I mentioned in the last blog post that it is snowing. The roof on our home is a metal roof. When hubby and I first purchased our home, we had a concrete tile roof. However, the concrete tiles were cracking and falling off. Additionally, moss was growing thick and heavy on the concrete tiles and there was no way to clean it off without walking on the tiles … thereby breaking even more.
So, a couple of years ago we decided to replace our concrete tile roof with a metal roof.
A metal roof is a lot “noisier” than a concrete tile roof. A light pitter-patter of rain sounds like a heavy downpour. In a windstorm, seeds and debris being blown out of the trees sounds like massive branches crashing onto the roof.
When it snows, the snow does not gently melt off a metal roof and run nicely down gutters the way it does with a “normal” roof. No. As the snow melts on a metal roof, gravity every-so-slowly pulls the entire sheet of snow downwards towards the edge of the roof. There the snow hangs off the bottom edge of the roof … precariously suspended in mid-air … curling under itself as more snow slides down from above.
Until … gravity ultimately wins … and a huge chunk of snow breaks off … and lands with a tremendous “THUD!” on the metal roof below.
I was actually able to get an “action shot” of a big chunk of snow breaking off and falling down.
Standing at the upstairs window, watching the snow fall off the upper roof and land with a “THUD!” on the lower roof, it’s really not that bad. The sound of the “THUD!” isn’t that bad. And to be honest, it’s really not that much snow which is falling.
However … sitting at the dining table down below … each “THUD!” which lands on the roof sounds as if the entire sheet of snow is crashing down! It’s actually a frightening sound.
It startles me every time!
It sounds more frightening than it really is.
When the Apostle Paul first arrived in the city of Corinth, he had just come out of an intense season of difficulty and suffering. He and Silas had been brutally beaten in Philippi. From Philippi they went to Thessalonica … where they were able to stay for a couple of months, starting a brand-new church.
However, Paul came very close to being beaten again in Thessalonica. He had to flee under the cover of darkness. Traveling south, he, Silas, and Timothy arrived in Berea. But the angry protestors followed them, stirring up a mob and violence.
Ultimately, Paul was sent to Athens by himself … while Silas and Timothy stayed behind to strengthen the brand-new church in Thessalonica.
Paul was weary. He was weak. He was wounded. He was worn out.
He was utterly alone.
This was a very low point for Paul.
When Silas and Timothy were delayed in coming, Paul left Athens and traveled to Corinth, the capital city of the province.
Arriving in Corinth, Paul was very “broken.” Paul was very discouraged.
In looking back on his arrival in Corinth, he states: “When I came to you, brothers, I did not come with eloquence or superior wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony of God … I came to you in weakness and fear, and with much trembling.” – 1 Corinthians 2:1, 3
Paul further mentions in 1 Corinthians 4:11-12: “We go hungry and thirsty, we are in rags, we are brutally treated, we are homeless. We work hard with our own hands … “
Needless to say, Paul had some fear when he began doing ministry in the city of Corinth. And, it came as no surprise when “the Jews opposed Paul and became abusive.” – Acts 18:6
“One night the Lord spoke to Paul in a vision: ‘Do not be afraid; keep on speaking, do not be silent. For I am with you, and no one is going to attack and harm you, because I have many people in this city.’” – Acts 18:9-10
Or, in other words: Yes, the sound of the angry protestors is frightening. Just like the sound of the “THUD!” of snow landing heavy on the metal roof! It’s startling! It’s frightening. But … it sounds more frightening than it really is.
Don’t be afraid of the sound. Keep doing what you have been called to do.
“So, Paul stayed for a year and a half, teaching them the word of God.” – Acts 18:11
That didn’t mean the sound of the frightening “THUD!” went away. The “frightening sound” was still there all while Paul ministered in Corinth.
“While Gallio was proconsul of Achaia, the Jews made a united attack on Paul and brought him into court. ‘This man,’ they charged, ‘is persuading the people to worship God in ways contrary to the law.’
“Just as Paul was about to speak, Gallio said to the Jews, ‘If you Jews were making a complaint about some misdemeanor or serious crime, it would be reasonable for me to listen to you. But since it involves questions about words and names and your own law – settle the matter yourselves. I will not be a judge of such things.’ So he had them ejected from the court.” – Acts 18:12-16
These event occurred right here … on this raised platform where the Bema Seat / Judgment Seat of Corinth was located, in the central Roman Forum.
The sound of the frightening “THUD!” didn’t go away. Yet in spite of the “frightening sound” Paul went right on teaching with courage and boldness in Corinth. In spite of the protestors. In spite of the angry words. In spite of the fear.
It sounds more frightening than it really is.
God had promised to protect Paul. The sound of the “THUD!” which seemed as if everything might come crashing in … God wouldn’t let that happen. God was covering and protecting Paul.
Don’t be afraid of the sound. Keep doing what you have been called to do.
