Solid Foundation
Every time I go to the beach, regardless of whether or not I get all the way in the water, I make it to the water’s edge, dig my feet in the sand, and just let the waves wash over my feet and ankles. But every time I do that, the sand always seems to move and wash away from my feet, so I have to keep digging them deeper and deeper. Now compare that with going to the pool. I can sit on the edge of the pool and put my feet and legs in the water, and no matter how much water is splashed up on the side of the pool, the concrete is not affected. It’s still as strong and resolute regardless of the amount of water or the velocity at which the water hits it.
This reminds me of the parable Jesus told of the man who built his house on the sand versus the rock. We can read it in Matthew and Luke:
Matthew 7:24-27 (NLT)
““Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock. 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. But anyone who hears my teaching and doesn’t obey it is foolish, like a person who builds a house on sand. When the rains and floods come and the winds beat against that house, it will collapse with a mighty crash.””
Luke 6:46-49 (NLT)
““So why do you keep calling me ‘Lord, Lord!’ when you don’t do what I say? I will show you what it’s like when someone comes to me, listens to my teaching, and then follows it. It is like a person building a house who digs deep and lays the foundation on solid rock. When the floodwaters rise and break against that house, it stands firm because it is well built. But anyone who hears and doesn’t obey is like a person who builds a house right on the ground, without a foundation. When the floods sweep down against that house, it will collapse into a heap of ruins.””
I love watching construction, especially buildings. It can be residential or commercial. Either way, I love watching something form from the ground up. The most important part of a building is its foundation. If the foundation isn’t strong enough or set correctly, it will affect the rest of the structure.
Several years ago, my parents built a house out in the country. After a few years, they noticed the normal settling that happens when you build a house, but it continued to get worse. They had someone come and evaluate the foundation and noticed that because of changes in the soil, the foundation was pulling away and sinking. Because of this, they had to reinforce the foundation to re-stabilize the house. In the process of doing that, they realized that if the builder had just gone a few feet deeper, they would have hit bedrock and may not have run into this issue in the first place!!
Our lives are a metaphorical house. Every decision we make, job we have, person we date and/or marry, friend group, sport we play, our successes and failures, all play a part in building our house. But if we don’t have a solid foundation, regardless of the materials we use to build the structure, the house will not be strong enough to withstand the storms that enviably come. We can build our foundation with a lot of different things: job, family, friends, significant other, etc. But as much as these things want to provide a solid foundation, they will eventually fail, creating cracks and faults in our foundation. The only tried and true foundation is God. And it’s not just believing in God, it’s actually becoming a disciple, laying down our will and desires and following Him.
Journal: What foundation have I built my house on? Is it anything other than Jesus? What decisions do I need to make to change that?
What I never really noticed until recently, in this parable, was that both individuals heard Jesus’ teachings. The only difference is that one actually did what Jesus said and the other did not. We typically think that in this story, the believer is the wise person and the nonbeliever to the foolish, but let’s look at it again:
Matthew 7:24-27 (NLT)
““Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise…But anyone who hears my teaching and doesn’t obey it is foolish…”
Jesus was talking to believers! That is a very sobering thought. I can believe in Jesus and still not build my house on Him as my foundation. At Youth Camp this year, Rachael Wynne shared a powerful message on whether we will just be a follower or a disciple of Jesus. She didn’t use this Scripture as a reference, but I believe that speaks into this as well. In order to receive the full benefit package of a relationship with Jesus, we can’t just add Him to our friend’s list. It takes a full surrender to Him and His will for us to become a true disciple.
Jesus’ disciples left everything they knew to follow Him. Is there anything in your life that Jesus is asking you to leave behind to follow Him? It could be a good thing. They aren't necessarily always bad things, but they aren’t good if it’s not His plan for us. Today is a new day. We can make choices today to start or re-establish Jesus as our foundation.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank You for being a good, good Father that wants the very best for me. I repent for the ways I have not made You the foundation of my life. Reveal to me the areas that are hindering me from establishing You as my foundation. Give me the strength to obey You in every aspect of my life. I want to be a true disciple and not just a follower. I know it’s only with You as my foundation that I can weather any storm that will come my way. Thank You for being the Rock that I can always stand on! In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen!
This reminds me of the parable Jesus told of the man who built his house on the sand versus the rock. We can read it in Matthew and Luke:
Matthew 7:24-27 (NLT)
““Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock. 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. But anyone who hears my teaching and doesn’t obey it is foolish, like a person who builds a house on sand. When the rains and floods come and the winds beat against that house, it will collapse with a mighty crash.””
Luke 6:46-49 (NLT)
““So why do you keep calling me ‘Lord, Lord!’ when you don’t do what I say? I will show you what it’s like when someone comes to me, listens to my teaching, and then follows it. It is like a person building a house who digs deep and lays the foundation on solid rock. When the floodwaters rise and break against that house, it stands firm because it is well built. But anyone who hears and doesn’t obey is like a person who builds a house right on the ground, without a foundation. When the floods sweep down against that house, it will collapse into a heap of ruins.””
I love watching construction, especially buildings. It can be residential or commercial. Either way, I love watching something form from the ground up. The most important part of a building is its foundation. If the foundation isn’t strong enough or set correctly, it will affect the rest of the structure.
Several years ago, my parents built a house out in the country. After a few years, they noticed the normal settling that happens when you build a house, but it continued to get worse. They had someone come and evaluate the foundation and noticed that because of changes in the soil, the foundation was pulling away and sinking. Because of this, they had to reinforce the foundation to re-stabilize the house. In the process of doing that, they realized that if the builder had just gone a few feet deeper, they would have hit bedrock and may not have run into this issue in the first place!!
Our lives are a metaphorical house. Every decision we make, job we have, person we date and/or marry, friend group, sport we play, our successes and failures, all play a part in building our house. But if we don’t have a solid foundation, regardless of the materials we use to build the structure, the house will not be strong enough to withstand the storms that enviably come. We can build our foundation with a lot of different things: job, family, friends, significant other, etc. But as much as these things want to provide a solid foundation, they will eventually fail, creating cracks and faults in our foundation. The only tried and true foundation is God. And it’s not just believing in God, it’s actually becoming a disciple, laying down our will and desires and following Him.
Journal: What foundation have I built my house on? Is it anything other than Jesus? What decisions do I need to make to change that?
What I never really noticed until recently, in this parable, was that both individuals heard Jesus’ teachings. The only difference is that one actually did what Jesus said and the other did not. We typically think that in this story, the believer is the wise person and the nonbeliever to the foolish, but let’s look at it again:
Matthew 7:24-27 (NLT)
““Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise…But anyone who hears my teaching and doesn’t obey it is foolish…”
Jesus was talking to believers! That is a very sobering thought. I can believe in Jesus and still not build my house on Him as my foundation. At Youth Camp this year, Rachael Wynne shared a powerful message on whether we will just be a follower or a disciple of Jesus. She didn’t use this Scripture as a reference, but I believe that speaks into this as well. In order to receive the full benefit package of a relationship with Jesus, we can’t just add Him to our friend’s list. It takes a full surrender to Him and His will for us to become a true disciple.
Jesus’ disciples left everything they knew to follow Him. Is there anything in your life that Jesus is asking you to leave behind to follow Him? It could be a good thing. They aren't necessarily always bad things, but they aren’t good if it’s not His plan for us. Today is a new day. We can make choices today to start or re-establish Jesus as our foundation.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank You for being a good, good Father that wants the very best for me. I repent for the ways I have not made You the foundation of my life. Reveal to me the areas that are hindering me from establishing You as my foundation. Give me the strength to obey You in every aspect of my life. I want to be a true disciple and not just a follower. I know it’s only with You as my foundation that I can weather any storm that will come my way. Thank You for being the Rock that I can always stand on! In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen!
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