Dr. Thomas Elias
Houston
It was about four in the afternoon on a September day in 2019. My friend and I were fishing at the far end of a pier at Freeport beach on the Gulf of Mexico. It was sunny and calm. Then, all of a sudden, the sky grew dark, and a violent storm and cold rain came down. Other fishers on the pier had left. We were left alone. The storm shriveled my open umbrella like a piece of paper. My hat got blown into the Gulf. We felt we might be too! We were cold, scared, and helpless!
While struggling hard to get back to our car, I remembered the story in Luke 8:22-25 and Mark 4:35-41. Jesus was in a boat with his disciples going across the Sea of Galilee to heal a man with an evil spirit. A violent storm came, and the boat was nearly swamped. Jesus was asleep on a pillow. The disciples woke Him. He commanded the wind and the raging waves, “Quiet! Be still!” and they obeyed Him! The disciples were terrified and asked each other, “Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!”
“Who is this?” This question has been asked for over two thousand years. Luke 8:22-56 records four miracles that answer this question. He is Jesus, who has absolute power over nature, evil spirits, physical illnesses, and death. John the Baptist called Him the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!
History is His story. Jesus is the Truth that stood before Pontius Pilate, who could not see this Truth with his natural eyes. He is the Son of the woman who crushed the enemy’s head (Gen. 3:15). He was before the beginning of time. He is the great I AM whom Moses met. He is the Creator of all. He is the Sustainer of all things. He is the radiance of God’s glory (Heb 1:3). Apostle John saw His face like the sun shining in all its brilliance (Rev. 1:16). He has all authority in heaven and on earth (Matt. 28:18). In Him we live and move and have our being (Acts 17:28).
Born in a manger, brought up as a carpenter, having no place to lay down His head, condemned and crucified as a criminal, He rose from the dead, and went back to heaven. He is the Savior of the world. He will come back as the King of kings and Lord of lords (Rev. 19:16). Finally, He will live with His people forever. There will be no more death, mourning, crying, or pain (Rev. 21:3-4).
In His busy schedule, Jesus found time to go across the Sea of Galilee to heal the man with the evil spirit! He still finds time to seek, save, and heal people like you and me-one at a time.
And, yes, He can calm the storms. If you are going through a storm in your life, he can command, “Peace, be still!” All you have to do is to ask Him for His help. We all experience storms in our lives – sicknesses, loss of a job, family issues, and loneliness. Psalm 34:19 says: “The righteous person may have many troubles, but the LORD delivers him from them all.”
Jesus once asked His disciples, “Who do people say I am?” They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” “But what about you?” He asked. “Who do you say I am?” Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God” (Matt. 16:13-16).
So, who do you say Jesus is? You may say, “He is my Savior,” or “He healed me,” or “He gives me peace.” Or, you may say, “He is the Lord of my life.” If you say He is your Lord, think again. As your Lord, He owns you and everything you have. Everything you do, or don’t, in your life must fit His will-your plans, priorities, decisions, and actions. You are only a steward of what He has entrusted to you. Now, can you honestly say, “Jesus is the Lord of my life?” If not, it is time for you to acknowledge the Lord’s ownership and give Him preeminence in your life. When you do, He will call you, “Well done, good and faithful servant” (Matt. 25:21).
My friend and I got home safe-wet and cold-that evening. The question, however, continued to reverberate in my mind: “Who is this? Is He the Lord of my life?”
Is Jesus the Lord of your life?
