THE WINDS OF CHANGE

This is Election Year 2008....and it seems the most prominent word in all the campaigns, presidential and otherwise, is "CHANGE". It will take drastic change to bring our beloved America back to her founational roots. And that change cannot be man-made!! Only a return to the God of our Founding Fathers can precipitate the change that is needed.

Consider the following:

"Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them,
I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock:
and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew
and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was
founded on the rock.

"But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not
do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the
sand: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds
blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall."

[Matthew 7:24-27 (NKJV)]

Have you ever heard them, the winds of change? Rustling through your spirit like a freight train, or throwing you off guard like a hard knock, they are felt not only in our bodies but also in our minds and spirits.

Sometimes the wind has a very warming effect upon us. Have you ever walked against the wind on a summer’s eve? It is both exhilarating and warms a person up quickly. Fall brings breezes that remove leaves from the trees assisting them for a time of dormancy. Fall winds are pleasurable and paint a colorful picture.

Then there are winds that have a chilling effect. We find ourselves buttoning up coats and putting on hats, but still the winter’s wind brings with it a biting feeling and a numbness that is almost painful. It is a blessing when the signs of spring emerge and gentle breezes begin to blow. The spring winds are so fresh and invigorating. The warming sun is bright, but the winds of the changing season make the temperatures just right.

Winds at the perfect time, and at the perfect velocity, make nature even more beautiful to behold. These winds are "winds of change" that usher out one season allowing nature to prepare for the next. They happen regularly, and often they go unnoticed as we scurry around with our busy lives.

There is yet another kind of wind. Whether it comes from the north, south, east, or west, there is a sudden change of conditions. The winds become perilous and perhaps even life threatening. These are the winds that make up the tropical storms, hurricanes, tornados, and typhoons. They are powerful forces to be reckoned with, and many times we have little warning to prepare for them. At other times, we simply do not heed the warning signs.

Sudden changes are often stormy times in our lives. The lid gets blown off our box of dreams, our marriage collapses, our friendships are blown away, our ministries swirl out of control, or our jobs go right out the window. Perhaps illness threatens our lives, or situations try to pull apart our families. These are just a few of the effects of "the winds of change."

I have felt the "winds of change" recently. We will all be exposed to them at some time along life’s journey. We may not have the time to protect ourselves as we feel we should, but if we will take a lesson from the wise man in Matthew 7:24-25, we will perhaps suffer anguish and pain—but our lives in Jesus will remain intact. You see the wise man built his house from the foundation upon The Rock. Though the winds came, he remained because his foundation was well built.

What are you building on today? Are you constructing your life upon dreams, talents, other’s promises, friendships, children, your health, your church, or your spouse? Each of these things has a place in our lives, but they cannot be the foundation for our life or we will be totally blown away by the "winds of change." The word "change" means "a new challenge" and if we are to grow into the image of Christ, it will be through the avenue of change.

Every time you survive the ferocious winds of change, you need to go and measure yourself. You will find that you have grown a little bit taller in the things of God. You will look a little bit more like Jesus. The winds of change are not something that we look forward to, but they are priceless though painful times in the life of the believer.

Maybe today is a good day to check your foundation. Some of you may find that a bit of repair work is needed. Others may have to build on higher ground. Do what you can now—because when the "winds of change" begin to blow, you will find yourself holding on for dear life. If you are holding on to The Master, He will take you to a place of safety and eventually will speak to the winds with His mighty voice saying, "Peace be still."

The "winds of change" may come and go, but if you build wisely on the firm foundation of Jesus you will remain!