Trust in God through shaky times so that your confidence in the Lord will not fail. Prepare ye the way of the Lord. Today, minimize your troubles by reflecting on all that will never, ever be shaken in your life.
Hi, I’m Joni Eareckson Tada and I live in earthquake country.
Yep, southern California is ripe – and I mean, it is very ready to experience a really big earthquake. Believe me, I have been awakened in the middle of the night by some pretty fierce shaking, and the big one that’s been predicted is yet to come. I remember the last big earthquake in 1994. I was in bed at 4:00 AM when all of a sudden, the house began shaking violently, as if some big monster were grabbing it. Everything came tumbling off shelves and walls and in the dark, I heard glass crashing everywhere. Later that morning when we got up, I went into the kitchen and had to cry; all the contents in our kitchen cupboards, dishes and saucers and cups, everything, had crashed and broken on the floor. The refrigerator door was wide open, and every glass bottle of pickles and mayonnaise and mustard and salad dressing was shattered in a big pile. It was my first experience in a really big earthquake. And it wasn’t really even the big one; they downgraded it to a 6.9 on the Richter scale.
I thought about that 1994 earthquake the other day when I was reading through Hebrews 12. I got to the 27th verse and it sure did come alive. Because it says there that one day, God will remove all created things by a big shaking “so that what cannot be shaken may remain.” I don’t know how vivid and real that Bible verse seems to you, but to those of us who have lived through earthquakes, it means something. Like, everything above our bedroom headboard is nailed – and I mean nailed deeply – into the wall.
But take a moment and think with me about Hebrews 12. Just what are those things that cannot be shaken? What are those things that are nailed down deeply that can never be moved? Well, you may lose your health, but you have your salvation. You may lose your strength, but you have your citizenship in the kingdom. You may lose your home, but you are forever a child of God. You may lose your retirement fund, but you will always be rich in grace. You may suffer pain, but you will never suffer the disapproving scorn of God. Friends may fail you and family may disappoint you, but you have the constant and abiding love of Christ. You may suffer greatly here on earth, but you have the unshakable promise that you will never suffer in heaven. Grief and tears may be your daily meat and drink, but in heaven, every tear will be wiped away. Oh, friend, these are the things which cannot be shaken.
Just like it’s a good idea to prepare for an earthquake [which Ken and I have done], when it comes to Hebrews 12, it’s good to prepare for that great shaking that one day will soon be on our horizon. It’s not if the earthquake happens; it’s when it happens. And God's Word tells us to prepare for that great and terrible day of the Lord. So take stock, take inventory and prepare for that coming day. Make every effort to be sure of your election. Make every effort to see that your faith is proving real by what you do. Nail these things down deeply in your heart and take great pains to begin trusting in God through shaky times so that your confidence in the Lord might not fail. Prepare ye the way of the Lord. The Lord who will remove all created things by that great shaking. So today, minimize your troubles by reflecting on all that will never, ever be shaken in your life.
© Joni and Friends