FINDING STABILITY IN AN UNSTABLE WORLD

The world we live in is shaking and quaking. Not a day goes by that we don't hear about another disaster of some kind. It would be bad enough if the disaster's were confined to the natural world but the shaking and quaking reaches beyond the physical real and touches us right where we live.

The greatest shaking and quaking that affects us comes through declining standards in morality and ethics. The liberalism of our day is striking at the very foundation of all that we count righteous and we need a definitive foundation to build our lives upon if we are going to be spared the devastation that accompanies this decline in morality and ethics.

There is only one sure and solid foundation that we can build our lives upon. This foundation is the Word of God.

Jesus told the parable of the Two Builders.

Therefore whosoever hearteth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house, and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it. Matthew 7:24-27

Our lives are like houses and we need a strong foundation.

The world around us is constantly changing. And all the change is not for the better. Marvelous are the inventions of our day but, in the midst of all our mechanical and technological advances, society continues to plunge deeper into the dregs of moral depravation. The world and its moral condition may be changing but God's Word never changes!

For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass witheresth, and the flower thereof falleth away: But the word of the Lord endureth forever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you. 1 Peter 1:24-25

The word of God is the only absolute and authoritative foundation that any of us should build our lives upon.

So shall be my word that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it. Isaiah 55:11

The Word of God has creative and sustaining power. It was by his word that God created and sustains the universe.

By the word of the Lord were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth. Psalm 33:6

Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, AND UPHOLDING ALL THINGS BY THE WORD OF HIS POWER...Hebrews 1:3

In this world, surrounded by instability and insecurity, we need to have a foundation that is stable and secure and we find it in the Word of God.

THE WORD OF GOD DESCRIBES ITSELF AS WATER

This is illustrated in the Apostle Paul's admonition to husbands to love their wives.

Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the WASHING OF WATER BY THE WORD, that he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. Ephesians 5:25-27

When we begin our journey of the New Life in the kingdom of God we are cleansed, washed clean, by the Holy Spirit through the Word of God that we believe unto salvation.

Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you. John 15:3

As we continue to read, understand and absorb God's word, it enables us to live a life that pleases him. This process of knowing and growing in the word renews our minds and sanctifies (set's apart) us for God's purposes for our lives.

Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth. John 17:17

THE WORD OF GOD DESCRIBES ITSELF AS LIGHT

All of us lived in darkness before we knew the saving grace of Jesus. Now, as we read the Bible, its contents shines as a bright light onto areas of our lives that God desires to change. It also sheds light onto the paths that he desires for us to walk.

Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path. Psalm 119:105

God's word shows us where our feet are at and where he desires for us to put our feet. That's challenging. Especially in an age where people have grown (more appropriately would be to say digressed) to the point of rejecting any kind of reproval or rebuke.

Yet, we are challenged to travel along the pathway toward Christlikeness. As long as we shield ourselves from the light we will never grow up in Christ.

According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; and to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; and to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins. 2 Peter 1:3-9

So much emphasis is placed on filling up the lack in our lives today until it seems that the Lord Jesus came on a mission to make us all millionaires. What a shortfall in honest treatment of God's word. Millions flock to conferences to hear of wealth, prosperity and self-exaltation and scoff at those who find beauty in selfless surrender of lives of sacrificial service as vessels yielded to the improving process of the Holy Spirit that produces holiness.

THE WORD OF GOD DESCRIBES ITSELF AS SEED

Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth forever. 1 Peter 1:23

In the Parable of the Sower (Luke 8:4-15) Jesus tells us that the "seed" is the word of God. When we hear God's word it is like seed that is sown into our hearts. This seed is designed to grow and produce fruit in our lives. If our hearts are hard and unreceptive, the seed is snatched away. If we receive the seed, obey the seed and allow the seed to take root in our lives it begins to work in our lives.

What are the things that snatch away the seed?

Temptation or Testing - Luke 8:13

Some people, because of the hardness of their hearts, yield to the temptation to sin and return to their old sinful habits resulting in their turning away from Jesus.

Some people will not stand for testing. Temptation is itself a test and there is no real excuse for yielding to temptation.

For there hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it. 1 Cor. 10:13

Cares, Riches and Pleasures

This world is full of allurements. Our carnal nature seeks to satisfy itself and will turn our affections toward distractions, wealth and desires. We must guard our hearts against these things which will cause our own spiritual destruction.

For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. 1 John 2:16

This is why it is so important for us to personally receive God's word.

And receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls. But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. James 1:21-22

THE WORD OF GOD DESCRIBES ITSELF AS FOOD

A balanced natural diet produces healthy physical bodies. It's no different in the spiritual sense. God's word feeds us and causes us to grow spiritually. When we received Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior we were "born of the Spirit". (John 3:3 and 6) For us to grow in the Spirit we must continue to feed on God's word.

When Jesus was confronted by Satan he used God's word as his defense.

But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. Matthew 4:4

We find God's will in God's word. Jesus knew this and we would do well to learn it as well. On one occasion his disciples were encouraging him to eat something. His response was borne in his knowledge of God's word and will.

I have meat (food) to eat that ye know not of....My meat is to do the will of him who sent me, and to finish his work. John 4:32 and 34

Something that Jesus said in his Sermon on the Mount is applicable here.

Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst for righteousness: for they shall be filled. Matthew 5:6

The important question to raise here is simply.....

What Are We Hungering For?

ACQUIRE A LOVE FOR GOD'S WORD

As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby: If so be that ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious. 1 Peter 2:2-3

We need to crave God's word. It creates security and stability in our lives. Until we hunger for the God's word we'll not take or make time to feast upon the riches that it contains and it is the truth that makes us free. Why remain in bondage to sin and self when freedom is only a commitment away?

The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple. The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes. The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever: the judgements of the Lord are true and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb. Moreover by them is thy servant warned: and in keeping them there is great reward. Psalm 19:7-11

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