Sink Hole or Storm Cellar?

   I remember the first time I ever read about and saw pictures of the effects of a sink hole.  On the surface, everything looked fine.  Life was happening as normal.  But underneath, unseen by the casual glance, erosion was continuing to take its toll. And suddenly there was a complete collapse.  A building disappeared; cars are swallowed up; and people lost their lives.  Insights as to what was happening under the surface could have prevented the catastrophe, or at least prepared the people to evacuate the building, move the car or relocate to a safe place.  But no one was looking there.

   I also remember the first time I heard about a storm cellar.  Prevalent in the tornado prone states of the Plains, these are safe places to go underground as the destructive power of a tornado was bearing down on the family farm.  Prepared with supplies, these cellars allow people to hear the devastation of the storms above and around them, yet survive to rebuild following them.  The things on the surface may be gone, but the eternal, life itself, is spared.  Things can be replaced.  Life can’t be.

   Interesting enough, both these scenarios refer to what is happening under the surface.  

   A heart that is focused on Jesus is like a storm cellar, a place to run in the storms of life.  

“For you have been my refuge, a strong tower against the foe.”       Psalms‬ ‭61‬:‭3‬ ‭NIV‬‬

“The name of the Lord is a fortified tower; the righteous run to it and are safe.”    Proverbs‬ ‭18‬:‭10‬ ‭NIV‬‬

“And the twenty-four elders, who were seated on their thrones before God, fell on their faces and worshiped God, saying: “We give thanks to you, Lord God Almighty, the One who is and who was, because you have taken your great power and have begun to reign. The nations were angry, and your wrath has come. The time has come for judging the dead, and for rewarding your servants the prophets and your people who revere your name, both great and small— and for destroying those who destroy the earth.””     Revelation‬ ‭11‬:‭16‬-‭18‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Nothing can harm us when we are safe in His hands.  But a life that is not focused on Jesus, is like that sink hole.  On the surface, things may look good.  But eventually, everything will collapse, destroying everything, including life itself.

It is at the cross of Jesus that sink holes turn into storm cellars, and erosion turns into a firm foundation.  Turn to Him today and be prepared for the storms of life.  They are coming.