24 “Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock. 25 Though the rain comes in torrents and the floodwaters rise and the winds beat against that house, it won’t collapse because it is built on bedrock. 26 But anyone who hears my teaching and doesn’t obey it is foolish, like a person who builds a house on sand. 27 When the rains and floods come and the winds beat against that house, it will collapse with a mighty crash.”
Matthew 7:24-27
We all know that a foundation is pretty important in building a house. If the foundation is flawed, the structural integrity of the entire building is in jeopardy.
If you ever sold a home, you know that it can be a very stressful time in a person’s life. So much had to be fixed or updated in order to attract potential buyers. When I sold my home, I was so paranoid about every little crack or blemish in the drywall. If I saw just a small crack in the wall, I researched about what could be a foundation problem or what could be just the house naturally settling over time. I don’t think I slept at all until the inspection report came back saying everything was ok.
Those house inspectors work hours going over every detail making sure that everything is in working order. They have to be sure that there are no safety issues and that it doesn’t violate any code that would determine the home is un-livable.
Then you get the report. Mine was about 17 pages long describing what the inspector did and the trouble he saw or the recommendation that he made. However, by the end of it, I knew that I had a home that was safe and livable. What peace of mind it was knowing that if the storms come rolling in, I would be safe and my family would be secure. That peace of mind started with knowing that there was a solid foundation for the house to be built upon.
If so much attention and details go into inspecting and making sure that the foundations of our natural buildings are on solid ground, then how much more diligent should we be to insure that our spiritual foundations are solid, as well.
When the storms of life come, are we standing on our own foundation that we built with our own wisdom and strength or are they built upon a more solid foundation? What your life is built upon will determine how well you will weather the storms and trials of life.
I was a ministry leader for a 12-step Christian based recovery group for 10 years. When we first started it, I was so excited about how many people that it had the potential to help. However, what I didn’t realize was that as I worked the steps and principles, I realized that I needed to reevaluate my own foundations in my life. There were things that I still needed to work on. That meant that I had to dig down to the foundations of my life and do some repair work.
However, before I do that repair work, I had to make sure that my life was built upon a solid foundation. From the very beginning of the recovery process, it establishes a few things that are essential to a Christian, if they are going build a firm foundation and get through the storms of life.
Step 1
We admitted we were powerless over our addictions and compulsive behaviors, that our lives had become unmanageable.
I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. Romans 7:18
Romans 7:18
There are some things in my life that I cannot control. I my thoughts, emotions and behaviors at times can be unmanageable. I had to say that I am not God, and in my own strength, I am powerless to fix things on my own. Even as a Christian there are still things that affect me from my past and contribute to certain thoughts and behaviors.
Step 2
We came to believe that a power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.
For it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.
Philippians 2:13
I had to come to a point that since I am not God, I cannot repair the foundations of my life on my own. I needed a power greater than me to restore me to a functional person. This is hard to do at times. It takes denying yourself, swallowing your pride, and admitting that you cannot fix yourself. This is hard for most people, especially those who have control issues.
Step 3
We made a decision to turn our lives and our wills over to the care of God.
Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God – this is your spiritual act of worship.
Romans 12:1
I had to consciously choose to submit to the master builder. I had to trust that he could do what I could not. By doing so, I chose to allow him todo that repair work and rebuild the broken areas of my life.
You see before you go any further in the program, before you tackle the spiritual inventory, you have to establish the foundation that you are going to build upon. You cannot do a searching and fearless inventory of yourself if you do not have a solid foundation to fall back upon.
Our Christian walk has to be built upon a foundation that is stronger than ourselves. We have cracks and blemishes from the past that have effected our ability to live a fulfilled life. It is in the person and life of Jesus that we find that solid foundation to build our own life upon. So, if you fall or fail, or feel that you are on shaky ground, you can fall back on that firm foundation of faith in Him.
No matter what life throws at you, no matter what type of trials or the stresses of life that taunts you, even in the midst of destruction, you can always rebuild, as long as your hope, your peace, your strength is in the foundation of Jesus Christ.
The Solid Rock
A wise man once wrote:
1. My hope is built on nothing less
Than Jesus’ blood and righteousness;
I dare not trust the sweetest frame,
But wholly lean on Jesus’ name.
On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand;
All other ground is sinking sand.
2. When darkness veils His lovely face,
I rest on His unchanging grace;
In every high and stormy gale
My anchor holds within the veil.
On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand;
All other ground is sinking sand.
However, a foolish person doesn’t understand about this hope. He doesn’t understand that he cant get through what life throws at you on your own. Regarding his own nature the scriptures state the fool has said in his heart that there is no God. If there is no God, then any attempt to stand the storms of life has to be on your own strength.
You cannot build upon a broken foundation. A broken foundation only produces cracks and blemishes in the structure that if not fixed, will eventually crumble to the ground.
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