Our family recently went on vacation to Florida. Before we left, I checked the weather of the Sunshine State to discover that Tropical Storm Debby was dumping rain in the region. Rain jackets were added to our packing list.
Vacation. Day one. Hollywood Studios. The three o'clock Pixar Pals Countdown to Fun parade begins under dark, threatening clouds. Sure enough, rain begins to pour in buckets. I'm talking cloudburst, deluge, flood, drencher, inundation, monsoon, torrential rain. The moment brings new meaning the to phrase, "Don't rain on my parade."
Those of us who didn't have them on already, quickly don our rain jackets and start running through instantly forming pools of water.
When we reach a dry spot under a large table umbrella, we discover that several of us are soaking wet. My mother-in-law is thoroughly soaked because she did not put her rain poncho on correctly. She simply put the hood over her head and left the rest floating behind her like a cape. This was extremely ineffective in keeping her dry.
Three of us discover that our rain jackets were not really rain jackets. Oh, they looked like rain jackets. They felt like rain jackets. But, when the rain came down, they did not do the job of a rain jacket. They did not keep us dry. The water soaked right through.
Later in our trip to Florida, we attended a conference for church. One of the speakers taught from Matthew 7. Hang with me here. It really is important to read the whole thing. Jesus is talking to you.
3 “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. 14 But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.
15 “Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. 16 By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? 17 Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.
21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ 23 Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’
24 “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. 26 But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. 27 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”
Believe it or not, this made me think of our rain jackets.
What good is having a rain jacket that doesn't keep you dry?
What good is being a Christian, a Christ follower if I don't do the will of my Father, if I don't hear His Words and daily put them into practice.
It sure did make me stop and think. I hope it does the same for you.
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