The Missing Security
—In life’s tempestuous sea”
A storm made the sea into moving mountains, the wind and the waves met in battle. There was consternation among the disciples of Jesus as the wind shook their frail craft and the waves began to fill it. Jesus however was unperturbed by all this; He lay comfortably asleep in the stern of the foundering boat.
They awoke Him and cried, "Master, carest thou not that we perish?" Suddenly all was calm as He said to the sea, "Peace, be still." (Mark 4:36-39).
The few words exchanged here echo a striking contrast between the disciples for whom peace was a thing of the past, and their Master who had it at His very command.
1 In the Storm
Jesus was in the midst of utter peacelessness, yet His peace of mind was overwhelming. The disciples, though, were certain victims of the "missing peace." The reason for this contrast is evident in the circumstances of this dramatic scene from Jesus's Galilean ministry. It can be traced to a false sense of security on the part of the disciples; which, in the face of the storm became the missing security.
Could it have been that the calmness of the sea and the steady movement of the boat made them feel secure? Apparently they were safe and secure and in this apparency they anchored their faith. When the storm came, the anchor of their faith broke away, the boat no longer was secure. As their security vanished, their peace gave way to terror. But Why? Jesus is the Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6).
Jesus was with them in the boat. Why did they not realise the instability of a calm sea, the likelihood of a storm, the insecurity of their craft? Then, looking to Jesus, they could have said, "We have an anchor that keeps the soul, steadfast and sure, while the billows roll." Then, when the storm did come, theirs would not have been a missing security.
2 In Life
Life (I suppose) is like a serene sea, liable at times to erupt into a sudden storm. Today all may be calm, but tomorrow may bring calamity. For this reason we ought not to look upon houses, wealth, insurance policies, steady jobs, healthy budgets and such like as security. When the inevitable raging tempest of death and judgment rains upon us, we shall seek (but shall not find) those things. They will be missing (2 Pe 3:10-11).
Jesus said, "Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal" (Matthew 6:19-20). There is security.
3 In Faith Alone
Many feel there is security in faith in Christ: but faith is also subject to storm. Concerning faith James says, "He that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed" (James 1:6). We are all inclined to be that way at times.
If faith alone is our security we shall find it missing when "the storms of doubt and fear assail." Only fools rely upon a faith that is barren of works and subject to failure. But Jesus Christ, in whom we have faith, is "the same yesterday, and today, and forever" (Hebrews 13:8).
Jesus says, "Not everyone that saith unto me. Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of Heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven... Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man that built his house upon a rock: and the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock" (Matthew 7:21,24, 25). There is security.
4 In False Doctrines
In every conceivable perversion of Christ's doctrine, from Armageddon to the Pope's Infallibliity; from Sabbath Keeping to the Baptism of the Holy Ghost Today; people think they have security. But soon they are drifting helplessly in the midst of a great denominational storm, tossed from crest to trough with every new wave of doctrine, sinking with it when it sinks. Where is their security then? It is missing.
Security is found not in false doctrines, but in His word which He gave by inspiration to perfect and unite the saints, to edify the body of Christ, "that we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine... but speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ" (Ephesians 4:11-15). There is security.
5 In Christ
Security is found not in life and riches, not in faith alone, not in the doctrines of men, but in Jesus Christ and His word. In anything, without Him, there is only a false security, which, in time, will be found to be missing.
The disciples set out in their boat with Jesus aboard, yet they did not rely on Him. Learn by their mistake. Make Jesus the captain of your salvation (Hebrews 2:10). Let Him pilot you through "life's tempestuous sea." There is security.