When a storm hits and shakes you!

When a tree is shaken, it yields what it bears.

Psalms 1:1-6

'Blessed is the man Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, Nor stands in the path of sinners, Nor sits in the seat of the scornful; But his delight is in the law of the Lord , And in His law he meditates day and night. He shall be like a tree Planted by the rivers of water, That brings forth its fruit in its season, Whose leaf also shall not wither; And whatever he does shall prosper. The ungodly are not so, But are like the chaff which the wind drives away. Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, Nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous. For the Lord knows the way of the righteous, But the way of the ungodly shall perish.'

The first psalm in the Bible compares the character and reward of the righteous and the ungodly. The righteous are also compared to trees planted by rivers of water.

When I was praying yesterday, the Holy Spirit spoke about the comparison of a human life to a tree. Just like a tree is exposed to the storm, humans also encounter storms. A storm shakes the tree violently.

When a tree is shaken, two things can happen. If the tree is full of fruits – it gives away the fruits. Fallen fruits are food for the people near and around the tree. The fallen fruits have seeds, which can create new trees. God, showed how this is the righteous man. The righteous bear the good fruits of the spirit. The Bible in Galatians 5:22 shows us the fruits of the Holy Spirit 'But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ‘. We  know the one who is baptized by the Holy Spirit is a child of God.

So if you are a child of God, when the storm hits you will shed the fruits you bear which will be the good fruits.

On the other hand, a fruitless tree, or a tree full of dead leaves, will shed the dead leaves and branches when the storm hits. The dead leaves only create an unwanted mess around the tree. These are the ungodly. They will crib, hurt people around them and may even blaspheme the name of the Lord. This creates an unpleasant environment around them. This is the way of the ungodly.

But why do storms come into one’s life?

Why do schools and other educational institutions have tests & exams? It is to let the pupils know where they stand in acquiring the knowledge imparted by the institution. Are they excellent in the knowledge or are they lacking in it?

Storms in one’s life, just like exams are there to help one understand where they stand in their spiritual life.

The same storm hit 12 people in Numbers 13. They were sent to spy on Canaan by Moses on the instruction of the Holy God. Two of them came out bearing the good fruits, while the other 10 brought in news of imminent death and destruction. The 2 who brought forth the good fruits entered Canaan – the promised land while the 10 perished with the people who believed and went with them. Joshua and Caleb were the only ones who came out of Egypt and were found worthy to enter Canaan.

Jesus says in Matthew 7:24-27 '“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.”'

Jesus is the stone on who our roots should be clinging to : Isaiah 28:16 'Therefore thus says the Lord God : “Behold, I lay in Zion a stone for a foundation, A tried stone, a precious cornerstone, a sure foundation; Whoever believes will not act hastily.'

A tree which is grown in a rocky place has a difficult time penetrating the ground with its roots. A tree which grows in sandy soil has it easy. But when the storm hits, the tree whose roots are on the rock (Jesus is like a rock), will stand and not be uprooted. While the tree that stands on a sandy soil, will get uprooted. Sandy soil is the worldly pleasures.

Storms will come to prove your worth to the Almighty Lord. Cling to the rock and you shall bear good fruits and even when shaken will not be uprooted. For the Bible warns in Matthew 3:10  ' Therefore every tree which does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. '

Praise the Lord!

Glory to Jesus.