You cannot build upon a broken foundation. A broken foundation only produces cracks and blemishes in the structure and if not fixed will eventually fall. I don’t like seeing the blemishes or potential structural problems on the walls or foundations. My first thought is how serious is it and my next is wondering how much it is going to cost to get it fixed.
I think that is why I hate mirrors so much. What I see with my natural eyes is often just a reflection of a broken man. I see the cracks and the blemishes of the foundation that I have laid through myself and not the person that God made me. I see wounds and hurts and heartache and shattered dreams but God sees the person who is fearfully and wonderfully made. He sees me as created in the image of God. He sees a person that He loves with an everlasting love.
A wise man knows that his source of strength, that his shelter comes from someone other than himself.
Those who live in the shelter of the Most High will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
Psalm 91
He become the shelter of the wise man. A wise man recognizes that his strength is in Him and not in himself. A wise man who has his foundation in Jesus is not afraid of the terrors of the night, nor the arrow that flies in the day.
6 He does not dread the disease that stalks in darkness, nor the disaster that strikes at midday. He is at perfect peace knowing he is safe and secure.
Thunder and Lightening, very, very frightening?
No, not for him because he knows that”
‘Though a thousand fall at his side, then ten thousand at his right hand’ but he will keep walking by faith knowing those evils will not touch him.
Building a foundation upon Christ begins by understanding who He is. It’s understanding His power. It is being in awe (reverent fear) of His power and majesty.
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge (Prov. 1:7). The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom (Prov. 9:10). There is no want for them who fear Him (Ps. 34:9). In the fear of the Lord, there is strong confidence and a fountain of life (Prov. 14:26-27).
Your foundation is in him. He holds you together when it seems the world around you is falling apart. In some ways we can say that quite literally.
There is a protein in our body that helps hold every cell together . It is called Laminin. If we did not have this particular protein then we would fall apart. Here is a picture of what the protein looks like:
The Book of Colossians states that we exist for Him. We exist because of him. Everything is held together through Him and built on His foundation. This is the foundation that your life is built upon when you first put your faith and trust in someone other than yourself. By doing so, you have the hope that no matter what you go through in life, you are still going to be ok. He is going to hold you together!
It doesn’t matter that the world is closing in around you or that storms are closing in, your faith will not be shaken.
I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.”
John 16:33
In those times that your faith is tested, you start to wonder if it is worth it. You may question if God is even listening. You are so tempted to go back to what you know and what is familiar. That is leaning on your own strength instead of God. It is in those times of trials and temptation that it seems that God is most silent.
However, James reminds us that trials and temptations will come and he tells us what kind of perspective we should have when we go through them.
Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
James 1:2-3
James goes on to say that the one who perseveres under trial is blessed because they stood the test, and that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.
The more we walk in Him, the more we see how faithful He is, the more we learn to trust Him to take care all of our needs. Even when it appears that God is silent to our prayers or deaf to our cry, our foundation in Him is not shaken because we know that the answer is on its way.
Shortly after Jesus was resurrected, He appeared to his disciples and spent time with them before he ascended into Heaven. He instructed them to remain in Jerusalem and wait for the Holy Spirit to come upon them. So they waited and prayed, but they were not really sure how the Holy Spirit would be revealed. Acts 2 tells us happens.
On the day of Pentecost[a] all the believers were meeting together in one place. 2 Suddenly, there was a sound from heaven like the roaring of a mighty windstorm, and it filled the house where they were sitting. 3 Then, what looked like flames or tongues of fire appeared and settled on each of them.4 And everyone present was filled with the Holy Spirit and began speaking in other languages,[b] as the Holy Spirit gave them this ability.
That one little word, “suddenly”, means so much more when you are waiting for an answer from God. So even at the final hour, the last minute God always shows up on time. The check comes in the mail, you get a call that you got the job, the prayers for healing have finally been answered, the spirit of depression has lifted, and the anxiety subsided so that you can finally rest at night. What ever you have been asking, seeking, praying hoping for suddenly comes and your prayers have been answered. It is because your faith is built on a foundation that cannot be shaken by trials, circumstances, by situations, by anything else, that this world can throw at you.
We have a sure foundation built upon Him that will stand the test of time and will never crack or falter. The hymn writer Edward Mote penned these words in the early 1800’s, and it sums up the solid foundation we have in Him:
When He shall come with trumpet sound,
Oh, may I then in Him be found,
Clothed in His righteousness alone,
Faultless to stand before the throne!
On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand;
All other ground is sinking sand.
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