For me, coming to terms with the fact that the worldview all around me is false and opposed to what God says is true has not been an easy journey. It is often so much easier to ‘go with the flow’ and listen to the majority view. Simply because it is the predominant view makes it hard to ignore. Anyone who has swum in the sea against the tide know how much more tiring this is than ordinary swimming. The image of the fish swimming in the opposite direction to all the other ones is a symbol of what everyday life can feel like:
If we are successfully to do this, being transformed by the renewing of our minds (Rom 12:2), we need to meditate on what is true. The David Crowder song ‘Here’s My Heart’ says ‘Speak what is true.’ It is absolutely vital for our spiritual health that we learn to hear what God says is true and that we build our lives on this solid foundation. Some of the truths in the song are:
“‘Cause I am found, I am Yours
I am loved, I’m made pure
I have life, I can breathe,
I am healed, I am free.
‘Cause You are strong, You are sure
You are life, You endure.
You are good, always true.
You are light breaking through.
You are more than enough
You are here, You are love
You are hope, You are grace
You’re all I have, You’re everything.” (‘Here’s My Heart’, David Crowder)
Only as we learn to receive God’s word as truth and build upon this, rather than on the lies of the world, will be able to build an edifice which is strong and able to withstand the storms of life. (Matt 7:24-27) In the UK recently, we have been experiencing storms, floods and gales which have caused havoc in some parts of the country, sweeping away railway lines and forcing people to leave their homes. Life throws up many situations like this, when it feels like we have nothing solid beneath our feet. Only when we stand on the firm foundation of Christ the solid Rock can we hope to survive the floodwaters and the fiery trials which come.