“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” – Jesus (Matthew 7:24 – 27).
I had the advantage of growing up in Sunday School. My earliest memories are holding my Papa’s hand and climbing the steps to Sunday School while my dad was away with the Army in Korea. I loved the flannel graphs and singing silly songs. One of my favorites was, “The wise man built his house upon the rock,” because it had such grand gestures. I remember making a fist out of each hand, and beating them together while singing the building verses, but the best part came when “the rains came down, and the floods came up!” It finished with, “and the foolish man’s house went splat!” I was determined to “build my life on the Lord Jesus Christ!” And I pray that’s just what I’ve done.
Foundations are essential. If you’ve ever watched a skyscraper go up, you know how long they take to dig down and prepare a proper one. We’ve been studying 1 Peter 5:10,
And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.
Our final word of restoration is “establish” (themelioo θεμελιόω). It describes laying a foundation, the base for a structure. Jesus uses this word in Matthew 7:24 – 27. The Lord laid the foundation for the world (Hebrews 1:10). When Christ dwells in our “hearts through faith,” we are “rooted and grounded in love” (Ephesians 3:17; see also Colossians 1:23).
Once more, tornado season is upon us in Kansas. St. John has been blessed and has never experienced a twister. Of course, some people quip, “Well, I guess we’re do.” I pray, not!
I’ve been crawling around under the house this week. (It’s a long story involving a hose nib I hit with a riding lawn mower, a plumber, and chasing an ornery, little grey kitten.) As I looked at the foundation in the darkness, I wondered how our house could withstand a cyclone. (I pray I never have to find out!) Spiritually though, we don’t need to worry. God himself has laid our foundation. The storms, trials, and tribulations we face will not move us!
Be a Blessing!
