has called you to do.
So, am I telling you that you will never feel the effects of your humanity? Absolutely not. In fact, I’m telling you emphatically that when you do feel the effects of your humanity, “CALL ON JESUS!” You see, even Jesus suffered the crush of carnality and the sting of sinful flesh which is death and separation from God. But He did that so we would know that He is always with us and in His mere presence is spiritual power and access to soul peace.
So again, call on Jesus because He's there. But have faith in Him first. For “…without faith it is impossible to please Him: for he that cometh to God must believe that He is , and that He is a rewarder of those that diligently seek Him.” (Hebrews 11: 6) So exercise your faith, build up your faith and let that faith work for you. Fight the good fight of faith because it is critical not only for your present fight, but for the fights that lay ahead. And at the end of your faith you will find a crown of life “…be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life” (Revelation 2: 10) and the salvation of your souls. “Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.” (1 Peter 1: 9)
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