Articles
How to Prepare for Satan's Hurricane
As we all know, Hurricane Dorian, a monster Category 4 storm, is traveling toward the east coast. Fortunately, the most recent projections (as of August 31 3:00pm) indicate it will spare Florida a direct hit. Still, the Orlando area will begin feeling tropical storm-force winds as early as Sunday night, and Central Florida will possibly receive around two feet of rain in some locations.
Many of us went to great lengths to prepare for Dorian. If we followed protocol, we stashed enough food and water for a week, filled our, trimmed our branches, and boarded up our windows. How much work, however, do we put into preparing for the spiritual hurricanes Satan is sending our way?
There is no category to describe the level of ferocity these storms of life possess or the degree of devastation they can levy. Physical storms, while scary, should concern us much less than the spiritual storms of life. Jesus, in the conclusion of the Sermon on the Mount, admonished His followers to get ready for these monsoons.
He taught, “Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them, may be compared to a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and yet it did not fall, for it had been founded on the rock. Everyone who hears these words of Mine and does not act on them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. The rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and it fell—and great was its fall” (Matt. 7:24-27).
The two houses in Jesus’ illustration represent our lives. Each of us is constructing a life upon a foundation of some teaching, doctrine, or philosophy. Some build wisely, some foolishly; but we all build.
The wind, floods, and rain Jesus speaks of are trials such as financial setbacks, illnesses, loss of loved ones, rejection from friends, and temptations to sin. How we respond to these trials reveals the quality of our “building.” Following Jesus’ commands is the key to withstanding the storms. Being a hearer only is not sufficient; we must do what Jesus says.
Right now may be the calm before the storm for you spiritually. Use this time to prepare for the coming tempest. Soon enough Satan will attempt to rip your life apart and reduce it to rubble. Therefore, be diligent to lay a solid foundation of faith in Christ and build upon it a sturdy house of obedience to His every command. Then, no matter how fierce Satan’s trials, you will stand firm and will not waver.
