Floods Are a Reminder

It’s been quite a week. We got about 6 inches of rain in a 24-hour period, and nearly 10 inches of rain total since it all started. The river 1/2 mile east of my home has flooded over its banks. Roads all throughout my community are closed because of standing water. Neighborhoods, homes, and basements all throughout Chicagoland are flooded. It’s really been one for the record books. In fact, I hope never to see one of these again in my lifetime!

Yet, despite the devastation, floods remind us of what really matters. And I’m not just talking about family, friends, and neighbors (which are truly gifts from God). I’m talking about faith. Faith in Jesus Christ. Faith in His atoning blood that washes us clean from sin. Jesus used a flood to illustrate the necessity of building one’s faith on Him, the solid rock of our salvation:

“Everyone then who hears these words of Mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.” [Matthew 7:24-27]

Floods also remind us of our baptism into Christ’s death and resurrection. Saint Peter is the one who beautifully connects the ultimate flood to Holy Baptism:

“In the days of Noah, ... eight persons were brought safely through water. Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you.” [1 Peter 3:20-21]

Luther builds on this—connecting Saint Peter’s words above with Saint Paul’s words about regularly putting off the old self and putting on the new self (Ephesians 4:20-24)—and teaches us that our baptismal identity in Christ is a daily drowning of the Old Adam:

What does such baptizing with water indicate? It indicates that the Old Adam in us should by daily contrition and repentance be drowned and die with all sins and evil desires, and that a new man should daily emerge and arise to live before God in righteousness and purity forever. [Small Catechism]

Floods can be devastating, for water has the power to wash away homes, cars, roads. But let them also remind you that Jesus Christ is your firm foundation, that He has washes away your sin in the flood at the font, and that your new life in Him is lived by daily drowning your Old Adam.

Sin, disturb my soul no longer:

I am baptized into Christ!

I have comfort even stronger:

Jesus’ cleansing sacrifice.

Should a guilty conscience seize me

Since my Baptism did release me

In a dear forgiving flood,

Sprinkling me with Jesus’ blood?

[LSB 594, stanza 2]