The Flood Gates are Up
I grew up living three blocks from the Ohio River in the little town of Metropolis, Illinois. Those of you who know me know that I now live in Paducah, Kentucky (just seven miles from Metropolis). Our little city is located on the banks of
Flooding of those rivers has also been a big part of my life. I remember distinctly the times when the river would rise and begin to come into the backyard of my childhood home. On several
It wasn’t until Jim and I moved to Paducah that I lived in a town with a floodwall and floodgates. That wall serves as a barrier to the river water up to a point. Within that
It has rained a lot in Kentucky lately. It has also snowed a great deal to the north of us and the melting of that snow always affects the amount of water flowing down the Ohio River. In the past week or so our city workers have been installing the floodgates because the river has reached a dangerous level. Without those gates in that
Now, you may be thinking that all of this information is interesting (or boring), but what does it have to do with me? I hope some of my thoughts will be helpful to you as I consider what those floodgates might represent in life.
- They are a barrier to the danger on the other side. That danger became very real to the city of Paducah when in 1937 there was a flood that devastated the city. There are still markers in the city to show where the flood waters reached. Following the repairs and reconstruction that had to be done in the city, it was determined that it needed a floodwall with a series of floodgates that reached three feet higher than those devastating waters had reached. That wall has stood as a barrier from that danger since that time.
We, as Christians, are faced with danger on almost every day of our lives. Satan is alive and well in this world and even if the danger is not physically life-threatening, you can rest assured that he is always there to temp us to turn from the safety of God’s embrace.
Those “floodgates” of studying God’s word, praying to the Father, keeping in touch with others of “like precious faith,” and many others, will all be a barrier to the danger of the evil on the outside.
- They are
the real protection. That floodwall that stands between our town and the river can never really provide protection because it has openings within that wall which allow people to walk and drive down by the river at times when the river is within its banks. There is a peaceful beauty to the river as it placidly flows by. There are benches and some large concrete steps upon which you can sit when there is no flooding. Our floodwall even has some beautiful murals painted on it which have become quite a tourist attraction. Those paintings tell the history of our little city. But as the water rises to dangerous levels, without those floodgates, there would be no protection.
As we read and study our Bibles, we see example after example of people who faced eminent danger in life. When they were faithful to God, He was their protection. There is no doubt that many of them suffered in life, but their faith and trust in God kept them safe in the way that matters.
I’m reminded of Paul’s advice to the Philippians in chapter 4 and verses 6 and 7, “…do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your request be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” That’s real protection.
- They are maintained. It is comforting to know that those heavy metal floodgates are maintained regularly. The city budgets $700,000 per year to maintain them for use when needed (according to a Google search of “Paducah floodwall”). Since they (along with the wall itself) are man-made, we know they could fail. After all, they aren’t used every year. The last time they were used here in Paducah (if memory serves me correctly) was in 2011. It might be tempting to just take them down and store them away when the danger is past, and not even think about them until they are needed again. It’s nice to know that the floodwall is checked and the gates are kept ready to be installed, even when the danger is not
eminent .
I’m reminded of a passage in Proverbs, “Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life” (Prov. 4:23). Maintaining your heart and mind in service to God is of utmost importance in the life of the Christian. We “maintain” our hearts and minds when we think about things that are “true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, commendable, excellent, and worthy of praise” (Phil. 4:8).
Those well-maintained physical floodgates are providing a barrier that is protecting our city from damage and destruction.
Those well-maintained spiritual floodgates will provide an even more important barrier and protection for our Christian lives.
“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” (Psalm 46:1)
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AUTHOR: Donna Faughn
