Earthquakes

This whole section of the book has dealt with how we learn humbly. The reality is that none of us know everything, and we can improve the quality of our lives immensely if we are open to learning humbly from others and God. Today's, lesson is on earthquakes.

According to an article I read, "[f]rom a simplistic standpoint, an earthquake places a sideways load on a
building." And, so, the engineers need to determine how to develop a building that can withstand the sideways load. "One type of technology (which is very technical) is called isolated base technology. This involves using a coil or other flexible support and placing it between the structure and the foundation of the building. This system interacts the motion of the seismic waves. As the earthquake moves the foundation one way, the support moves the other way, and the building stays nearly completely stationary."

Taking this analogy, the buildings (lives) that will stand up under the sideways pressure best will be those with a flexible support. Let me apply this to our lives. Our foundation is the fact that Jesus Christ -- God -- became man, walked among us, and died for the sins of the world. There is none other. The flexible support is us and how much me have discovered the nonnegotiables, promises, and principles of the faith and then put them into practice. As we put them into practice and internalize what really are the nonnegotiables, we become flexible -- not rigid. Most "mature" Christians make preferences into nonnegotiables. Jesus never did. And, as such, he became very flexible. So, when he found out that his cousin was killed and the killer wanted to meet him :) and that 5000 people were hungry, he could withstand the earthquake. Heb. 4:15&16 says this about Jesus, "[f]or we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need." More on this in a second.

The author had some thoughts that stuck out to me. He said that our default is to do all we can and then when all else fails to say, "well, I guess there's nothing left to do but pray!" He goes on to say, "But this formula is backwards; prayer should be our first response, not our last resort. God says, 'Turn to Me first, pray about it, because I'm right here with you." He concludes that you'll know if God is truly the center if you stop worrying! That was CONVICTING to me.

The other thought was that God many times doesn't give use presents; rather, His PRESENCE in the storm. And, hey, sometimes we mistake God's presence for something else (see Matt. 14:24). In that story, once they recognized who the person was he blessed them with his presence and a present.

Back to Jesus. He had storms. He was tempted. Yet, his core -- his support -- was flexible. He did ministry much different than the religious elite but remained faithful to his core. You see, when we define ourselves by God's declaration (forgiven and set free) and apply daily the principles and promises of God, we can be very flexible. There really aren't as many nonnegotiables as I'd like to think either. The most mature -- the most ready for earthquakes -- will have a strong and flexible support built on the foundation of Christ.

Are you in an earthquake? Ask God for his presence. Remember, we have a high priest, Jesus that can sympathize. God boldly to the throne of grace and find the grace and mercy you need!