[This post is adapted from the devotions I led at the arts camp last month. While geared towards 10-19 year olds, the messages of Jesus’ parables apply to all ages.]
We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. (Hebrews 6:19 NIV)
If you were traveling from somewhere in the Midwest to Honduras, how would you get there? Most likely, you would fly. Before leaving, you would carefully pack what you need for the journey—clothes, toiletries, shoes, and other essentials. You wouldn’t leave for an international trip without preparing for it.
Now let’s think about a different kind of journey—the journey through life.
Imagine you are 85 years old, looking back over your life. What might have happened between now and then? You may graduate from high school, attend college, join the military, begin a career, get married, raise a family, travel, serve others, or pursue dreams you haven’t even imagined yet. Life is full of opportunities, surprises, joys, and challenges.
Earlier we talked about how God created each of us as a gift to the world, and how He offers us the greatest gift of all—salvation through Jesus Christ so we can spend eternity with Him. But receiving the gift of salvation is just the beginning. God also wants to give us hope, wisdom, peace, purpose, and strength for every part of life’s journey.
Where does that hope come from? It comes from building our lives on something that never changes—Jesus Christ and His truth.
Jesus illustrated this by telling a story about two builders. One built his house on sand, and the other built on solid rock. If you’ve ever walked on a beach, you know that sand shifts with every wave and every step. A house built on sand may look fine for a while, but when storms come, its foundation cannot hold.
Jesus said our lives are much the same.
When we build our lives on the shifting values of the world—popularity, possessions, success, feelings, romance, achievements, or the opinions of others—we are building on sand. None of these things are necessarily wrong, but they are temporary. They change, disappoint us, or can disappear altogether.
If our identity comes from popularity or performance, if our truth is determined by feelings or culture, if we hold onto grudges instead of pursuing forgiveness, or if our purpose is found only in personal success or pleasure, then we are building on sand.
But when our identity comes from being God’s beloved children, when God’s Word defines what is true, when we choose forgiveness and reconciliation, and when our purpose is found in loving God and serving others, we are building our lives on the solid rock of Jesus Christ.
The same is true of our peace. If our peace depends on our circumstances, if our failures lead us to despair, or if our friendships are based only on popularity or convenience, then our foundation is unstable. But if our peace comes from God’s presence, if our failures become opportunities to grow, and if our friendships are built on character, love, and faithfulness, then our lives rest securely on Christ.
Jesus summarized it this way:
“Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.” (Matthew 7:24-27 NIV)
Just as you would never leave on an important trip without packing what you need, don’t go through life without the things that matter most. Build your life on the solid Rock of Jesus Christ, and no matter where the road leads or what storms you face, you will never travel alone.
God,
You our Firm Foundation, the Rock on which we stand. Thank you for the reassurance of your Presence and your Hope in the midst of trials. Help us to be people who look to you for our identity, our peace, our adventures, and our lives. We ask this in Jesus’s name, AMEN.