Storm Damage

 

So many storms

 

It has been one storm after another for weeks on end, writes Bert Cargill of St Monans Gospel Hall. On the east coast huge waves have pounded the sea walls and great fountains of spray have been shooting above the harbours and into the towns. It was spectacular to watch. Some brave souls tried to catch it on camera, but didn’t dare go too close! The fishing boats have hardly had a clear day to get to sea and some of their gear left in the sea has been destroyed. 

 

Sea walls along the coast have been badly damaged in some places. At Dysart the harbour wall was breached and now requires urgent repair, while along this way several stone-built retaining walls which have withstood storms for many years have been undermined and broken through, with the soft bank behind now crumbling into the sea. The foundations and the fabric are subject to terrible stress at times like these. There is so much force in these raging waves of the sea, spectacular and beautiful maybe, but devastating and costly to many people who might have thought they were safe enough.

 

One day Jesus warned his hearers about being prepared for storms coming. He spoke about a wise man who built his house firmly upon a rock, and a foolish man who built his one on sand. You can guess what happened to each when the storms came! Jesus died to save us from the storm of God’s judgement upon sin and evil when it sweeps over the world. Putting our faith in Him is the guarantee of our salvation whatever the future brings, whenever that storm may arrive. But He warned that disaster and eternal loss would come tothose who neglect to do that very wise thing. He is our rock to build on.

Key Verses 

Matthew 7:24-29

‘“Therefore, everyone who hears these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain fell, the rivers rose, and the winds blew and pounded that house. Yet it didn’t collapse, because its foundation was on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and doesn’t act on them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. The rain fell, the rivers rose, the winds blew and pounded that house, and it collapsed. It collapsed with a great crash.”

When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were astonished at his teaching, because he was teaching them like one who had authority, and not like their scribes.’

Written by Bert Cargill, St Monans

All photos courtesy of Unsplash