HELEN SANDERS

11-2-2024

THE SHAKING

Without a doubt we see in the natural world that it has become full of chaos and violence. Flooding, hurricanes, riots, crime, war, and rampant sin have consumed the headlines and have brought many a family that knock at the door that they never wanted to receive, being the notification of the death of a loved one.

I know that everyone that is doing anything at all for the Lord is going through severe shaking and testing. Some have had sudden illnesses, and tragedy has hit many families. It should not come as a surprise that this is happening.

What can we, as Christians do? Can we make a difference in this “dark” world? What would Jesus have us do in this season? We go to His Word and learn about these times.

In Hebrews 12:25-28 [Amplified version] says, “See to it that you do not refuse [to listen to] Him who is speaking [to you now]. For if those [sons of Israel] did not escape when they refused [to listen to] him who warned them on earth [revealing god’s will], how much less will we escape if we turn our backs on Him who warns from heaven? 26 His voice shook the earth [at Mount Sinai] then, but now He has given a promise, saying, “Yet once more I will shake not only the earth, but also the [starry] heaven.” 27 Now this [expression], “Yet once more,” indicates the removal and final transformation of all those things which can be shaken – that is, of that which has been created – so that those things which cannot be shaken may remain. 28 Therefore, since we receive a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us show gratitude, and offer to God pleasing service and acceptable worship with reverence and awe; for our God is [indeed] a consuming fire.”

As we look at those three verses, we see that everything will be shaken that isn’t of God. If you recall the story of the wheat and chaff [Matthew 3:12; Luke 3:17], the wheat and the chaff are shaken and thrown into the air. Only the wheat remains, and the chaff is burned away. The same thing is happening to those that love God. He is allowing those things in our lives to be “burned away” that do not please him, then only the good fruit in our lives will remain.

We should be grateful that God loves us enough to do this. He is coming back for a bride without spot or blemish, and we must go through the process of being shaken to be ready to be that bride. Severe shaking means there are more things to go than we thought. Yet, the beautiful wheat remains! 

Don’t resist the shaking, and even the fiery trials that refine us, because soon our Lord will be coming back, and we will be prepared to meet him!