“Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock.” (Matthew 7:24-25, NKJV)
I enjoy reading articles and watching video clips online on how to transform a house from drab and outdated to something fresh and beautiful. Perhaps you also enjoy watching these home makeovers and have even done your own DIY (do it yourself) project. The transformations, at least in the photos, look amazing.
Let me give you a little tip. Cleaning and a can of paint can help cover a lot of ugly, but it’s worth little if the house doesn’t have good construction resting on a strong foundation.
A friend recently told me that their home had developed serious foundation problems as the soil began to settle. Apparently, the contractor had use fill dirt and had not properly prepared the site for construction. At first, nothing seemed amiss; but after some time, a corner of the house began sinking. This resulted in a very costly repair.
Every home needs a strong foundation. So does every life. We can cover “a lot of ugly” with nice clothes, expensive homes and cars, and fun vacations. But if our lives and values are not built on solid rock, cracks will eventually begin to show.
How do we build a strong spiritual life? The process is similar to how one builds a house.
Count the cost. In Luke 14:25-33 Jesus uses the example of how a man first sits down and computes the cost before he begins any construction. Otherwise, he may run out of money before completing the project. In the same way, He said, we must count the cost of discipleship. Are we willing to make a 24/7 commitment, living in total surrender to His will? Discipleship is more than Sunday morning Christianity. It’s a consistent lifestyle.
Lay a firm foundation. Matthew 7:24-25 tells us to build on solid rock. Our bedrock is Jesus Christ and His Word. If we build on its values and principles, we will withstand the storms of life. No matter how strong the winds and the waves, we are secure because our foundation holds. Isaiah 28:16 calls it “a sure foundation.”
Work heartily. Building and maintaining a house requires effort. The same is true in life. If we are careless or slothful, whatever we have accomplished in the past will soon begin to crumble. Colossians 3:23 says, “Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men” (ESV). Our goal should be to honor God, not impress men.
Live wisely. The strength of our spiritual house is determined by the decisions we make in the building process. If we are indifferent and negligent, our house will be nothing more than cardboard on sand. But if we wisely choose to base our lives on the Word of God, we will have a foundation that cannot be shaken.
Dig deep and build strong.
Lord, help me to examine my life each day to be sure I am building my life on Your Word. If I build on bedrock, a sure foundation, I can withstand whatever storm the enemy brings my way.
Comments are closed.