Dear ABATE Brothers and Sisters:
How many of us decide to ride our bikes when there are storms on the horizon?
Before leaving on the ride, we check the weather reports and look at the radar. Many of us decide to go. If we have a long trip ahead, we almost always decide to go. If wet and/or cold weather is ahead, we will pack the proper gear and we will be prepared to get through the worst. Sometimes we will need to stop along the way and "hunker down." However, we know it is only a short delay on our trip.
The primary reason most of us choose to ride with poor weather on the horizon is that we know the poor weather will be temporary. We know that if we go through the storm, there will be the reward of sunshine on the other side and a great ride will welcome us. Sometimes going through poor conditions will make us better appreciate the nicer conditions, once we reach the other side.
How do we know all this? We know because we are experienced. We "deal" with the weather every day of our lives.
Our lives sometimes seem like storms that have to be ridden out, just like we ride out the weather as a biker. I have never heard a biker curse God about the weather and/or the temporary weather conditions. So why do we need to curse God when we encounter the storms of life? Take a look in Job 1:6-12. It is clearly obvious that Satan wants you to curse God when we encounter life’s storms. God never promised us that everything would be perfect. However, for those that believe upon Him, He has promised that He will get us through and that there is the promise of eternal life in Paradise. Deuteronomy 31 6 Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the LORD thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee. Romans 8 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?36 As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (King James Version)
How can we be prepared for life’s storms? Get to know God and experience Him every day in your lives – just as you have gotten to know the weather as bikers. The more you get to know Him, the more you will know on how to deal with life. Don’t curse God. Your real adversary is Satan, not God.
We remember a song written in the early '70's by Andre Crouch, "Through it All." A few of the lyrics in the song, are something like this: "I thank God for the mountains and I thank God for the valleys… for if I had no problems, I'd never know that God could solve them, I'd never know what faith in His Word could do."
Please accept what God has done for you, to get you to the other side of the storms. Wouldn’t you rather face life’s storms with God, than without Him? Please pray this prayer. "Dear God, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, my heavenly Father, I confess that I am a sinner and have been separated from You. I ask forgiveness of my sins. I confess with my mouth that your son Jesus is my savior and died for me. I believe in my heart that You raised Him from the dead. I receive Jesus into my heart and ask Him to become the center of my life. I’m tired of facing life’s storms without You. I will keep my eyes focused on you and no longer curse You. Blessed be your holy Name. All this I ask and pray, in the Name of Jesus. Amen."
Blessings,
Tom and Kathy
Messiah’s Messengers M/M www.messiahsmessengers.org 239-267-8641
Services: Sunday 10 AM and Thursday 7 PM - 2222 Cleveland Ave. Near "Downtown" Ft. Myers