I've seen gridlock before in New York City. It's when vehicles are choking at every intersection and literally no one can move. Until recently though, I had never seen gridlock in a grocery store. The weatherman had forecast a hugh snowstorm for our area which was supposed to begin during the night. Well I stopped by the store about 9:30 that night, and I ended up trying to find the end of the line for the cash register. They only had two lanes open and there was a line of carts all the way to the produce section all jammed together so no one could come in, go out, or go through. What brought this sudden urge to shop? Word of an approaching storm.
I'm Ron Hutchcraft and I want to have A Word With You today about "Storm Preparations."
You see, storms are a fact of everybody's life. If it's calm now, you can be sure that somewhere up ahead there's a storm. The question is, are you ready for the time when things start spinning out of control around you and inside of you? Since we know we have to make it through heavy weather, we need to know we've got what it takes to make it through the crises that have sunk so many other people.
Well, here's the testimony of a man who lived through imprisonment, disability, injustices, assassination attempts - the Apostle Paul. The man was unsinkable because he was prepared for any storm. Our word today from the Word of God is from 2 Timothy 1:12. He says, "I am not ashamed, because I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him for that day." Now Paul is talking about a deep personal relationship with Jesus Christ, the only man in history powerful enough to beat death and blow the doors off His grave. Paul says, "I'm convinced that He is able to guard what's important to me." The ultimate security in life is knowing you belong to Jesus.
I was talking to my friend John a few days ago. He's had ten cancer operations in eight years. He's been at death's door three times. When you talk to him, you come away almost disbelieving that he's carrying this pain. He's positive, he's generous, he's joyful, he's encouraging. The surgeon is even sending John to some of his other patients who just aren't handling the storm of cancer. John made a simple but heart-rending statement to me. He said, "Ron, you don't handle it well when you try to handle it without a Savior." And that's the difference - the Savior difference, the Jesus difference.
You see, all approaches to life work when things are going well, but test is the storm represented by words like cancer, bankruptcy, fired, divorce, terminal. Even smaller storms can drive us to the edge, and sometimes over, unless we've committed ourselves completely to this awesome Savior named Jesus. He loves you unconditionally. He proved that when He died on that cross for the very sins you've done against Him. He's willing to put your life in His eternal keeping and give you eternal life beginning the day you entrust yourself totally to Him. You could do that right where you are. Maybe you could pray like this, "Lord Jesus, I've been trying to do it without a Savior. I've lived my last day without you Lord. I believe you died to pay the death penalty for my sins and today I'm putting my total trust in you to begin a relationship with God. I need a Savior."
If you're not sure you belong to Jesus Christ and you want to be, I wish you'd e-mail me. You don't need to fear the storm if you know you're ready because your life is in hands that will never, never drop you. Jesus - the One who during a life-threatening storm stepped to the bow of the boat He was in and said, "Peace, be still" and it was. He will do that for you in your storm.