There are three general realms where mankind dwells: fleshly, soulish, spiritual. The lowest form of mankind has been likened to the depths and characteristics of the sea:
Jude 12 These are spots in your love feasts, while they feast with you without fear, serving only themselves. They are clouds without water, carried about by the winds; late autumn trees without fruit, twice dead, pulled up by the roots; 13 raging waves of the sea, foaming up their own shame; wandering stars for whom is reserved the blackness of darkness forever.
In the beginning, the waters were described as darkness, without light. This condition speaks of our ungodly state before Jesus Christ became our Sacrifice. The Book of Beginnings describes this state of the earth:
Genesis 1:2 The earth was without form, and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.
If there is any word that describes the state of man in the news today, “depravity” must be included in the list. Depravity is moral corruption and wickedness, debauchery, corruption, vice, perversion, deviance, degeneracy, immorality,debauchery, dissipation, licentiousness, lechery, obscenity, indecency. Get the picture? Men are described as raging seas in Jude. They are troubled and unsatisfied with their state. Their cravings remain unfulfilled. The prisons are full of men who have no peace and in response, they victimized others in a quest to fill the emptiness of their soul. In Mark 7, Jesus describes this lowest level of mankind:
20 And He said, “What comes out of a man, that defiles a man.
21 For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders,
22 thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lewdness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness.
23 All these evil things come from within and defile a man.”
This raging state of mankind is often found in today’s headlines of the local news. When I was young and living in a suburb of Oklahoma City, it was common for us to sleep with the front door open. Back then most families did not have air conditioning so we enjoyed “flow through” ventilation. There was no concern about some depraved man entering into our house. Oh how times have changed. Even locked doors cannot keep intruders from their evil motives. The tares continue to grow and take up resources prior to the day of the harvest of the wheat.
Jesus provided us with an example of His power and authority in the story found in three of the Gospels where Jesus instructed the disciples to go by boat to the other side:
Mark 4:35 On the same day, when evening had come, He said to them, “Let us cross over to the other side.”
36 Now when they had left the multitude, they took Him along in the boat as He was. And other little boats were also with Him.
37 And a great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that it was already filling.
38 But He was in the stern, asleep on a pillow. And they awoke Him and said to Him, “Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?”
39 Then He arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Peace, be still!” And the wind ceased and there was a great calm.
There are many facets of truth packed into this story. First of all, you can be assured that you will be tested. The disciples were placed in a situation that would reveal their faith… or lack thereof. There will be a great quaking of your current belief system. This windstorm was described by Matthew (8:24) as a tempest or earthquake. It was a great shaking. At any rate, the disciples were being put in a situation of being tossed to and fro. This command to “cross over” was challenging their doctrine. Paul stated in Ephesians 4:
13 till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ;
14 that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting,
15 but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ—
When Christ was “awakened”, He intervened by commanding the wind and the sea “Peace, be still!” He showed the disciples that He had power and authority on all levels: the depths of the sea, land, and air. There is no realm outside of His authority.
We are called to “cross over” from our previous state to a new state, our old revelation and understanding to the current, higher revelation and understanding. We must leave behind our past states of maturity and ascend to the next level. The disciples were chastised for their lack of faith. They thought they would perish during the crossover. Jesus responded, “Why are you fearful, O you of little faith?” (Matthew 8:26).
As we ascend to the higher realm and are led by the Spirit, we too will have dominion over the sea of humanity. When confronted with the coming great confusion and quaking of fear, we should expect to take command of the situation and proclaim “Peace, be still!” and there will be great peace come upon the people and then all of humanity will be as a sea of glass.