THE IMPACT ZONE

By Pastor E

In September of 1989, my senior year of High School, the East Coast was slammed by hurricane Hugo. This category 5 hurricane devastated South Carolina and wreaked havoc along the eastern coast with its massive storm surge and incredible winds. Although the Outer Banks of North Carolina escaped the brunt of this impressive storm, it did produce 14 to 15 foot surf along the Outer Banks. Word about these massive waves on the Outer Banks spread quickly and it didn’t take long for my brother and I to decide that we would head out there. My brother and I spent most of our time surfing the eastern coast of Virginia and North Carolina during our teen years–not experts but pretty good. After hearing the news of the storm and the enormous waves we weren’t going to miss the opportunity.  

As we arrived in the Outer Banks, most of the area was being evacuated. There were roadblocks everywhere with caution signs all along the shore. I remember the State police telling us that if we headed out to the coast and something happened, there would be no emergency services to provide help. They advised against our plans, citing all the dangers that we would encounter but left the choice up to us. And, just like typical naive teens who think they are invincible and have everything under control…we chose to do it our way. 

Stepping out on the beach was almost surreal, even creepy in some ways. The waves were bigger than anything we had ever experienced. The sound of the water crashing on the shore was almost deafening and you could feel the pounding in your chest as the waves hit the sand. The air was calm, the water was extra warm, and my stomach was doing flips from excitement and fear. I looked down the length of the beach and posted all along the shore were bright yellow signs that read, “Dangerous Surf, Beach Closed.” I thought, “Those signs are for beginners.”  

We waxed up our boards and hit the water trying to time the set count so we could paddle out past the shore breakers. Each time we tried to push through the waves we were pounded by the incoming surf beating on the shore. The current and undertow was so strong it seemed impossible to get behind the break. Again and again we paddled out only to get thrown back into the salty whitewater again. We would duck dive over and over again only to be crushed by the next set of waves.  

Panic set in as we got caught up in the “impact zone.” We were being whipped around like ragdolls, tossed and turned like clothing in a washing machine. Every time we would get our heads above water to catch our breath, another set would crash down on top of our heads, pushing us further down into the salty water. Surviving became the objective at this point. We were dangerously caught between the beach and the crashing waves. We paddled and swam our hearts out but the impact zone had us in its teeth. What was I thinking, how did I get myself into this?   

God has given us his amazing Word so that we can know him, to live into the relationship God wants so desperately with us. Because he loves us so much, his Word is filled with all kinds of “caution signs”–his loving hand guiding us through this journey he has called us to. His Word is saturated with signs of warning so that we may avoid the undertow and shore breaks of this world. Just as a parent guiding their children, he does this all out of his unconditional love for us.  

As broken and sinful people, we have a tendency to overlook, not notice, and even disregard the caution signs of our Father. Just like our original parents, they were given everything good in the garden–an abundant amount of all the good God had created. But the Father warned them of one particular tree in the garden to stay away from. The Father even cautioned his children, “if you eat from this tree, you will surely die!” And we know from scripture that Adam and Eve ignored the “danger” sign, choosing instead to do their own thing. And, in Chapter 3 of Genesis, this decision left all of humanity in the “impact zone”! Sin entered the world, tainting everything God had created good! Now, humanity tries to keep its head above water, catching a breath of air between the crashing waves, only to be crushed by the weight of the next set of surf. 

Our decision to ignore God’s danger signs, his posted words of warning, come with consequences. These consequences not only affect us as individuals but so much around us. When these words of warning and direction are followed, we are able to live into a small piece of Genesis 1 and 2, “and everything was very good.” They are there for our protection, to give us peace, provide unity, establish a healthy order that is in line with God’s original design for all humanity, so that we may experience the joy and love of the Father!   

Thank you Jesus for your grace and your mercy when we fail to follow your directions of love. Thank you for your patience and guiding hand in our lives when we try to go at it on our own. May we demonstrate our love for you through the obedience we live into every day. 

How are you at recognizing, understanding, and following God’s warning signs for righteous living? God loves you and wants the “very good” for your life. He wants you to experience the Genesis 1 and 2 world…. Follow Jesus and stay out of the “Impact Zone”! 

“I have told you these things so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow!” John 15:11

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