I am writing this article from the Isle of Lewis in the Hebrides, where I am conducting a brief preaching tour.
This island is well known for its ‘revivals’ – times when God’s presence and grace have so touched the Island that many people came to faith in Christ as their Lord and Saviour. Even today the society here – though by no means all Christian – reflects some of those inputs of years ago.

A couple of days ago my wife and I took a few hours off to visit the northern tip of the island. I have never seen anything like it. Driven by howling gale force winds the huge surging Atlantic rollers were hitting the land with such force that the spray and water from the waves broke over the top of the cliff. We saw it from afar as we looked across one bay, and then saw it head on as we approached the cliff from the top and were greeted by a rush of sea water!

Yet in one white water bay of crashing waves we saw something rising up and down with the water level but that otherwise did not seem to move. On closer inspection we realised it was a seal. We then saw other seals. They also maintained their rise and fall positions with ease in a boiling sea.

A parable from nature
The more I thought about this, the more I saw a parallel from the Bible and from the history of Lewis. God’s ‘raw power’ was very much at work on that stormy day. The Bible shows God’s raw power at work, both in the creation and sustaining of the universe and in the mighty resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ from the dead. The history of the Island reveals that the same power had changed many lives of those who turned from the wrong things in their lives, to Christ, who on the cross died to bear their sins and the deserved wrathful punishment of God for them. That resurrection power of God had brought them new life, which was eternal life.

Yet amidst all that thundering and whistling power of nature at the tip of Lewis Island we had seen simple control in the breakers exercised by the seals. It seemed incredible that they could stay where they were whilst such huge breakers crashed over and around them! Surely this gives a little further evidence of the creating and designing hand of God in His creation?

Christ provides what we lack
We so often lack the power to do the right thing. We weaken or compromise when we know full well what we should do. We lose control of temper or other emotions too easily. That combination of our lacking power and our losing control can cause us to sin against God and hurt other people, as well as causing regrets for ourselves.

But God can step into our lives and put all that right. The apostle Paul, imprisoned for being a Christian, said I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me (Philippians 4:13). The Saviour who can cleanse us from all our sins can also take over to help us to live for Him. His power and His control can set us free!

Why not ask Him?
Have you considered asking Jesus Christ to forgive you for your sins, to enter your life as your Lord and Saviour, and to empower and control you in a new life led by Him? If you do, you can know something of His power and control – both now and then perfectly in eternity.