Written on December 27th, 2006 - 12:02AM Last Updated: December 27th, 2006 - 12:02AM
Several times the word "lost" is translated "dying" or "perishing," reflecting the meaning of the word—a destruction that separates. As death is that separation from the world of the living through the perishing of the body, so it can be seen as a destruction or ruining.
They came to him, and woke him up, saying, "Save us, Lord! We are dying!" (Matthew 8:25)
Here the disciples, when confronted with this storm over which they had no control nor for which they had any solution, called to Jesus to save them, for they were "dying." It is this word, "to perish," in the present middle conjugation. The middle voice indicates reflexive action, or something done to oneself or for oneself's own benefit. Present tense means it is ongoing.
The disciples were in effect saying that they were "destroying themselves." They were causing themselves to perish, or causing their own ruin.
They had followed Him onto the boat (Matthew 8:23), when this storm arose to endanger them all. Apparently they couldn't do anything to prevent the boat from sinking but were only making it worse (Matthew 8:24). They pleaded with Jesus to save them, most likely because He was the One Who had brought them along. They couldn't believe He was sleeping in the midst of such danger!
The Lord, true to His testimony, saved them from perishing. Even though they were destroying themselves, He came to their rescue.
He said to them, "Why are you fearful, O you of little faith?" Then he got up, rebuked the wind and the sea, and there was a great calm. (Matthew 8:26)
He reveals that they should have trusted things to be fine, because it was He Who had led them into this situation. He would provide and they had no need to fear the world because it was at His command they were there. He confirmed this by calming the storm to allay their fears, even though according to Christ they were never in any danger.
They then began to understand better Who this was in their presence:
The men marveled, saying, "What kind of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?" (Matthew 8:27)
Have you found yourself in a dire situation because you have followed the Lord? Does it seem you are destroying yourself amidst the onslaught from the outside world? Trust Who has called you into this new life, and Who it is Whom you have decided to follow. It is ChristJesus the Lord, He Who holds the world in His hand, in Whom all things are held together (Colossians 1:16-17).
If He has called you, then you will survive. Whether the storms rage and your boat is filled with water, or the sea remains calm, the result will be the same. You will be saved by His presence with you. His sleeping in the boat is the sign that you should remain calm as well, not fearing the wrath of the world. He is able to still the storm with a word, or to bring you to the other side of the lake amidst the surging waves. Either way, you will be saved because you are with Him.
Don't destroy yourself by trying to meet the attacks of the world on your own, but come to Him and see His face as it is toward your problems from following Him. He will see you through to the end!
As you read this site, you will hopefully come to know Yahweh more fully.
But all of this continuing knowledge is useless unless and until you come into union with Him. I use the word union because it is truly a marriage. It is that deep connection we all seek, for which we most often look in other people. However, the truth is that our hearts will only be fulfilled when we enter that union in fullness with the One Who made us.
This is the grace of God, that He has not stayed distant for us only to worship as Creator. But He has come unto us, even become one of us—in His Son, ChristJesus—in order to share an intimate union with us. He desires such closeness that it truly will envelope our entire life, transforming us into something new and wonderful.
You may have already entered this union with Him and only seek to know Him better through reading here. But if you have not, as you do read, let this Gospel sink into your heart as you read it now.
God loves you, and has cast your sins into the sea. He has sent His only Son as the Savior of the world—that includes you.
That Son, JesusChrist, was born as a man through a virgin who had given her life to Yahweh; He lived without sin, reflected the glory of His Father, God, in all His words and deeds, and was persecuted even unto death because of it.
His death upon a cross was the powerful explosion that separated you from your life of death. It remains for you, now, to enter into that death with Him. As you die to the one you are now, a person separated from God from your many sins, you will be born anew, with a nature predisposed to live rightly. This gift is free to you, with nothing you can do to earn it. It is the mercy of God to offer it to you, as He loves you so much! All you must do is receive it by trusting Him to have delivered you. Simply place your life in His hands and embrace the freedom that came through that death on the cross.
The Gospel is that Jesus did not remain dead, but rose again on the third day after His crucifixion! Death could not hold Him, as He was without sin. And so death will not be able to hold you, as you identify with Him fully through your trust in Him. Let go of yourself and confess Him as Lord of your life. The power of His death and resurrection will work in you all that your Creator has destined for you. You will truly enter a new life and experience that intimate union you have been seeking all of your life.
So ponder these words as you read here of this great God—Yahweh—and all that He has revealed to His creation. Let His Spirit testify to your heart that these words are true, that God is Love, and that He sent His Son so that you might receive the life that is unbound by time and space. As you feel that witness in your heart, simply believe and receive what He is offering to you, even now, and begin your new life as a child of God.
Please write to me and let me know when you take this step, as I will be your brother in Christ—we will be one in Him!
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