A Great Lesson We Can Learn From Our Savior

Matthew 8:23-26, “And when he was entered into a ship, his disciples followed him. And, behold, there arose a great tempest in the sea, insomuch that the ship was covered with the waves: but he was asleep. And his disciples came to him, and awoke him, saying, Lord, save us: we perish. And he saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm.”

I love this beautiful story. The Lord and His disciples were on a ship on the Sea of Galilee. Set in the hills of northern Israel, the Sea of Galilee is situated nearly 700 feet below sea level. It is nearly eight miles wide at its widest point, and more than 12 miles long from north to south. In places, the sea plunges to depths of 200 feet. Due to its low-lying position in the rift valley, surrounded by hills, the sea can get sudden violent storms. Such was the case in our text passage. The Bible says a sudden storm arose, and the waves covered the ship, but Jesus was asleep. I sometimes get the wrong idea that this was a big ship, and Jesus was down below, but it wasn't that big of a ship. There was no lower level. The Lord was asleep while the waves were crashing against the ship. 

So the apostles woke Jesus up, in a moment of panic. The Lord stays calms and asks them: “Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith?” Then Jesus rebuked the wind and waves and there was a GREAT CALM. This is such a precious Bible truth for every Christian believer to learn and remember. When the winds and waves of life are crashing upon us, and the storm is raging, our Lord is always calmly sitting upon His throne in Heaven. Our Lord calmly dwells within our body as God's child (1st Corinthians 3:16-17; Romans 8:9; 1st John 3:24). Jesus never panics! God never remembers something He forgot to do. Nothing ever occurs to God. The Lord is never surprised or caught off guard. Therefore, we can always have calm in the storm too, if we'll simply trust the Lord. 

For the believer, Jesus is with us as much today as He was with the disciples in that ship. Hebrews 13:5, “Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.” Jesus is always with us wherever we go, and in whatever situation we face. If you get mugged in a dark alley, Jesus was with you the whole time. We live in a fallen world. Therefore, we need to be careful where we go, and who we trust, and what we disclose to others, and so forth. But no matter how diligent we may strive to protect ourselves and our loved ones, we can never predict the future or what may happen. It is important not to blame God when bad things happen. Ecclesiastes 9:11b warns that “time and chance happeneth to them all.”

The World Is Waiting For The Antichrist, But We For Jesus Christ

In 2021 there is much worry over the COVID-19 pandemic. I have received many emails from web visitors who are worried if this vaccine is the Mark Of The Beast. Others speculate that it will lead into the Beast system. I tell them all the same thing, that I simply don't know. I do not think this is the Mark Of The Beast. The technology is here for the mark. Implants have been available for decades now. In many countries people are begging to have medical implants put into their body, to store their medical information. There is new technology now which allows wireless recharging of implanted devices, such as heart pace devices. 

Whatever the mark will be, it will involve a denial of one's Christian faith. No one will accidentally be injected with a mark against their will or knowledge. It doesn't work that way. The Mark Of The Beast will definitely involve financial transactions, because the Bible says you won't be able to buy or sell without it. The Bible says the name of the Beast is 666, not the mark. The mark may or may not be 666. We do not know, but I wouldn't think it will be 666. The Bible plainly says that 666 will be the number of a man. Revelation 13:17-18, “And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name. Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six.” Please notice carefully that there are three things mentioned:

1. the mark
2. the name of the Beast
3. the number of his name, which is 666

I think there is a significance between these three items, and they ought not be assumed to be the same thing. The “Beast” (or dangerous animal) refers to the coming Man of Sin, the Antichrist (or “in place of” Christ). Most people think “anti” means against, and he certainly will be against Christ; but the Biblical meaning is “in place of” Christ. That is, the Beast will masquerade as the true Messiah—deceiving the world that He is the promised Messiah, who is come to save the world from itself. The Antichrist will worship “the god of forces” (Daniel 11:38b), which is New Age.

I have never been able to figure out the identity of the Beast, nor will you be able to, because he is not here yet. When the time comes, wise men will be able to identify the Beast, whose name will compute (count) to the number 666. Already there is much speculation in the world. The Masonic Washington Monument in our nation's capital, stands 6,666 inches feet tall, and 666 inches wide. How's that for creepy? Needles to say, Freemasons are greatly anticipating the coming of their false messiah, whose father is Lucifer (John 8:44). Freemasons worship their own all-inclusive version of God, whom they call “The Great Architect.” Their god is none other than Lucifer, the angel of light, or as Albert Pike called him, Adonai.

I don't believe anyone will be able to identify with any certainty WHO the Antichrist is until he finally appears. I believe the Church (all the saints, dead and alive) must be “caught up” (1st Thessalonians 4:17b) first at the Rapture. I firmly believe that the Bible clearly teaches a Pretribulation Rapture of the saints. Nothing else makes sense doctrinally. Through deductive reasoning and the process of elimination, rightly dividing the Word of Truth, we can only conclude a Pretrib Rapture if we take the Bible at face value. Nothing else works doctrinally.

Jesus Was Asleep During The Storm

I intentionally mixed these two topics of the end times with staying calm in the Lord. Many people are wound up, tired, frustrated and worried, but there is no need to be at all. Matthew 6:31-34, “Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.” I love that! The Lord said we have enough problems to deal with today, without worrying about things that haven't even happened. 

Since we don't even know if we'll be alive tomorrow, we ought not concern ourselves with the future. This is an important key to the Christian life—one day at a time! I have received quite a few emails from people who are overly concerned about where this pandemic is leading. They are worried about forced vaccinations. They are worried if this will lead into the Mark Of The Beast. They are worried about food shortages, crime sprees and whether they should buy a gun or not. Good night in the morning folks! James 5:13, “Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. Is any merry? let him sing psalms.” 

When I start to worry, I pray. I run to the Scriptures. I go to the Psalms. David was in dire straits when he penned much of the Psalms, which God gave to us to comfort us in our sorrows, loss, burdens, pain and afflictions (Romans 15:4). David caused many of his own problems by sinning (Psalms 51). You'll find the words “enemy” or “enemies” mentioned 105 times in the Psalms. David has many enemies for various reasons. When David returned love toward people for their hatred, they hated him even more. Psalms 109:4-5, “For my love they are my adversaries: but I give myself unto prayer. And they have rewarded me evil for good, and hatred for my love.” No matter what your burden is dear friend, take it to the Lord in prayer. God is good no matter what! God is just and faithful. Blessed be the name of the Lord. Jesus is precious!!!

I am often reminded of our text passage from Matthew 8:24, “And, behold, there arose a great tempest in the sea, insomuch that the ship was covered with the waves: but he was asleep.” We don't need to panic with the unsaved world. We don't need to worry. God does not want us to fret, worry or be stressed out over life. John 6:33, “These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” When everything is wrong here on earth, or seems wrong in our life, we need to BE OF GOOD CHEER, knowing that our name is written in Heaven, and that all is well up in Heaven. 

Colossians 3:1-2, “If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.” Where are your passions my friend? What burns your heart? Millions of people are into sports. Now there's nothing wrong with sports. But you need to set your mind on heavenly things. Your Savior doesn't live in Dallas Texas with the Cowboys, He is seated on the Father's right-hand in Heaven (Colossians 3:1). And Jesus lives in your body and soul if you are saved (Romans 8:9). Sports are okay (I personally hate professional sports), but the Bible tells us to set our affection on THINGS ABOVE, NOT ON THINGS ON THE EARTH. Is your job your God? Is your hobby your God? No wonder so many people are messed up spiritually today, when their mind is set upon the things of this earth.

You can have the perfect peace of God which passeth all understanding, if you'll commit everything to God in prayer (Philippians 4:6-7). You can have God's peace, if you'll think on “whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things” (Philippians 4:8). I have been emotionally, physically and financially hurt by dozens of rotten people in my lifetime, but I just give those painful memories whenever they surface to the Lord above. I lay all my burdens down at the feet of Jesus and leave them there! That is an act of faith dear friend. God is pleased by our faith (Hebrews 11:6). 

Ill close with this truth. The Bible says that we walk BY FAITH, not BY SIGHT. 2nd Corinthians 5:7, “(For we walk by faith, not by sight:)” That means when I feel like God doesn't care as far as I can see, I know that He does care (1st Peter 5:7). When I feel like God has abandoned me as far as I CAN SEE, by faith I know that God will never leave nor forsake me (Hebrews 13:5). When I feel like God is unfair as far as I CAN SEE, by faith I know that God is fair (1st John 1:9). I know God is faithful (1st Corinthians 1:9). LIVING BY FAITH means living according to the promises of God in the Bible, and not going by HOW I FEEL. Boy I sure hope you're getting this friend, because this is how you make it through the tough times of life. I know my Redeemer liveth. Job 13:15, “Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him.”

You and I can be asleep during the storms of life, just like Jesus. The Lord wasn't worried one bit. When all hell is breaking loose, and the waves of life's turmoil seem like they're about to capsize our ship, Jesus is always there to calm the storm. Psalms 119:165, “Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them.”