The Shaking!

As many of you know, this past week California has again experienced a series of earthquakes and tremors. I’m sure it’s been quite unsettling for the people who live closest to the epicenter of the quakes. After all, no one likes the feeling of not knowing when “the big one” might occur. It’s no wonder many people spent a night or two sleeping outside rather than inside their homes which they feared might collapse upon them. 

I’ve only experienced one earthquake in my life.  A few years ago, I was at the church where we pastored in Queens going up to the fourth floor in an elevator. When I came out of the elevator, I thought I had become dizzy from the elevator ride up because it felt like the building around me was moving. I soon came to realize it was not in my head, but the building itself had been moving; an earthquake had struck many miles away and we were feeling its effects.

Road damage from the earthquake in California

We all know we live in a world that is easily shaken, not just by earthquakes but by all kinds of natural disasters and events that leave us feeling unsettled.  Our world—and, thus our lives—can seem incredibly unstable for the truth is, we don’t know what will happen next. An earthquake, hurricane, illness, loss of a job, loss of a loved one, etc. can easily shake us up and turn our lives upside down. None of us like the thought of the shaking. 

In the midst of all the shaking of our world, however, the Bible shows us that there are some things that can never be shaken—i.e. some things upon which we can depend; some things that will last forever:

(1)   The Kingdom of God – “Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God….” (Hebrews 12:28 – NIV)

(2)   The lives of the righteous – “Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous be shaken.” (Psalm 55:22 – NIV)

(3)   The love of God for his people – “Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken….”  (Isaiah 54:10 – NIV)

Yes, the world in which we live can seem so unstable and temporary. That’s because it is. But God has promised his people a kingdom that is eternal.  He promises to keep us, take care of us, and to love us with an everlasting love as we live our lives trusting in him. In other words, there are some things that cannot be shaken!

In the midst of all the shaking, let’s entrust our lives into God’s hands. In the end, God cannot be shaken!

Have a great day!

Pastor Tim Harris