Colossians 1:15-20 [NLTse]

¹⁵ Christ is the visible image of the invisible God. He existed before anything was created and is supreme over all creation, ¹⁶ for through Him God created everything in the Heavenly realms and on Earth. He made the things we can see and the things we can’t see—such as thrones, kingdoms, rulers, and authorities in the unseen world. Everything was created through Him and for Him. ¹⁷ He existed before anything else, and He holds all creation together. ¹⁸ Christ is also the head of the church, which is His body. He is the beginning, supreme over all who rise from the dead. So He is first in everything. ¹⁹ For God in all His fullness was pleased to live in Christ, ²⁰ and through Him God reconciled everything to Himself. He made peace with everything in Heaven and on Earth by means of Christ’s blood on the cross.

Happy Easter!

Different Sundays you can hear different ones from around our congregation share their testimonies – the stories of how knowing the Lord Jesus has changed our lives. I thought today I’d share mine…

The Lord Jesus once said, “Anyone who listens to My teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock. Though the rain comes in torrents and the floodwaters rise and the winds beat against that house, it won’t collapse because it is built on bedrock. But anyone who hears My teaching and doesn’t obey it is foolish, like a person who builds a house on sand. When the rains and floods come and the winds beat against that house, it will collapse with a mighty crash.” (Matthew 7:24-27)

I was the man who built his house on sand.

“Wadi” is an Arabic term for “valley”, usually referring to dry riverbeds that contain water only during times of heavy rain. Characteristic of desert environments, as you may know, are infrequent, but sudden and heavy, rains that often result in flash floods (with several deaths occurring each year when people cross dry wadis and get caught by the sudden and unexpected flash-flood waters).

And yet nomadic and desert peoples often establish communities around wadis because of the water that can often be found just below the dry surface, and the seasonal vegetation found there.

The Lord Jesus may have shared this illustration of building on bedrock versus building on sand while overlooking a wadi, because the dry riverbed of a wadi would make a solid, and sure foundation for even great construction projects. Except that when the rains fell and the flash-flood waters came, everything would get swept away.

And that’s what my life was like.

I’ve always been a “nice guy”, part of the “in” crowds. And in high school, that was enough to succeed. But when I got out on my own, being nice and well-though-of and trying to do the right thing wasn’t enough. Because you can think the wadi sand is solid all you like, and you can believe it will be the perfect place to begin to make-your-mark all you like. But when your thoughts and beliefs aren’t based on truth, everything you build – time after time after time – is going to get carried away when the floodwaters come.

Like many today, I was very inspired by those who were sincere in their faith. I was a part of a church and had heard many stories about Jesus Christ, but I was equally inspired by the reputation of famed Buddhist’s, stories I heard told about devout Muslims and Hindus. And though the majority of America’s founding fathers were committed Christians, I think it is hard to grow up in America today and not revere the great atheists and deists who were amongst those great men, as well.

So, not know who are what to believe, most often I just went along with the crowd. I didn’t know which religion or groups were right and which were wrong – they all seemed equally sincere – so I figured I’d just follow the majority.

I’ve always been a sensitive soul: Hurting for the underdog; and, for those hurting around me and on the news. Perhaps drawn to my sensitivity, many of my peers and others around me would readily share their confusion and their troubles and regrets with me, seeking advice. And I would respond back with the latest and greatest wisdom I had just read in the latest news magazine or from this or that self-help bestseller.

But it was all sinking sand, because – for a time – this self-help approach would be talked about and promoted and all the rage. But after a while, all the so-called “authorities” and “specialists” would start disparaging that method in favor of some new technique or way of thinking. Which would soon be replaced by even newer and more-improved ways, and on, and on.

No sooner would I build my “house” but it would get swept away. And then I’d build another, but it, too, wouldn’t last. And pretty soon I found myself fearful of building anything at all!

I reached this crisis point during my first semester at seminary – studying to be a pastor, believe it or not. I knew I needed to find a way to change my relationship with God (as I was coming to know Him through Christ), or I needed to begin studying some other religions and find one I could live with integrity.

What brought about the change that has transformed my Christianity to the close, abiding relationship I enjoy with Jesus today? (Please don’t get me wrong: My relationship with Jesus isn’t perfect, but it is close and abiding. J) Believe it or not, what changed things was that I truly began trusting Him. For me, what that meant was, when I read the Bible I began believing what I read instead of doubting it all. If it was something that seemed far-fetched, I gave the One-Who-created-the universe-from-nothing the benefit of the doubt. If passages seemed to contradict, instead of immediately responding, “See, you can’t believe it!” I sought to read more carefully and study histories and commentaries, and I found that a knowledge of history and the details in the passages often showed how, what had seemed conflicting, all fit together quite well.

When modern “authorities” and “specialists” and self-help books said things that would have made the Word of God untrue, I put my trust in the reliability of the Bible, knowing that, as our “authorities” and “specialists” keep changing their minds that, perhaps they would eventually come to agree with the truth there in the Scriptures!

I know all of you here are in so many different places in your lives right now: 1) Maybe religious observances and demands are keeping you down? Well, know that in His day Jesus Christ put an end to the way Sabbath and dietary laws had been twisted to keep people from God, and helped people draw near to God again. And He can help you! 2) If you’re afraid of supernatural forces and evil powers and all the dark things going on in the world; know that Jesus Christ set people free from the demons that bothered and possessed them. He has absolute authority over the powers in the spiritual realm. He can help and protect you. 3) Do you live in constant anxiety about earthquakes, tornadoes, tidal waves, and the frightening storms going on around us? Jesus Christ transformed a raging sea squall into calm, peaceful waters simply by yelling at the waves! He is the almighty! 4) Are you growing weary under a chronic illness that won’t let you go? Or is the chronic illness of a loved one haunting you and breaking your heart? Does death seem to always loom over you, and you’re terrified to die? Jesus of Nazareth healed the blind; He restored the health of lepers; He made fevers leave those He cared for; and, He even brought those who had died back to life! He can take care for you! 5) Perhaps you are carrying so very much pressure, and living in fear and worry about losing your job, and providing for your family, because it feels like it’s all resting squarely on your shoulders? Know today that on two separate occasions Jesus Christ miraculously multiplied a handful of fish and bread loaves to feed more than 5,000 people. Yes, you have to do your part, but you can trust Him to provide for you when you put your trust in Him! 6) Or maybe for you this whole system of things that makes up the world has got you down and afraid and worried and in chains in your own mind. Well, we celebrate today that the powers and leadership and governments of this world threw everything they had at Jesus Christ, even torturing and killing Him in the end. And He beat it! He transformed it all to die for our sins and bring glory to God His Father in Heaven. And then He came back from the dead, showing Himself even more powerful than death itself! He will free you from your fears if you will trust Him. He will free you from your worries if you trust Him. He will set you free!

I tell you from my own experience: If you’re looking for something in your life, you’re looking for Jesus Christ! If you’re hoping for someone to come into your life, trust me, you’re hoping Jesus Christ will come into your life first!

When you get to know Jesus Christ you are getting to know God. He’s the One Who made everything that exists, and everything that exists was made for Him! And everything that exists, including you and me – and, of course, even those people who hate Him – we all find our right place in the world and our true meaning in life only in relationship with Him!