Jesus: Our Life Preserver

While enjoying the beautiful scenery of Glacier National Park in Montana, I was struck by the relevance of a warning sign at this remote, but serene mountain lake. While relaxing and enjoying the peaceful scenery, I could not imagine a scenario where a storm appears suddenly and unexpectedly here, yet the warning is there for a reason. Despite the fact that the lake itself appeared as smooth as glass, and besides the sounds of people nearby, you couldn't hear anything but the sounds of nature out here. A sudden storm, really?! Yes, I have been told that these little mountain protected lakes can be the perfect spot for weather conditions to change fast, churning up the water and generating large waves that could threaten to overturn a floating vessel as it rolls in.

So what are we to do, how do we enjoy the beauty of the mountains and lakes in spite of the looming threat of a storm that could pop up at any given moment? We go back to the warning sign and take the second bit of advice, which is critical to our survival not if, but when, the storms hit: "Life preservers required." A life preserver reveals a degree of planning ahead of time, and a realistic view of the potential risks ahead. The presence of a life preserver means that we knew the possible danger that could be ahead, and we took steps to make sure that we had a plan for when that storm came to us when we least expected it.

It's hard as a Christian not to see the parallels between this real life scenario and our spiritual walk as we go through life. As I ponder the relevance of this warning sign as it pertains to this beautiful spot in nature, I'm reminded of a very similar situation that occurred with Jesus and his disciples as they crossed a lake in a boat, when suddenly a storm blew in  from out of nowhere. To me one of the most striking details of this account is how Jesus fell asleep on the journey, and was still dozing even as the storm raged enough for his disciples to wake him up out of concern for their lives. Here is the account of this event from the gospel of Luke:

"One day Jesus said to his disciples, “Let us go over to the other side of the lake.” So they got into a boat and set out. As they sailed, he fell asleep. A squall came down on the lake, so that the boat was being swamped, and they were in great danger. The disciples went and woke him, saying, “Master, Master, we’re going to drown!” He got up and rebuked the wind and the raging waters; the storm subsided, and all was calm. “Where is your faith?” he asked his disciples. In fear and amazement they asked one another, “Who is this? He commands even the winds and the water, and they obey him,” -Luke 8:22-25 NIV.

I believe that Jesus handled this situation this way specifically because of how relatable it is to everyday life, for every person. It is a real life example of what life often looks like for us, even in how we often respond to God during the trials we all go through. Jesus may have been asleep when the storm was raging, but he was still present on the journey, and he clearly wasn't surprised when he was awakened. His disciples revealed their lack of faith in their response to him, showing how out of balance their fear and anxiety was compared to their belief in God to care for them. I think the NIV translation of this in Mark says it best, "The disciples woke him and said to him, 'Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?'" Ouch! I have to wonder though how often all of us have responded in a similar way to Him, "Where are you God, don't you even care about me?"

Jesus responds to this accusation not by apologizing for being asleep on the job, but by calling out his followers for not relying on their faith in him. In Matthew's gospel Jesus replied, “You of little faith, why are you so afraid?” -Matthew 8:26 NIV. After he rebuked his disciples for not trusting in him, he then proves he is the son of God by performing a miracle and calming the storm, solidifying the faith of his followers even more. They are amazed that he is able to command even the forces of nature, and their confidence in his identity increases even more.

So as I put this all together, I wonder as followers of Christ, are we seeing the warnings of the Bible and keeping a realistic view of the sudden storms that will come our way, and are we taking the necessary precautions to plan for those turbulent times? Or are we too distracted, enjoying the scenery of life and not taking any notice of the signs at all? Jesus himself said to his followers, “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world,” -John 16:33 NIV. How do we prepare our "life preservers" in a way that will actually keep us afloat when the stability of our life gets washed out? Once again, Jesus gave us the answer to this:

“Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash,” -Matthew 7:24-27 NIV.

Jesus himself is our life preserver, literally. A life preserver does not do any good for the occupants of a boat if it's just hanging in the cabin, it has to actually be put on before the storm arrives and sinks the boat. The same is true about Jesus. How does your faith look in practice? Do you actually trust Him to guide your steps and lead you through the rough spots of life, or are you always trying to save yourself? When life is difficult, do you ask Him to show you the holes in your faith so you can work with him to grow, heal, and patch things up to better prepare for the next storm, or so you just try to swim harder and longer? Where is your faith really at as you go through the storm, are you screaming at God because you can't believe he would allow this to happen, or do you still sense his presence even as the waves crash all around you, knowing he would never leave or abandon you? Does the storm draw you closer to God, or does it shipwreck your faith, because you didn't read the warnings and realize that life would still be filled with trials?

So do you have your life preserver prepared and ready, or so you need get it out of storage and dust it off? The thing about a life preserver is that it should do exactly what it's named for, saving life. The boat may still sink, and everything else may go down with the ship, but the precious life of of those who trust in the one who saves, they will be saved in the end. Yeah, in the gospels when Jesus calms the storm, it seems to me that all was saved on that occasion, but Jesus was proving that he was exactly who he said he was. The clear point he was teaching his followers was that if they knew him, they should know he was with them, and that they should trust him. The same is true for us today.

"If you declare with your mouth, 'Jesus is Lord,' and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved," -Romans 10:9 NIV.

Jesus saves those who confess faith in him. My faith is not in my own ability to navigate the storms of life, but in Jesus, my life preserver. In this life, sudden storms may appear, do you have your life preserver? I know I've got mine.