The closest I ever want to get to a tornado is the evening news. I have always been taught to stay as far away from danger as possible. That’s why I’ve never been able to understand people who call themselves “storm chasers.” Why would anyone want to put themselves in harm’s way in order to experience some passing thrill? I’m not so sure the excitement they get from chasing the storm is worth the risk they take by possibly catching up with it. When it comes to the “storms of life,” there are some people who choose to live that way: always on the edge of danger.
Of course, not all storms can be avoided. There are some we encounter through no choice of our own. As a matter of fact, some storms can actually be good for us, teaching us valuable life lessons and giving us opportunities to lean harder on the Lord. Others, though, are designed by the devil himself for our destruction. For the thief cometh not but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. (John 10:10) No one understood that better than Jesus. However, He was a different kind of “Storm Chaser” - one who had the courage and authority to chase the storm away and send it back to where it came from.
In our study of Luke chapter 8, we read of two such storms Jesus and His disciples encountered. One was on the outside of their boat, the other on the inside of a man. Jesus chased them both. Many believe that the wind and waves that suddenly erupted on the Sea of Galilee were Satan’s attempt to prevent Jesus from entering the territory that he claimed as one of his strong holds. There are some places the devil doesn’t want us to go, some lives he doesn’t want us to touch for the Lord, and so he manipulates outward circumstances in an all-out effort to throw a “roadblock” in our way. If he can paralyze us with fear or get us to doubt God’s love, he has accomplished his purpose. Such storms must be faced head on and rebuked! And they came to him (Jesus), and awoke him, saying “Master, master, we perish. Then he arose, and rebuked the wind and the raging of the water: and they ceased, and there was a great calm. (Luke 8:24) The disciples responded as you would expect… And they being afraid wondered, saying one to another, “What manner of man is this! For he commandeth even the winds and the water, and they obey him.” (vs. 25) As great of a miracle as this was over the power of nature, it was His next miracle that left them absolutely speechless.
The Gospel of Matthew tells us that there were two men that met them as their boat approached the Gadarene shore. All three of the Gospels focus on the same one - perhaps the fiercest of the two. So far was he beyond help that he had been driven away to dwell among the tombs, where he could do harm to no one but himself. Under the power of Satan, he became his own worst enemy… naked, crying out in torment, and cutting himself with stones. The demons within him immediately recognized Jesus and knowing their doom was sure, begged
Him not to send them into the abyss. Jesus commanded him to reveal his name. His response was chilling - My name is Legion: for we are many. (Mark 5:9) How is it possible that the human spirit has the capacity to house thousands of demons? And if that’s the case, just imagine how much more of the Holy Spirit are we capable of possessing, (or rather, how much more can the Holy Spirit possess of us)?
At Christ’s command, the legion of devils was driven from their victim and into a nearby herd of pigs. Having no power to resist, the herd ran violently off a cliff and drowned in the waters below. Feeling the evil rush of darkness, the disciples stood in awe, as demon powers swept past them like gale force winds. With a single word, Jesus set free the man who was too strong to be bound by man’s chains but powerless to break the fetters that held his heart. Another storm had been stilled, this one in the realm of the spirit. The proof was in plain sight, sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed, and in his right mind. (Luke 8:35) After so many years, it could truly be said once again, “And there was a great calm.”
How touching to hear the man’s heartfelt plea for permission to join His group of followers and go with Him. Equally, how surprising to have that plea denied. But Jesus sent him away, saying, “Go home to thy friends, and tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee, and hath had compassion on thee. (Mark 5:19) Once delivered, we need not fear to return. He who us set us free can keep us free. Those who knew us in our sin need to see us in our salvation.
The townspeople asked Jesus to leave. They feared - not knowing the difference between the power of darkness, and the greater power of Christ’s love. Jesus departed as they requested but left behind a powerful witness who would continue chasing storms in His name. His servant was up for the challenge. The question remains, “Are we?”
Prayer: Lord over all, please bring calm to the storm that rages in me, and let my life show those around me a path to hope and peace.
