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Building On The Rock
On a rerun of the HGTV series “Holmes Inspection,” Mike Holmes visited an older residence that had been completely renovated on the inside. The open floor plan was inviting, outfitted with all the modern décor, appliances, cabinetry and flooring. It presented beautifully.
The homeowner’s main complaint was that the floor on the second level was beginning to sag, but as Mike looked deeper a horrible truth began to emerge. The makeover was merely window dressing that concealed a crumbling foundation, unsupported floors, asbestos insulation, mold, water seepage, hazardous wiring, faulty plumbing, disconnected ductwork, etc. In short, the entire house had to be stripped to the studs, the foundation repaired and then completely rebuilt. Nothing was salvageable but the roof.
The analogy to human life is rather obvious. Jesus put it this way:
“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.
“Now everyone who hears these saying of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand; and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall” (Matt. 7:24-27).
Observe:
1) The foundation of a house is laid before the storm ever comes. Before you build up, you have to dig down. And what is the solid foundation of life? “He who hears these sayings of Mine, and does them.” Jesus was heard by many people during His brief ministry, but most did not take His words to heart. Jesus’ life and teaching is the only reliable bedrock of one’s moral, doctrinal and attitudinal framework. So grounded, we can withstand the storms of life. But true faith isn’t lip service, it is being “transformed by the renewing of your mind” (Rom. 12:2).
2) Most houses look solid when the wind isn’t blowing. Coastal regions that haven’t had a hurricane in a while may tend to relax building codes. Countries that haven’t faced a pandemic in a century may not stockpile enough medical supplies. You don’t know how strong – or weak – you really are until the storm hits, and the “wise man” prepares for the worst-case scenario.
3) Storms come to both houses, the solid and the shoddy. God does not shield His people from storms, but He equips them to deal with trauma and tragedy. Pain will come, but the spiritual and eternal welfare of believers remain solid if they have built their character on Jesus’ words.
If the current pandemic has exposed the foundational weaknesses of your faith, you may need a complete makeover. The rebuild of the defective structure by the Holmes’ crew took a whopping seven months. But don’t be discouraged; with God’s help you can do it. And you’ll be glad you did, for this likely won’t be the last storm you will face in your lifetime.
