Have You Ever Had Your Boat Rocked in Life?

The early death of a spouse, child, or parent is how many people get their boat rocked in life.  It can also be some financial disaster like a fire, tornado, hurricane that hits your physical home.   It can be a child on drugs and alcohol, handicap condition, serious mental condition or illness in life.  Actually, I feel like Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz now in that I just want to go home.  In my boat, I’ve got the scarecrow (man you need to get a brain and have some common sense) the tin man needs a heart (you need to get some empathy and put the shoe for other people on your foot) and you need some courage (the righteous are bold as a lion but the wicked flee when no one pursues Proverbs 28:1).  

One of the things I heard as a young Christian is to plan like Jesus is never coming back, but live like He is coming back tomorrow.  

What does the quote "the best laid plans of mice and men often go astray" mean? it basically means no matter how well you plan something, always expect the unexpected, in other words, just because you think you've done all you can for something to go right....something can still get messed up (always have a plan B).

Many people with spousal loss seemed to think if Jesus was in their boat or if the doctors did something differently, their spouse would have not died.  It’s sort of like when Jesus allowed Lazarus to die. 

Lord," Martha said to Jesus, "if you had been here, my brother would not have died.” John 11:21

“If the doctors would have operated on my wife and took out her cancerous ovaries instead of giving her chemotherapy, my wife would have not died.  For my mother, they operated too late on her gallbladder and the cancer spread to her liver. For a widow I know, If they would have not done the heart cath, her husband would have not died in the hospital.” 

So people get angry at doctors.   Consider that doctors have their limitations. 

Jesus (God) had limitations too.  It was in his hometown and it was related to in his own hometown that he could do no miracle because of their unbelief/lack of faith.  Jesus allowed his earthly father Joseph to die.  Mary was a widow.   Mary knew Jesus could turn the water into wine and yet Joseph was gone.  In fact, a lot of people think that Jesus when he said “his time had not come” when he turned the water into wine that he did not do miracles before his ministry time.  I don’t see any indications of that except that it was not time to do “public” display of miracles.  What we do see is that Mary definitely knew what Jesus could do because she said, “Whatsoever he says unto you do it.”

And because of their unbelief, he couldn't do any miracles among them except to place his hands on a few sick people and heal them. And he was amazed at their lack of faith. Then Jesus went around teaching from village to village. Mark 6:5-6

And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him. Hebrews 11:6

Jesus brought Lazarus back to life after he was dead and stinking (he died of natural causes/an illness).  Lazarus still ended up dying in the future so we know death is evitable for all of us unless the Lord comes back.   Jesus wanted to show that “he is the resurrection and the life” whoever believes in him although he is dead he shall live. 

That belief in Jesus is resurrection life and having faith in him is most important because you pass from spiritual death into spiritual life.

Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; John 11:25 
Once you were dead because of your disobedience and your many sins Ephesians 2:1
Then you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your sinful nature, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, Colosians 2:13

What I’ve seen in life it’s like preventive medicine.  They have proven if women go get regular checkups and take prenatal vitamins there is less chance of mortality in infants.  Same way in life, you do the best you can to live a healthy life style of diet and exercise and then you leave the rest in God’s hands, because we only have one temple (body) to take care of.  Some people seem to be proned genetically better than others.  Some people want to “rush” the aging process along with cigarettes, alcohol or bad eating habits.  I know because I had a sister die of lung cancer who was a smoker, and a high school classmate die of liver cancer from alcohol.

The Bible says, “there is a time to be born and time to die.” Eccl. 3:2 and and Just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, Hebrews 9:27.

They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death. Rev. 12:11

I was angry for a while at the number of non-compassionate people I’ve met in my neighborhood, at my church and my own pastor when my spouse died.  It inspired me in life to do the contrary.  I had this car wreck when I was taking a friend out to eat to encourage her, where no one was hurt except a sprained foot and hand, but it took 45 minutes for the police to get there on the busy street of Rockville Road.  It was then I realized that God still has good Samaritans and they are the whole healthcare field that came to our rescue.  In 9/11 we saw many good Samaritans in action and I did during that car crash.  Since that time, my former pastor lost his father and he has had a change of heart about loss.  He now understands what it’s like to lose a close loved one (a greater appreciation).  I also noticed that Rockville Road has a left turning lane to avoid this danger of turning to go to L.A. Fitness and restaurants in the surrounding area.

The Bible “warns” about how the love of many will wax cold (Mathew 24:12) and even people will betray their own relatives: 

Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child. Children will rebel against their parents and have them put to death. Mark 13:12