Are we willing to allow the Good News of Jesus to be transformational in our lives? Or are we going to be like the people who listened to Jesus speak on the mountain that day, but then returned to their life-long construction project, building their houses on the sand? That’s my question today.

oday is officially the first day of the 2013 hurricane season. I just glanced out my window and it’s a little cloudy, so I raced over to the National Hurricane Center’s website to check out the “tropical forecast.” Under the map, in small letters, it said, “There are no tropical cyclones in the Atlantic at this time.”

Well, that’s a load off.

There is one small area (in yellow) down near the Yucatan Peninsular, that’s labeled “10% chance of tropical cyclone formation.” Other than that, we’re in the clear.

STORM HISTORY: Historically (and I know I’m tempting fate to even say this out loud), Tampa seems to fare well when it comes to “the eye of the storm.” Our previous direct hit was back in 1921. Prior to that it was the hurricane of 1848.

Granted, the Tampa area has been sideswiped by a ton of huge storms, and we all know that the swarth of destruction is much wider than the pencil-thin line the eye transcribes. Fact is, more tropical storms hit Florida than any other U.S. state and – since 1851 – only 18 hurricane seasons have passed without a known/named storm impacting the state.

Here at Maul Hall, our home sits at around 120 feet above sea-level, which is a veritable mountain in a state voted “Most likely to disappear when the ice-caps melt.” But then there are literally millions of people who live right up against the beach, or in places they have to drive across long bridges to access.

THE WISE MAN BUILT HIS HOUSE UPON THE ROCK: Hello? They call them “Barrier Islands” for a reason! I love the idea of beach access, parks, recreation, hotels and restaurants, but when it comes to building a home there are two old stories that come to mind.

The first is from Jesus, and he uses it to wrap up the entire discourse known as “The Sermon on the Mount.”

When Jesus finished speaking, the crowds were surprised at his teaching.He taught them like someone with authority, and not like their teachers of the Law of Moses. (Matthew 7:24-29)

The other story comes from a thousand years ago. The English king Canute (circa 990 – 1035), famously had his throne carried to the edge of the sea, at which point he forbade the tide to advance. The water, of course, took no notice and Canute was soon swamped. People routinely use this story to illustrate ignorance and arrogance, pointing to Canute’s “foolish and vainglorious” demonstration.

The truth, however, is completely the opposite. Canute set up the demonstration as an act of humility, and as an object lesson. He wanted his people to worship God instead of the king.

Canute ordered the tide to turn back, yes, but when the sea ignored him he said this: “Let all the world know that the power of kings is empty and worthless and there is no King worthy of the name save Him by whose will heaven and earth and sea obey eternal laws,” (Historia Anglorum, ed D E Greenway).

HOW DO WE RESPOND? I’d like to think that Canute’s message was received and that people lived transformed lives because of what they learned. I’m sure some did, but it’s obvious that – even in the face of such a strong illustration, many simply returned to life as usual.

Jesus experienced that too. Listen to how Eugene Peterson translates the conclusion of the Matthew 7 passage above:

When Jesus concluded his address, the crowd burst into applause. They had never heard teaching like this. It was apparent that he was living everything he was saying—quite a contrast to their religion teachers! This was the best teaching they had ever heard.

So they burst into applause…? “Whoop-de-do.” Best teaching they’d ever heard…? “Whoop-de-do.” And then….?

SO WHAT! This is when Rebekah would ask her famous, “So what?” Are these truths going to do anything to change how we live? Are we willing to allow the Good News of Jesus to be transformational in our lives? Or are we going to be like the people who listened to Jesus speak on the mountain that day, burst into applause, but then returned to their life-long construction projects, building their houses on the sand? That’s my question today.

– DEREK