Who gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father. Galatians 1:4
There is a famous painting entitled Peace. A first glance at this painting would lead an observer to think the painting misnamed, because it shows the violence of nature. Amid a raging storm, the winds drive massive waves of the sea ashore, smashing them onto a huge rock. Spray from the waves and rain in the wind have drenched everything in sight, and the storm has clothed the scene in a dark, wild gloom. A closer inspection of the painting, however, shows a deep cleft in the upper part of the rock, into which a small bird has found shelter. Instead of being concerned about the violence of the storm and the sea, the bird has tucked its head under its wing, and is fast asleep. The bird, just as our verse reminds us that Christ has done for us, is in the storm but has been delivered from its fury.
There is no question that this evil world is full of storms for saint and sinner alike. Troubles assail us from all sides, be it family problems, financial worries, sickness, accidents, the death of a loved one, misunderstandings, persecutions, whatever trial and ill you can imagine, it comes our way from time to time. Some of the Lord’s dear people have incredible storms to endure, and most of us know little about them. But we all have this life to live, and it’s an evil world. What is our reaction to these storms? How do we respond when the waves of evil and hate are swirling all about us? Where do we turn when we can see nothing but the angry waves of trouble, and can hear nothing but the shrill cries of the devil, telling us that everything is going wrong, nobody cares for us, and we might as well give in to the tinsel and toys of pleasure and sin?
There was nothing the little bird in the picture could do that day. No point in going to search for food, no hope of soaring the blue skies, no opportunity to gather with birds of like feather for a chorus on a high tree. The storm cancelled all the bird’s plans. Sometimes storms do that to us, too. Everything changes, nothing is normal, and our hands are tied and helpless. But there is always something that we can do. Like the little bird in the picture, we can take our shelter in the Rock, and allow His safety and presence to enfold us.
In this present, evil world, the Lord Jesus is always present, to be our shelter, to enable us to relax and appreciate His greatness. Rest in the Rock of Ages in whatever storm today might bring. -Jim MacIntosh