Sand Mountain Sermonette 80
Isaiah 26:3; John 14:27; Isaiah 9:6; Colossians 1:20
When the Floor Drops Out from Under You!
“You will keep in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You.” Isaiah 26:3
“Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither l it be afraid.” John 14:27
During my teenage years, I used to love to go the yearly carnival that would set up on the grounds beside Albertville High School. One of my favorite rides was the one constructed via a high metal wall, circular in form, and seated onto a hydraulic lift. Once you entered the ride, you selected one of the areas along the wall fashioning left and right bars for your hands to grip with enough space to stand in between, and with your back placed flush against the wall and your feet firmly planted on the floor, you were set to go. Then, when everyone was in position, the carnival-ride man would turn the wheel on and it would begin to spin and spin while the lift caused the spinning wheel to rise into the air and then, once the motion of the wheel reached centrifugal force, the floor beneath you dropped down and there you were-suspended in air without a floor to stand on. Afterwards the floor would return, the wheel would lower as it slowed down to its “stop” position and you would exit the ride.
As we enter the New Year, you may be feeling as if your life is spinning out of control as you find yourself pinned against a wall as if in a state of suspended animation! It’s as if the floor has dropped out from under you whether that be of a financial, relational, job-related, or medical nature. It’s difficult to find peace of mind and heart during the days in which it seems the world itself is steadily spinning out of control. But the key question for each of us is, “Where do I find true and lasting peace in the world of today?”
The prophet Isaiah tells us there is a genuine growing peace of well-being produced in the life of the Christian believer whose mind is “stayed” (leaning/resting) upon God because that believer trusts in God to lead, guide, and care for him each day. And the wonderful truth of Scripture is—the more we trust God with our lives the more we understand who He is which further motivates us to trust Him more! And John tells us that Jesus Himself; the Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6), is our peace who enables us through His Spirit living inside us to neither let our hearts be troubled (very frightened) or afraid (timid). Peace of mind and peace of heart-courage and strength for today! Are you yearning for this peace?
The Bible says the place to find true peace begins at the cross of Jesus Christ! Colossians 1:20 tells us that Jesus has made peace between sinful man and a holy and loving God through the blood of His cross. Invite the Spirit of the living Christ to impart Jesus’ Peace to your mind and heart, today! And remember, daily conversation with God(prayer) and spending time in God’s word will daily renew your mind (and heart) for God’s kingdom!
Pastor Louie