Yesterday I was thinking about my son. He was telling me his plans for after he graduates: he said one thing that he would like to do would be to go to Japan for a year and teach English over there. Of course, the massive earthquakes that hit there yesterday made me very glad he was in the U.S.
Can you imagine being there, going through what those people went through? There were foreshocks measuring 7.4 on the Richter Scale--that by itself was a quake large enough to cause major devastation. But then when the biggest quake happened, it was over ten times stronger, measuring 8.9--the biggest quake ever in recorded history in that region. Can you imagine the fear that the aftershocks brought?
And the waves it caused in the Pacific Ocean had enough energy to travel halfway around the world and cause damage from San Diego, California all the way up to Washington state. Oh, the awesome power of Nature. But how much more powerful is Nature's God!
We serve an awesome God. Even when our world is shaken, He is our Rock. When the ground beneath us is swept away, He is our fortress. Whenever fear overwhelms us, He is our solitude. He is more powerful than anything this world can do to us.
This morning I read Philippians chapter four. It is a very rich passage, full of promise and exhortations. I thinks it is funny that it starts out with Paul exhorting two women in the church to stop their in-fighting and just get along. These were women who had done good things in the past, but now there was strife between them. Paul wanted them to stop focusing on their petty disagreements, and get on with the Lord's work.
Verse four says "Rejoice in the Lord always, I will say it again: Rejoice!" How hard is it this morning for the people of Japan to rejoice? Their homes and property and livelihood have been swept away. Yet God wants them to focus not on the earthly things, but on the eternal things. What an opportunity to witness! Now that God has your attention, now that you no longer have things to distract you, can we now tell you about a God that has a hope and a heaven for you? When mudslides have hidden your streets from view, can you imagine a place that has streets of gold?
Verses six and seven say: "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."
It is human to have anxiety. Especially in times of devastation and chaos. But if you give it to God, He will give you peace. Not a peace of this world, but the peace that nobody on earth can understand. What a powerful witness that is to other people, when their world is turned upside down just like yours was, and yet you have this powerful peace in the presence of the Savior. This will cause them to wonder about you, and may give you opportunity to witness to them, to share Jesus with them.
The world will not always be in turmoil. Sometimes it goes along well for a season. It is in those times that we need to not be complacent. It is human to let our minds wander. That is why Paul also tells us in verse 8: "Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things."
Keep your mind on heavenly things, lest you fall into sin. Be vigilant, be sober. In short, be like Christ. I know it is easier said than done, but we must do it. When my son was in high school sports, there were signs and T-shirts everywhere with such exhortations as "Go big or go home", and "Give it all you've got, you can rest when you are dead." While these catch phrases are amusing to us couch potatoes, they are encouraging the the athlete. And we should encourage one another to do good, and to stay away from sin--even sinful thoughts.
Verse 13 is possibly the most famous verse in this passage: "I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength." Through Christ, the people of Japan who survived the earthquake can rebuild their lives. Through Christ, my father, who is battling cancer for the third time in two years, can overcome and not lose hope. Whatever turmoil you are going through at this very moment, you can turn to Jesus and give it to Him. He will help you through, and give you peace, and lead your thoughts to heavenly themes.
He is our hope and our salvation. In Him we overcome our fears and our situations. Without Him, there is no hope. Our hope is this: His Only Purpose--Eternity. What happens here today will not matter tomorrow. Heaven and Earth will pass away, but God's love is eternal. If you have it, share it with somebody today. If you don't have it, take hold of it today.
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