Fasten Your Lifeline!

In CS Forester's book "Hornblower in the West Indies", the story's protagonist Horatio Hornblower encounters a fierce hurricane on his way home.  The only way he can survive is to tie him and his wife, Barbara, to the mainmast of the "Pretty Jane" with a lifeline.  The storm raged, the ship neared foundering in the viciousness of the wind, rain and waves.  The waves did its best to claw them overboard.  The rain pelted them in a torrential downpour that threatened to drown them where they stood.  The wind howled, ripping anything and everything not tied down overboard.  However, Hornblower and Barbara survived.  They were sore, exhausted, battered and beaten, but they were alive.  The lifeline Hornblower had the foresight to use held them tight and refused to let them go.

The writer to the Hebrews states in 12:26 that God has made a promise.  "Once again I will shake not only the earth but the heavens also." There is a storm coming.

Everywhere you look you can see foreshadowing of a storm.  The global economy is in various stages of meltdown.  People betray one another or trample each other in their bid to become wealthy.  The earth reels about with unusual weather patterns, earthquakes, tsunamis and a marked warming of global temperatures.  Isaiah 24 gives a good description of what seems to be happening.  Christ also warns of coming catastrophe in Matthew 24.

I do not consider myself a doomsday prophet, nor do I make any claims to any prophetic vision.  However, I believe Scripture is quite clear on the fact that a storm will come that will shake the earth to its very foundation. Given this, I have to ask, do you have a lifeline?

When Hornblower saw the storm, he strapped himself and the one he loved to the only firm thing on board - the mainmast of the ship.

What will you strap yourself and your loved ones to?  What is your lifeline?  Is it your job?  Your wealth?  Your strong hands and back?  Your good name?

Or is it something more enduring, more everlasting?

To use the words of the old hymn by Priscilla Owens I ask:

Will your anchor hold in the storms of life,
When the clouds unfold their wings of strife?
When the strong tides lift and the cables strain,
Will your anchor drift, or firm remain?

I encourage you to anchor your lifeline to the Everlasting, the Ancient of Days, God Almighty and His promise to "Never leave us or forsake us" (Deuteronomy 31:6) and His assurance of Salvation through the death and resurrection of His Son, Jesus Christ (John 3:14-17; Romans 5:12-20; Hebrews 9:27)

Friends, we can be safe though the world shatter and fall to pieces around us.  If we but lay a hold to God's promises and assurances in His Word, we will be saved.  Christ is returning.  He declares in Revelation 22:12-13 "Look, I am coming soon, bringing my reward with me to repay all people according to their deeds. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End."  If you have a lifeline attached to this firm foundation - Christ Jesus - you will survive whatever happens in this world.

We have an anchor that keeps the soul
Steadfast and sure while the billows roll,
Fastened to the Rock which cannot move,
Grounded firm and deep in the Savior’s love.

Be encouraged in Christ and fasten your lifeline!

Why is Being a Christian difficult?

Is it just me or is being a Christian difficult?

I am not being facetious. I am legitimately asking.

To clarify, I have recently been receiving "Voice of the Martyrs". I  am bothered by the fact that many Believers around the world are paying for their faith with life and limb while I struggle with living my faith outwardly. Why? It is not like I will pay for my belief with anything more than having someone maybe snicker at me. Though this is true, I still struggle with showing my faith.

Could it be that I am too comfortable and distracted?

When I consider how pampered we are in the West, it is easy to see how there seems to be no room for God. We have exceptional free healthcare; relatively affordable housing; an endless parade of entertainment possibilities; a good socio-economic safety net and an array of other opportunities to meet any need - real or imagined.

Reminds me of another society from years ago. Laodicea. They were wealthy, healthy and wise - or so they thought. God saw it differently. He called them wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. (Revelation 3:17)

Could this be true about us...about me?

Maybe we can take counsel from God. He counselled the people of Laodicea to buy from Him gold refined in fire so they may be rich, white clothing to cover their nakedness, and salve to heal their blinded eyes. Maybe we should do the same.

I think the first step in doing this is repentance. Repent of our arrogant attitudes toward God and truly humble ourselves in obedience to His Holy Word and the sanctifying work of His Holy Spirit.

God forgive me. Holy Spirit sanctify me. Christ lead me.

Press on, it gets harder but more rewarding.