Just a few months ago we lived through a great flood brought about by Hurricane Harvey. Many people I know and love lost earthly treasures, their homes, cars, and are left in the aftermath of where to live while they rebuild their homes. It was a great shaking of the earth. But you know what wasn’t shaken, and instead was built up? The love of Jesus shared through neighbors, strangers, friends and churches who rolled up their sleeves and pitched in to help each other, and this process is ongoing.

As the hands and feet of Jesus, we are to do good for one another, thereby shining His light on those around us. “Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for He who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” (Heb. 10:23-25) And in encouraging one another, we show the world how to get our needs met. “But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” (Matt. 6:33)

In Hebrews 12:26, we are told that God’s voice once shook the earth, but that we can expect Him once again to shake both the earth and the heavens. A similar warning is found in Haggai 2:6 in which the heavens, the earth, the sea and the dry land – and even the nations will be shaken. Why? Because He wants to fill His house with His glory. He wants us to understand what it means to receive a Kingdom that cannot be shaken – no matter what circumstances or challenges or fears or battles we must face.

We are literally being prepared for a life lived with the Lord Himself that will last all eternity. However, we can actually receive the benefits of His Kingdom in our life now! God is training and preparing us in these very challenging and stretching days. In Hebrews 12:10-11, reference is made to our being disciplined by God for the sole reason of sharing in His holiness. This takes place in order that we receive a harvest of righteousness and peace which are the benefits of this training.

The Lord wants us to store up our treasures in heaven, not here on earth (Matt. 6:19-20) as things here on earth will eventually be consumed. While things may come and go, our true blessing is received by His gift of grace for an everlasting life with Him in heaven by our faith in Jesus Christ.

No doubt about it, we are living in a very volatile world at this time. Only those who are able to view things from God’s perspective will actually understand what is going on – and why. Seeing the frailty of life challenges us to ensure that our lives are truly hidden in Christ. “If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.” (Col. 3:1-4)

Without God at work in our lives today, there appears to be little hope. But He is at work for those who have eyes to see and ears with which to listen to His Counsel. The God we serve both comforts and consoles, but when necessary also roars and shakes the earth, because He is telling us time is short – and He is preparing for those of us who accept His training and discipline, a Kingdom that can never be shaken. “But blessed are your eyes, for they see, and your ears, for they hear.” (Matt. 13:16)

As Christians we are citizens of the kingdom of God; nothing can shake our King, and nothing can shake us. “Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our ‘God is a consuming fire.'” (Heb. 12:28-29)