Unsinkable Faith

A faithful Christian is like an unsinkable boat with a buoyancy tank, an emergency radio, and a rescue team ready to respond to a call.

For though the righteous fall seven times, they rise again, but the wicked stumble when calamity strikes. Pr 24:16 NIV

God has good plans for your life. Have you failed time and time again? Have your colleagues looked down on you? Or perhaps even your family?

At the age of 40, Moses was a failure. He tried on his own to liberate his Hebrew people. His attempt was a disaster. He killed an Egyptian and had to flee. He then spent 40 years as a shepherd in the desert, a nobody in a foreign land.

Are you considered a problem person? Perhaps you see yourself as a problem?
 
Mary Magdalene was not a successful person when she met Jesus. But Jesus saw great potential in her. Jesus saw her as a holy woman. She was chosen by God to be the first witness of the risen Son of God. When even the apostles despaired, she was chosen to testify to the men about the resurrection.

What do we know about Mary?

When Jesus rose early on the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had driven seven demons. 

She went and told those who had been with him and who were mourning and weeping. 
When they heard that Jesus was alive and that she had seen him, they did not believe it. Mk 16:9–11 NIV

In religious tradition, Mary is regarded as an evil woman before her conversion, probably a prostitute, but this is pure fiction.

Perhaps she was mentally ill, perhaps somehow disabled or deeply depressed. We don't know. In any case, she was probably not a successful person.

Perhaps you are in a tight spot right now, and not for the first time. If Jesus is your Lord, then he is also your Saviour. He always has a way out for you.

The disciples were in a small boat in a terrible storm. They were experienced fishermen, but this storm was quite extraordinary.

Suddenly a furious storm came up on the lake, so that the waves swept over the boat. But Jesus was sleeping. 
The disciples went and woke him, saying, “Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!” Mt 8:24–25 NIV

Jesus was in the boat. They could not sink when the Son of God was in the boat. When the Creator of the universe dwells in you, you are also like an unsinkable boat. Even if you capsize, you remain in God's hand.

We know the story of how Jesus exercised authority over the weather.

He replied, “You of little faith, why are you so afraid?” Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm. Mt 8:26 NIV

The boat was filled with water, but it could not sink because God Himself was in the boat. 

My sheep hear my voice. I know them, and they follow me. 

I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one will snatch them out of my hand. 
What my Father has given me is greater than all else, and no one can snatch it out of the Father’s hand. Jn 10:27–29 NRSV

If you have entrusted your life to Jesus, you can trust God to provide for you in the worst situations and rescue you from many predicaments.

You can pray like David and believe too.

Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me! For my soul trusts in You; And in the shadow of Your wings I will make my refuge, Until these calamities have passed by. 

I will cry out to God Most High, To God who performs all things for me. Ps 57:1–2 NKJV 

God to the Rescue

 As a farmer was walking through his yard, he found a dead chicken. It was badly injured, obviously killed by a bird of prey. When he picked up the chicken, four chicks were still alive. The mother died saving her chicks.

He will cover you with his feathers; you will take refuge under his wings. His faithfulness will be a protective shield. Ps 91:4 CSB

When we look around, we see a world that has fallen apart. Who tore this world apart? God did not do it.

We can blame the devil, but that is only half the truth. We must all admit that we have gone wrong somehow. We need God's forgiveness so that we do not suffer eternal separation from God and His goodness after death.

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. Jn 3:16 NIV

There are many Christians who believe this. They hope to be taken to heaven after they die, but their life on earth is only a shadow of the supernatural adventure with God that we see in the Bible.

God wants us to go deeper into his love. 

“Look! I stand at the door and knock. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal together as friends. Rev 3:20 NLT

You can experience God's personal love in this way. But how? 

“Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. 

For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened. Mt 7:7–8 NLT

When you learn to experience God's loving kindness, you must expect attacks from the enemy of your soul, but those who live in close friendship with Jesus can have his supernatural protection.

He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. 
I will say of the LORD, “He is my refuge and my fortress; My God, in Him I will trust.” Ps 91:1–2 NKJV

I know a woman who is familiar with God’s tender love. One evening, as she was driving home, God saved her from certain death. 

It was too late to brake. She couldn't avoid a collision. Then she felt a terrible heat. The vehicle drove through her car without making a sound or causing any damage. It was like something out of a science fiction movie. 

Blessings from Bad Things

 I am 76, but not feeble. After 40 years teaching English to adult immigrants, I retired nearly 5 years ago. Retirement has been a great relief after years of stressful wrestling with senseless bureaucracy, but stress can take its toll.

Since I retired, I have nearly lost count of the operations, including six on my eyes. God looked after me wonderfully and I had amazing eye surgeons. My eyesight is close to 20/20 and with good spectacles I can read and write on my laptop with no effort at all.

A few weeks ago I flew from coast to coast to visit cousins and friends in Melbourne, Australia. It was wonderful to see the city where I was born and to visit familiar places.

Two days before my return flight, I was crossing a road when I tripped on a tram line and fell flat on my face. I was bruised and bleeding around my right eye and I looked like the loser in a boxing ring. I was 76 and old people can easily break bones but only the little finger on my right hand was damaged, possibly broken, but two months later, the finger is only very slightly out of shape and not painful.

My right eye was surrounded by bruises and I was bleeding from a cut in my eyebrow, but I can only thank God that my eye was not damaged. I was mostly concerned that my spectacles were badly bent out of shape and there were two small scratches on the right lens.

There was no sign of concussion and I was able to drive back to my friend’s house where I was staying. I am so grateful to God for His protection.

The following day I found an optician who repaired my spectacle frame and I was able to read in spite of the small scratches. The optician also had an identical frame which I bought for only $64. Three weeks later, I had new spectacles. The multi focal lenses were better than my old ones. I found that it was no longer an effort to focus on print in my favourite paperback books.

And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. Rom 8:28 NASB95

God Helps in your Deep Need

 If we have no need, we do not need a miracle from God. If we can manage it humanly on our own, we often try to do just that.

• Barak Obama became president and tried to win the support of the world with the well-known words, ‘Yes, we can!’ But despite these words, he has failed in many ways.

•  Angela Merkel has taken the same line: ‘We can do it!’ She still says so, but has it worked?

• Politicians claim that Islam is a religion of peace, but where do we find peace in the Middle East?

   After 1990, a new era began, where the Russians were supposed to be our democratic partners in a new world order, but now we see a not-so-friendly leader in Moscow.

  Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will protect you with my victorious right hand. Isaiah 41:10
   
  God does not deceive us with false assurance and hollow promises. Where there is no threat, we do not need encouragement to overcome fear.
   
  The prophet David, king of Israel, had to confront real threats. He left us many psalms that testify to his struggle against fear.
  
  Be merciful to me, my God, for my enemies are in hot pursuit; all day long they press their attack.
  My adversaries pursue me all day long; in their pride many are attacking me.
  When I am afraid, I put my trust in you. Ps 56:1–3 NIV
   
  These are our invincible weapons against fear, the testimonies of those who have overcome danger and fear.
   
  God's word is not just made up of dogmas and commandments, but also of totally reliable promises. They are reliable for two reasons.
  
  Firstly, they come from God, who will never let us down because he is completely truthful and also almighty.
  We can also rely on God's promises because they have been proven in hard times of affliction.
  
  God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble. Ps 46:1 NASB95
   
  The words in the Bible are not just words. God has kept his promises again and again in the Bible stories.
  
  I have seen time and again how God has saved me and others from death, illness, poverty and unemployment.
   
  So often we expect our parents, partners, friends, doctors, communities, employers or politicians to provide the help we urgently need. Sometimes we get help from people and sometimes they let us down.
  
  But God has never let me down. I have often seen God intervene in humanly impossible circumstances.
   
  It is often precisely in impossible situations that we have to make a decision. Should we panic or just seek human help? Panic doesn't work at all and passive resignation is like death itself.
  
  But we have a God who gave his son to death but then raised him from the dead. Jesus died so that we can always find a way out of any situation.
   
  Jesus said before his death:
  
  Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me will live even if he dies,
  and everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die. Do you believe this?” Jn 11:25–26 NASB95
  
  God has work for the unemployed, healing for the sick, joy for the depressed, a future for the hopeless.
   
  When Christian children in Syria or Iraq are beheaded by terrorists because they refuse to become Muslims, they are immediately caught up and their souls appear in God's heaven, where they immediately receive God's comfort and love.
   
  Therefore my heart is glad, and my soul rejoices; my body also rests secure.
  For you do not give me up to Sheol, or let your faithful one see the Pit.
  You show me the path of life. In your presence there is fullness of joy; in your right hand are pleasures forevermore. Ps 16:9–11 NRSV

Emergency in Intensive Care. Safe in God's Hands

 I am now 75. Nearly four years ago I had an emergency life saving operation. After the operation, my blood pressure suddenly dropped to 60/45 and my pulse to 29, so it was an emergency, but I thank God for good doctors and nurses and effective medication.

I did not feel panic. I trusted Jesus. I was completely safe in God's hands.

My life with Jesus is eternal, but my mortal body is perishable.

What can I do this week that will make a difference to those around me?

How can I make God's love and truth known today?

“Show me, LORD, my life’s end and the number of my days; let me know how fleeting my life is. Ps 39:4 NIV

Your life is really very short, but God has planned a purpose for your life.

What is the goal of your life? Do you already know?

If not, have you asked God seriously? He loves you. He wants to answer. He is not deaf and not dumb.

My sheep hear my voice. I know them, and they follow me. Jn 10:27 NRSV

Your Heavenly Bodyguard

Have you committed your life to the Son of God?
He wants to be your provider, healer and your invincible bodyguard.

The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him, and he delivers them. Ps 34:7 NIV

In Africa, there are often conflicts between Christians and Muslims. A Christian community was once threatened by angry Muslims. The jihadists wanted to burn down the church and kill the Christians.

The Christians sought refuge in the church and prayed. When the Islamists approached, they were frightened and fled. Why? The Muslims saw powerful angels, God's bodyguards.

Jackie Pullinger is an English woman who moved to Hong Kong at the age of 21 to do missionary work on her own.

She went to the most horrible, dirty and dangerous neighbourhood to reach the prostitutes, pimps and drug dealers for Jesus. With God's power and love, this terrible place was totally transformed.

God was her bodyguard.

Can we therefore expect that as Christians, we will always be immune to all persecution and violence? Unfortunately not.

Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
“Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me.

Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you. Mt 5:10–12 NIV

Paul experienced terrible persecution but also many miraculous healings.

Some claim that Paul was seriously ill, that his illness was long-lasting and that God refused to heal him, or that Paul was never healed.

But when we consider the extreme violence that Paul was subjected to and how he was still able to continue his incredibly hard ministry, there is no way he could have done this without repeated miraculous healings.

Five times I received from the Jews thirty-nine lashes.
Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, a night and a day I have spent in the deep. 2 Co 11:24–25 NASB95

Then some Jews came from Antioch and Iconium and won the crowd over. They stoned Paul and dragged him outside the city, thinking he was dead.

But after the disciples had gathered around him, he got up and went back into the city. The next day he and Barnabas left for Derbe. Acts 14:19–20 NIV

Jesus promised us as his disciples that we should expect God's care, protection and healing, but also suffering and persecution.

Many are the afflictions of the righteous, But the LORD delivers him out of them all. Ps 34:19 NASB95