Where's the beef?

From: Ben Kelley
Subject: Where's the beef?

Many of you remember the old Wendy's Hamburgers ad, depicting an elderly woman looking at the competition's hamburger product, and yelling the question, "where's the beef!!??" It was a great ad for that fast food chain, but it testified of a truth, namely, a person buying a sandwich that holds itself out as being made primarily of ground beef, should be able to readily see a sufficient quantity of that product to merit that name. In fact, a person looking at any item that is called by an ingredient's name should rightfully be able to expect to see that ingredient easily and in decent amounts. If that ingredient is removed, that item should no longer be called by that name. A hamburger, as long as it exists here on earth, should show forth hamburger meat, a fur coat should display fur, a diamond should be readily seen on a diamond ring, etc. If you can't see the name component, it has no right to be called by that component's name. If, as is often the case today, that name component is artificial, that item's name should be prefaced by "imitation", "artificial", or "faux."

What about those of us who are called by the name "believers?" Shouldn't a person looking at us be able to easily see real "belief?" Shouldn't that by which name we are called be present with us at all times? Jesus showed HE thought HE had the right to see that component of belief, even in circumstances we would consider as exceptional. I mean, sure, faith (faith and belief are the same word, from the same root) should be expected to be visible when things are normal, but surely, the Lord shouldn't expect it when circumstances make faith hard to find. I was reminded of that as I re-read the following Scripture passage:

And it came to pass, on one of the days, that HE himself went into a boat with His disciples, and HE said unto them, `We may go over to the other side of the lake;' and they set forth, and as they are sailing he fell deeply asleep, and there came down a storm of wind to the lake, and they were filling, and were in peril. And having come near, they awoke Him, saying, `Master, master, we perish;' and HE, having arisen, rebuked the wind and the raging of the water, and they ceased, and there came a calm, and HE said to them, `Where is your faith?' and they being afraid did wonder, saying unto one another, `Who, then, is this, that even the winds HE doth command, and the water, and they obey him?' (Luke 8:22-25 Young's Literal Translation) (parallel accounts are found in Matthew 8 and Mark 4)

The situation those first century believers were experiencing was certainly an exceptional one. They were in a boat, on a lake large enough to be known as the sea of Tiberius. The wording in the Greek indicates that, in opposition to the sudden way this terrible and violent storm came upon them, their boat was in the process of being filled, which tells me it had been going on at least some time. The word used for this storm in Matthew's account means a violent shaking, tossing their boat around like a toy. The waves had gotten larger and larger, whipped by the raging winds, to the point they were crashing over the sides of their vessel, creating the immediate danger of sinking. We must remember, there was no ship to shore radio to call for help, no Coast Guard to come to their rescue, and no life preservers to keep them afloat. If the ship sank, they probably would too. Drowning in the middle of a raging storm is not a pleasant thought. It was also probably night, as Jesus was sleeping in the stern of the boat. All these facts tell us their world was being turned upside down, far from what they had been experiencing just hours earlier. When they finally remembered Jesus, and awakened Him, HE immediately ordered the winds and the waves to quieten down, which they did, producing a placid, calm lake, totally opposite to what it had been just prior.

If I was Jesus, I would have probably turned around and said something like, "guys, I know that was a horrible thing to experience. It's no wonder you were terrified. I understand perfectly. It's a perfectly natural reaction and to be expected." Did Jesus respond that way? No, HE asked, "guys, where's your faith? Believers, where is your belief?" Don't you think they would have been justified in saying, "Come on, Master, that was really rough, give us a break!!" Jesus did not condemn them, but HE did indicate the proper response of a believer to such terrifying circumstances is belief, a calm and trusting faith. What kind of storm are you facing now? Are the howling winds and towering waves threatening to sink your little boat? Does it look pretty hopeless? Are you convinced you are about to go under? Does Jesus seem to be sleeping and unaware of what shape you are in? I remind you and me, even when His eyes seem to be shut, HE is in absolute control and is keeping you safe in His all-powerful hands. You will not be swamped and left to drown!!!!

Where's the beef? Let us stop right now, and put it back where it belongs. Elvis may have left the building, but Jesus is still in the boat!!!!