Tomorrow's Forecast

O

ne winter evening the weather forecasters ventured into very shaky territory, especially for the state of Texas.  It seems that conditions were favorable not only for precipitation but for frozen precipitation at that.  Moreover, the forecasters actually went so far as to use the “S” word, snow, calling for the white stuff to arrive in the mid-late-afternoon.  That remained to be seen but, as you can guess, the mere mention of the “S” word (I don’t want to say it too loudly) caused a bevy of activity in and around the Dallas/Fort Worth area.

Slag trucks geared up to protect bridges and overpasses, grocery stores braced for the onslaught of people who would make a mad dash for eggs, bread, and milk, and school administrators as well as parents who began to make contingency plans in the event schools would have to close their doors due to the inclement weather.  All this just because someone on a television set mentioned one word.  Amazing!

I remember watching the evening news as a young boy.  I was fascinated by the weather forecast and watched it religiously every evening.  The weatherman drew the systems on a huge map of the United States.  There wasn’t much mention of other systems around the world and hardly any mention at all of weather across the country.  All that mattered was the immediate region and the next couple of days.  The time came for a picture of the radar and I remember watching in rapt attention as screen showed the swirling needle of the radar screen.  I didn’t understand any of it but I was convinced that whatever the weatherman said was law and would come to pass just as he said it would.

When you think about it, society exhibits an incredible amount of faith in the words of the weather forecasters.  We plan our entire lives around one or two words and we base all our decisions on what someone tells us about the conditions of the atmosphere.  Imagine how different our walk with God would be if we placed the same amount of faith in him and in his word as we do in the evening forecast.

The disciples had such an experienced and it is recorded in Luke 5:5, “Simon answered, “Master, we've worked hard all night and haven't caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets.”  All night long the disciples had been on the Sea of Galilee fishing.  These professional fishermen made their living from the abundant number of fish swimming in its waters.  However, this evening, the fish had found somewhere else to swim leaving the disciples with nothing to show for their intense labors.

Jesus then told them to go out one more time into deep water and let down their nets for a catch.  Jesus predicted a large catch but the disciples had to go out one more time.  All they had to go on was Jesus’ word, the only instructions to follow were his commands, and for Simon Peter this was enough.  Although he was tired and although he had been out all night, he placed his faith in Jesus and based his decision not on feelings or desires, but on the word of his master.  Peter says simply “because you say so...” and that is the secret of the life of faith.

We do not receive life the way we want it; we receive it the way God sends it to us.  Since he knows all about us and the situations facing us, doesn’t it make sense to place our trust in his word?  Shouldn’t we, like Peter, simply say, “Father, because you say so, because your word is never wrong, because you love me and have only my best interest in mind, I will do as you say?”  If we would live like this we would find our lives so much richer, deeper, and more fulfilling than we can imagine.  Notice, I didn’t say easier.  Nowhere in scripture are we promised an easy life.  What we are promised is a life that is fulfilled and pleasing to God.

So, what’s the weather like where you are today?  Does the weather look to be cloudy, sunny, windy, or cold?  Have you opened your Bible to see what God has to say about the way ahead?  Are you trusting God with tomorrow’s forecast today?