Christ The Power of God

CONTROL OF EARTH'S NATURAL FORCES

With his only-begotten Son beside him as "a master worker," God created the earth and the things on it.  (Proverbs 8:22, 30, 31; Colossians 1:15-17)   Thus, Jesus fully understands earth's ecology.  He knows how to use, manage, and distribute earth's resources fairly and properly.

When on earth, Jesus showed that his is "the power of God" by exercising control over the forces of nature.  Consider how Jesus dealt with the windstorm that appeared threaten the lives of his disciples.  (Read Mark 4:37-39.) One Bible scholar notes:  "The Greek word [for "windstorm" at Mark 4:37)  is used of a furious storm or hurricane. It never refers to a single gust . . .but to a storm breaking forth from black thunder-clouds in furious gusts, with floods of rain, and  throwing everything topsy-turvy."  Matthew's account describes this windstorm as "a great storm." -Matthew 8:24. 

Picture the scene: Christ is exhausted from his demanding ministry.  The waves are pounding the ship, hurling spray and foam into the boat. Yet, despite  the noise of the storm and the violent pitching of the boat, Jesus continues to sleep.  His body needs rest.  The frightened disciples wake Jesus up and exclaim:  "We are about to perish!"  (Matthew 8:25) Rousing himself, Jesus commands the wind and the sea with the words:  "Hush! Be quiet!"  and the raging wind stops.  (Mark 4:39) Jesus is, in effect, commanding the wind and the sea to be quiet and to stay that way.  The result?  "A great calm sets in."  What power Jesus displays! 

The Source of Christ's power is Jehovah himself, so we have reason to believe that Almighty God is fully capable of controlling the forces  of nature.  Consider  a few examples. Before the Flood, Jehovah stated:  "In just seven days, I will make it rain on the earth for 40 days and 40 nights." (Genesis 7:4) Similarly,  at Exodus 14:21, we read:  "Jehovah drove the sea  back with a strong east wind." And we read at Jonah 1:4:  "Jehovah hurled a strong wind at the sea, and there was  such a violent  storm on the sea that the ship was about to be wrecked."  It is encouraging to know that Jehovah can control the elements. Clearly, planet Earth's future is in good hands. 

How reassuring it is to contemplate the awesome power of our Creator and his "master worker."  When their full attention is directed toward  the earth for the 1,000 years, all people will dwell in security.   Terrifying natural disasters will be a thing of the past. There will be no reason to fear being harmed by typhoons, tsunamis, volcanoes, or earthquakes in the new world.  How wonderful  it is to think of the time when no natural forces will kill or maim, for "the tent of God [will be] with mankind"! (Revelation 21:3, 4)  We can be assured that  the power of God exercised through Christ will control the forces of nature during the Millennium. 

Next time: Christ The Power of God -IMITATE GOD AND CHRIST NOW

From the Watchtower magazine