The rain, the floods and the wind

Little children all over this land can sing the little song about the wise man that built his house upon the rock. They sing about how the rains came down and the floods came up and the house on the rock stood firm. Well, you know the passage of scripture that comes from is Matthew 7:24-27. One needs to go back a few verses to see what is at stake. It is not a physical house, but the salvation of one’s soul. Jesus said, “Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven” (Matt. 7:21). “Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock” (Matt. 7:24). But, how much attention do we give to just what the rain, the floods and the winds are? They are the things that are battling against us in an attempt to keep our house from standing, or in other words, to keep us from reaching an eternal home in heaven. Thus, it is important that we recognize these forces. Our list will by no way be an exhaustive one, but note a few of the rains, floods and winds we might well encounter.

False teachers are one of the great forces that often influences one’s obedience to what God has commanded. Whether it be intentional or unintentional falsehoods, makes no difference in the effect it can have. In recent years we have heard said often enough, if one tells a lie often enough, long enough and loud enough, it will soon be considered truth. Observation has proved this to be true. False teaching in the realm of Christianity is deadly to the soul that succumbs to it. John wrote, “Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world” (I John 4:1). Jesus said, “Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves” (Matt. 7:15). And, Paul promised there were more to come, even from among themselves. He told the Ephesian elders, “Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them” (Acts 20:30).

Ignorance is another of those formidable forces prone to attack our faith. Hosea wrote, “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge…” (Hos. 4:6). Lack of knowledge is ignorance. Lack of the knowledge of God’s word is spiritual ignorance. Jesus told the Sadducees, “Ye do err, not knowing the Scriptures, nor the power of God” (Matt. 22:29). The only cure for spiritual ignorance is a study of the word of God (II Tim. 2:15; Acts 17:11; John 5:39; Psalm 1:1-2).

Trials and tribulations of life can cause some to despair and turn from the only true source of comfort and encouragement. Even the prophet Elijah despaired, thinking himself to be the only one left that was faithful to God. God said to him. “Yet I have left me seven thousand in Israel, all the knees which have not bowed unto Baal…” (I Kings 19:18). Trials, tribulations and temptations come to all, some of one kind and some of another. James wrote, “Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him” (Jam. 1:12).

Pride has long been a stumbling block to those in service to the Lord. It was the downfall of King Saul when he saw David getting praise that he wanted (I Sam. 18:7-8). Many are those just too proud to admit they are wrong about what God requires of them and would rather die lost than admit their error. James recorded, “But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble” (Jam. 4:6).

Lust of the flesh is a broad term, but one that spreads over many of earth’s inhabitants who care more for the physical pleasures than for the pleasure of the Father in heaven. 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” (I John 2:16). Materialism has bombarded our society with a drive for more thing’s material and fewer things spiritual. The problem with the material things is that they will come to an end. Paul wrote, “While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal” (II Cor. 4:18). Moses understood this as seen in the words of the Hebrew writer, “Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season” (Heb. 11:25).

Indeed, there are many forms of rain, floods and winds, all of which we overcome by hearing the word of God and doing it (Matt. 7:24).