When Life Goes Off the Rails

Intro - What do we do when things in life don’t go the way we expected? How do we react when things do not go the way we expected?

The phrase off the rails is a train analogy. “back on track” Obviously, a train is designed to function with the wheels running along a corresponding rail, two metal strips designed for a specific sized train to move from one point to another. Unfortunately there are many examples of a train coming “off the rails” which creates a chaotic and usually catastrophic event. The train often turns over, people are hurt, cargo is lost. So many problems come from such an event. At least a few people in this room have worked for a large government agency where “cargo” would be sent by rail but then that cargo comes off the rail and your job has been to go get that and get it back on track and be safe.

There is a ride at universal studios “Donkey Kong” ride that designed to look and feel like the roller coaster is off the track.

Life is full of “off the rail” moments - John 16:33

There is no one here that can escape the problems of life that come up in a way that interferes with our lives as we intended it.

Illness and Injury

Persecution

Job or Financial Situations

Marriage problems

Natural Disasters

Death

John 16:33 “I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.””

And again Jesus explains “ Luke 13:1–5 “There were some present at that very time who told him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. And he answered them, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans, because they suffered in this way? No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish. Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them: do you think that they were worse offenders than all the others who lived in Jerusalem? No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.””

Life goes off the rails - but you better be ready for it.

Following Jesus will cause some “off the rail” moments

Luke 8:22–25 “One day he got into a boat with his disciples, and he said to them, “Let us go across to the other side of the lake.” So they set out, and as they sailed he fell asleep. And a windstorm came down on the lake, and they were filling with water and were in danger. And they went and woke him, saying, “Master, Master, we are perishing!” And he awoke and rebuked the wind and the raging waves, and they ceased, and there was a calm. He said to them, “Where is your faith?” And they were afraid, and they marveled, saying to one another, “Who then is this, that he commands even winds and water, and they obey him?””

Matthew 8:23–27 “And when he got into the boat, his disciples followed him. And behold, there arose a great storm on the sea, so that the boat was being swamped by the waves; but he was asleep. And they went and woke him, saying, “Save us, Lord; we are perishing.” And he said to them, “Why are you afraid, O you of little faith?” Then he rose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm. And the men marveled, saying, “What sort of man is this, that even winds and sea obey him?””

Mark 4:36–41 “And leaving the crowd, they took him with them in the boat, just as he was. And other boats were with him. And a great windstorm arose, and the waves were breaking into the boat, so that the boat was already filling. But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion. And they woke him and said to him, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” And he awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. He said to them, “Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?” And they were filled with great fear and said to one another, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?””

Obviously we are changing analogies. For the disciples, it wasn't a train but a boat. I’ve seen a first century fishing boat. And I’ve seen the Sea of Galilee.

This is something they’ve done many times. But the storm comes up. Golan Heights, Syria, the wind could whip down hill causing the pop up storm.

Following Jesus does not keep us from the problems of life.

Many great believers doing great things for God have suffered and even died from the sicknesses and difficulties of life that everyone else experiences.

And these scary and tragic events in life hurt just the same.

When life goes “off the rails” our faith in Jesus can be tested.

The disciples panicked . . . but Jesus was calm.

In this they did right . . . when we are fearful or hurting,

1 Peter 5:7 “casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.”

On Wednesdays we are going to study the Psalms. One Psalm after another are prayers and pleas with the Lord to deliver them out of trouble, usually from conflict with an enemy.

Pastor Randall will be teaching from the first 5o Psalms, and not to take his thunder but Psalm 23 is the powerhouse of comfort in the face of loss. God is so great and so personanly loving.

We have received some very specific intel from our ministry partners on the other side of the world about the persecution they are facing. I promise you the are crying out to God.

The disciples accused . . . but Jesus loved them.

We accuse God of not caring about us but really it is the other way around. The truth is that Jesus knows what is best for us and out of his great love he will take us through the storms we don’t want.

John Piper’s glass of water.

Some how we have to get to heaven. Jane Sivley.

The disciples did not understand who was in the boat . . . but Jesus is greater than they could understand.

Read what he did. Luke 8:24–25 “And they went and woke him, saying, “Master, Master, we are perishing!” And he awoke and rebuked the wind and the raging waves, and they ceased, and there was a calm. He said to them, “Where is your faith?” And they were afraid, and they marveled, saying to one another, “Who then is this, that he commands even winds and water, and they obey him?””

So the ulitame truth is, the disciples did not understand who they had in the boat with them.

The disciples that they had an earthly, but spiritual messiah. The wanted to be head of his kingdon on earth.

They know Jesus was powerful but they were still coming to terms how great his power was.

They did not understand that Jesus was God incarnate.

But we have the full picture . . .

Dylan read for us Colossians 1. Go back with me to Colossians 1: 15-17

Colossians 1:15–17 ESV

He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.

The disciples truly had no way of understanding but we now have the completed Word of God and Paul gives us some incredible, perspective changing insight. Jesus was not just a good teacher. Jesus was not just a moral philosopher. HE IS THE CREATOR of the universe. “My best friend is creator of the universe.

He is the image of God. God revealed.

Over all creation - authority.

The Creator.

The sustainer.

Would you turn back to Genesis 1:1–2 “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.”

God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.

The is the God that reigns - completely in control of our off the rail moments. We can trust him and we can obey him.

Romans 8:31–39 “What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? As it is written, “For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.” No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”