Flood-Proof

In August of 2021 I traveled with two others to Haywood County, North Carolina to assist with relief efforts for residents who had suffered a catastrophic flash flood. The things I saw and heard that day staggered me, and remain imprinted on my mind. The flood happened in the darkness of night, and several were killed, and many more lost most or all of their worldly possessions.

Nearly a year later another occurrence of flash flooding is heavy on my heart. Having grown up in Eastern Kentucky, I know the lay of the land. The rugged terrain forms a flume where normally gentle creeks become raging rivers in a short time. This flooding is unprecedented. Areas that have never seen flooding are now being battered. As of this writing, 37 lives have been lost.

Heading for higher ground doesn’t always work. A friend whose family lives on top of a ridge told me earlier this week about rushing streams that were threatening to wash out their long driveway. Mudslides are moving large chunks of their property, and the foundation of their house was being targeted by the uncontrolled water.

How does one prepare for a 100-year flood? It seems preparations are not possible when nothing like this has happened before. One has to simply “ride out the storm” and hope for the best.

Storms strike without warning and they seem to be inevitable. Jesus, however, told of a way to make one’s life flood-proof. This is a good opportunity to remind ourselves of His counsel.

Matthew 7:24,25 records Jesus’ positive teaching: “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.”

Jesus was not referring to natural disasters like Eastern Kentucky has experienced; He was speaking about trials that we’re all apt to encounter: illness, financial distress, family strife, etc. Times like this are bound to come to us all, but we don’t have to suffer ruin. By building our lives in “the rock”, we provide ourselves with a solid foundation that cannot – will not – be shaken.

No one has suffered a greater flood of trials than Job. Yet consider his reaction to his great losses in Job 1:21: “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return there. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.” Job could easily have chosen the response his wife suggested, to “Curse God and die!” (Job 2:9). Instead, Job placed his faith in God, and was able to survive the flood.

James 5:11 comments on the example of Job: “Indeed we count them blessed who endure. You have heard of the perseverance of Job and seen the end intended by the Lord – that the Lord is very compassionate and merciful.” Job persevered through his flood, and God was indeed merciful to him.

How can we persevere through our floods? By building our lives on “the rock”, which means regularly hearing the words of Christ and obeying whatever He says. This doesn’t prevent floods from coming, but it guarantees that our lives will not be washed away during the ordeals.

Come to the light God offers! Study His word, the Bible. Worship Him in spirit and truth (John 4:24). Get in touch with us if you’d like to discuss these ideas further.

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