“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.” (Matthew 7:24-27 ESV)
Jesus told this story about two houses to illustrate our lives. Either our lives are built on the Word of God – like a house built upon a rock – or they are not built on the Word of God – like a house built on sand. We often hear sermons on this passage urging us to not be like the sand-house-builder, but the rock-house-builder, and those exhortations are not wrong. However, did you notice that both the rock house and the sand house met the same storm?
The rain fell.
The floods came.
The winds blew.
The storm beat on them.
But what happened to the house built on the Rock of God’s Word? It did not fall. It was still standing.
So are you.
You’ve probably been through seasons of life when you were being pummeled by circumstances, emotions, relationships, hardships, etc. Yet, you’re still standing. Whether your spiritual “house” was as developed as a castle, or as modest as a shack, when you build your life with the Master Carpenter and on his Ways and Truth, he will guide you through the stormy times.
God our Rock,
Thank you for your Word in the Bible and your Word in Jesus. We sing of your great love and faithfulness; you rule over the surging seas and still the waves. Thank you for the reassurance that when we build our lives upon you as our foundation, your faithfulness will stand with us. We know that even in the storms of life you are our firm foundation and you help us to stand. Give us strength and courage, wisdom and favor, we pray in Jesus’s name, AMEN.
I will sing of the Lord’s great love forever;
with my mouth I will make your faithfulness known
through all generations.
I will declare that your love stands firm forever,
that you have established your faithfulness in heaven itself.
Who is like you, Lord God Almighty?
You, Lord, are mighty, and your faithfulness surrounds you.
You rule over the surging sea;
when its waves mount up, you still them. (Psalm 89:1-2, 8-9 NIV)
“Do not fear, for I have redeemed you;
I have summoned you by name; you are mine.
When you pass through the waters,
I will be with you;
and when you pass through the rivers,
they will not sweep over you.
When you walk through the fire,
you will not be burned;
the flames will not set you ablaze.
For I am the Lord your God,
the Holy One of Israel, your Savior. (Isaiah 43:1-3 NIV)