MY SPIRITUAL WEATHER MAN

by CharlesRobey
(Trussville, AL USA)

"When your dread comes like a storm, And your calamity comes like a whirlwind, When distress and anguish come upon you." (Proverbs 1:27)

PRELUDE

The imagery of this verse hints at the reality of cause and effect. God sometimes intervenes in his creation through miracles. Most of the time, though, He allows the universe He has designed to function exactly as it was designed to. (bibleref.com)

What a chilly day it's been! I'm chilled to the bone. I just can't wait till springtime and summer. I've gotten where I just can't take this cold weather anymore. Maybe I need move down south. You see, these changing weather patterns seem to get on my nerves. In actuality, they really play havoc with my emotions, and the stress of this anxiety is giving me a mental strain that I can't seem to shake off.

I think maybe I'll just heat up a warm bowl of soup, throw another log on the fire, wrap up in my favorite blanket, and settle back in my trusty recliner with a good book. I know my church pastor has been encouraging us lately to read the Bible more, but I'm just tired and cold. I'll do it later, I promise.

Then it happened. I don't remember much after that. Guess I must have fallen off into my sleep world again. This apparent semi-comatose bedtime world of mine has been happening quite frequently lately. Was it a dream, a vision or just the reappearance of my conscience? Nonetheless, it surely received my undivided attention for a spell.

There he was, appearing out of nowhere, standing in front of the flickering firelight. Is this the TV weather forecaster? Is this just a reflection of him? Looks like him, but it can't be, for the TV's not even turned on. "Who are you, and what are you doing here in my house?" I shrieked out of sheer fright.

"Don't be alarmed", he whispered. "For I am your spiritual weatherman, come to help you in your emotional distress."

"But why are you shivering so? Have you not realized it's winter time, and with winter comes the cold? You seem to be letting this changing weather pattern play havoc with your emotions lately," this visitor continued.

"What will you do when the weather turns warm, when summer finally arrives? Will your emotions give way, and will you complain about the heat?" he asked.

"OK, I get it. You have invaded my dream world. You're my subconscious bent set on keeping me from getting a good night sleep," I guessed.

"Not exactly," he continued. "Let me get to the point of our conversation. I know you claim to be a Christian, but you are letting your emotions get the better part of you spiritually. Why are you so upset with the weather? Do you not realize only God controls the weather? (Psalm 19:1-6) So why get so upset?"

"Well, I must admit you certainly have a point there. So will you please explain now who you are and why you're here," I continued, rather irritated.

Not saying another word, this strange individual simply folded his hands over his heart, and then started his sermon exposition.

"You seem to be experiencing a wide range of emotions, some good and some not so good; emotions such as joy, anger, peacefulness, frustration, despair, happiness, and anxiety. And you seem to have trouble sharing these emotions with others at this season of the year. You are using these changing weather patterns, as an excuse for your actions, or should I say, reactions."

"Humanly speaking, your emotions have taken over your life. In (Hebrews 13:8), Jesus said that He is always the same. Can you say that as well? I dare say you can't, under your current state of mind. Case in point, you are letting these uncontrollable changing weather patterns affect your complete Christian lifestyle by getting the best of you, even though you know God is in control of this universe of ours."

"Are you letting the prince of this world (Ephesians 6:12) hinder your spiritual growth? Your entire emotional world is at stake here, and so is your Christian testimony."

"How dare you say that?" I cried out. "I'm really a good person. My Mom raised me right. I pay the preacher each week when I'm not out fishing. I often visit the sick when I have nothing more to do. And I never resort to unholy language unless my co-workers make me mad."

He continued, "You see, our living Creator, the one who rules the universe and all that is in it, including our weather patterns, surely takes take of all of us. God wants us to be led by His word. In (II Timothy 3:16-17) for example, He gives us all that we need to know to direct us in the right path of our spiritual living, rather than living by our emotions. You are letting the flesh lead your emotions, rather than the Spirit. (Romans 8:14-15)

"But I live by the Golden Rule," I shot back.

"OK, then why are you upset with the changing weather? Are you not practicing what you preach?" he continued.

"Well now, you are really disturbing me by questioning my religion. You have thoroughly gotten on my nerves," I shouted out.

In fact, I shouted so loud that I woke myself up. But even though I was awake, I couldn't shake off his words. Maybe he was right. But who was he and where did he suddenly disappear to?

So I thought, was he an angel sent from God to get my attention? (II Peter 1:3) Was he a false prophet sent to simply agitate my religious convictions? (II Peter 2:1,3) Or was he just hoping I would fall into this temptation?

I know, I'll just look it up for myself. If he had given the truth, the Bible will let me know. But how will I find out what I need to know?

But as I pondered, I realized the weatherman was back.

"But wait just a minute, I said, "It's you again. I thought you had left. Why are you sitting in my chair holding a Bible?"

"First things first. I never left you, your shout seemed to awaken you out of your dream world. You see, I came into your life the minute you believed in the Father. (John 14:26) And although you seemed to have left me, I never left you."

"Gee, what a puzzling comment, coming from this otherwise unknown weatherman," I thought.

"Secondly, do you not recognize this old Bible?

"I sure do. It's Mom's old Bible. Where did you get it?"

"Off the shelf. I had to dust it off a bit," he explained.

"OK, may I see it? I was about to search out the Scriptures anyway, you know, just to confirm your preaching to me", I chuckled somewhat in contempt.

And at that, the unknown stranger left again. He disappeared, leaving Mom's old Bible on my bedroom nightstand table. Picking it up I discovered the Bible happened to be open to a particular, marked Scripture passage, (I John 1:9) and with it was a hand-written notation scribed out on an old, faded piece of paper.

“The only humility that is really ours is not that which we try to show before God in prayer, but that which we carry with us, and carry out, in our ordinary conduct; the insignificance of daily life are the importance and the tests of eternity, because they prove what really is the spirit that possesses us.”
― Andrew Murray, Humility

What did I do then? You guessed it. I immediately fell to my knees by my bedside, crying out to God so hard that all my clothing was drenched with sweat. And what did I do next? I couldn't wait to visit my pastor and tell him about my so-called dream. When I called him, his voice indicated he knew I'd call.

And he gave the impression that he could read my mind, as he had all the answers. He had been waiting for me. How could this be, I wondered? He then read (Romans 5:5). Now I know who that strange character was, for He had been with me all the time. (I Cor. 6:19)

Wow, He really was my spiritual weatherman. Or should I say, God's weatherman?

Author's Postscript

"When we think of God, we may imagine the powerful Creator sitting on his throne in heaven. We may think of him in human form as Jesus, Savior of the World. But do we view him as the Holy Spirit? Just who is God in the person of the Holy Spirit, anyway?

The Holy Spirit is one of the three Persons of God. He has feelings. Scripture tells us to not “bring sorrow to God’s Holy Spirit by the way you live” (Ephesians 4:30). And he has a mind. According to (I Corinthians 12:11), it is the Holy Spirit who distributes spiritual gifts to believers.

God poured out the Holy Spirit on His people on the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2) two millennia ago, becoming not just a noun, but a verb. The Holy Spirit is the dynamic, active, ever-present person of God who impels us to action. God, the Holy Spirit is about living, loving, responding, enjoying, embracing, comforting, supporting, accepting, encouraging, respecting, disciplining, growing, empowering, and a myriad of other such verbs. His presence is additional proof that we belong to God, for the “Holy Spirit speaks to us deep in our hearts and tells us that we are God’s children. (Romans 8:16). As believers, we definitely experience Him in our everyday living."

(Taken from Josh.org - Who Is The Holy Spirit -Posted December 28, 2015, by Chrissy Gordon and filed under the categories 77 FAQs, Apologetics.