Have you ever felt like you are living in the midst of a hurricane? Do you sometimes feel like your work, your relationships and your life in general are engulfed by winds gusting over 75 miles an hour, flying debris and torrential rains? Do you sometimes experience a brief and eerie calm before the next onslaught of chaos?
As long as you live in this world, you will be living in a hurricane because sin has destroyed paradise. Ironically humanity has not only caused the birth of this marauding disaster, but people actually grant it destructive power over their lives through such things as their devotion to deceitful desires.
But the important question is “where in the hurricane do you live?” Do you dwell in those thunderous walls of rain and wind? Or do you reside in the quiet eye of the hurricane seemingly passed over by the chaos of this life?
Does the calm center seem attractive? Then consider these four principles.
Principle #1 You can’t avoid problems, but you can avoid the types of problems which destroy the hope and joy which God provides. The type of crises that come from a self-centered existence and ungodly lifestyle destroy one’s inner peace.Principle #2 Today’s decisions can create tomorrow’s problems. Face it, sometimes you choose the type of problems you have. Today's dietary decisions affects tomorrow's health, etc.
Principle #3 Every decision involves some sacrifice and that price tag will create a problem. To choose “this” you sacrifice “that.” What are you willing to sacrifice in order to gain something else? An even more important question is by what standard are you making these decisions? Will we make our decisions based upon what God would have us to do or because Self wants to rule?
Principle #4 God is not mocked, each one reaps what he has sown. Those who sow to their flesh will reap destruction, those who sow to the Spirit will harvest life.
A Few Related Scriptures
Galatians 5:16-6:10; Romans 8:5-18; Philippians 4:4-9; 2 Peter 1:3-11; 1 John 2:15-17; Luke 12:22-34
Life in the Wind and the Rain of the Hurricane
• Consider how the compulsion to buy causes one to go into debt eventually leading one to the type of future problems where one is “owned” by credit card compangies, etc.• Then there is the person who continually chooses to work overtime so that the family can enjoy a higher standard of living only to wonder years later whatever happened to the kids and his marriage.
• Let’s not forget the pain, enslavement, and the various types of mental and physical diseases which eventually come from choosing to continue in a sinful vice.
Life in the Eye of the Storm
• Consider the person who is content with what they have and lives with the peace that God has promised to provide if I will put His kingdom first.• The type of problems that come from a godly lifestyle of self-discipline and self-denial create character and do not rob one’s inner peace.
Barry Newton, Copyright © 1998 - 1999
Other Articles Which Might Be of Interest
Rocks in the Pond (The consequences of our actions)Helping People with Problems to Live As God Intended
Making the Most of Our Time (Knowing what the goal should be)