“WHO THEN IS THIS?”

Matthew 4:37-41                                         (ESV)

“37 And a great windstorm arose, and the waves were breaking into the boat, so that the boat was already filling.

38 But HE was in the stern, asleep on the cushion. And they woke HIM and said to HIM, "Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?"

39 And HE awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, "Peace! Be still!" And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.

40 HE said to them, "Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?"

41 And THEY WERE FILLED WITH GREAT FEAR and said to one another, "WHO THEN IS THIS”, that even the wind and the sea obey HIM?"”

We all experience things in our lives that make an indelible impression on us, things that GOD uses to shape us into vessels that HE can use for HIS Glory.  We ALL have our weaknesses that we want to hide from others.  When our FEARS are exposed we can either realize them and address them, or we can buckle under the pressure and let it control our lives!

Three years ago this April I was lying in a hospital bed listening to the doctor telling me and my family that I needed to have open heart surgery.  Being a substitute teacher in Sunday School a few weeks earlier, the lesson was on Genesis 50:20-21 when Joseph told his brothers “As for you, you meant evil against me, but GOD meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today.  SO DO NOT FEAR; I will provide for you and your little ones." Thus he comforted them and spoke kindly to them.”  

GOD had put Joseph through great difficulties in his life to prepare him for the task HE had planned for his latter years.  Almost as soon as FEAR HIT ME about going through the valley of the shadow of death, PEACE FROM ABOVE flooded my soul and FEAR had to FLEE!  

The fear of Coronavirus has a lot of people in its grip.   However, because of the “storms” I have been exposed to in my past, life seems so much more PEACEFUL, almost laid back!  JESUS said in Deuteronomy 31:7-8 “Then Moses summoned Joshua and said to him in the sight of all Israel, "Be strong and courageous, for you shall go with this people into the land that the LORD has sworn to their fathers to give them, and you shall put them in possession of it.  IT IS THE LORD WHO goes before you. HE WILL BE WITH YOU; HE WILL NOT LEAVE YOU OR FORSAKE YOU.  DO NOT FEAR OR BE DISMAYED."”

While it is TRUE I have been through some huge battles, my FAITH has grown expediently because of those battles.  Coronavirus, open heart surgery, Brain Hemorrhages, Aspartame Poisoning, none of cause me to FEAR, for I know “WHO THEN IS THIS”!!!  Recognizing that HE will NEVER LEAVE ME NOR FORSAKE ME brings me more PEACE than “the enemy” can ever match!  “WHO THEN IS THIS” is JESUS, my Redeemer!!! THEY WERE FILLED WITH GREAT FEAR and JESUS cannot abide in the same space!!!