One of the biggest misconceptions new Christians have is that once they're saved, everything is perfect. Nothing could be farther from the truth. In fact, often times life can become even more challenging as people and habits continue to pull at you from all angles in opposition to your new way of life! After all scripture does say that the devil is like a roaring lion just waiting for an opportunity to pounce on you!
I have always loved the familiar Sunday School story about the wise and foolish builders found in Matthew 7:24-27
24 “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. 26 But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. 27 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”
I think most of us are familiar with the story enough to understand the basic point Jesus was trying to make. However, I think often times we can overlook the fact that, regardless...it's going to rain. No matter how grounded your faith is, no matter how long you have been in a right relationship with Christ, it's still going to rain.
The thing that separates Christians and non-Christians is the way in which they hold up in the rain. To a non-Christian a storm in their life can be devastating because they feel as though there is no hope or no way out, and wind the rains come down and the winds begin to blow, their foundations are rocked to the corps and often crumble to the ground. But a Christian who is grounded on the word knows that no matter how big the storm or how heavy the rain gets, the God that calms the storm in scripture is the same God that is in control of their life today! (Mark 4:35-41)
35 That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, “Let us go over to the other side.” 36 Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him. 37 A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. 38 Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?”
39 He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm.
40 He said to his disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?”
41 They were terrified and asked each other, “Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!”
So don't be misled, pack an umbrella...it will rain, sometimes it may even pour. But be assured, the same God who said to the wind and the waves, "Quiet! Be still!" is the same God who can shelter you amidst any storm that may come your way!
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