The United States has just gone through a storm experience and is at the moment busy with recovery efforts.

Natural events like storms, give man little or no control.  You watch helplessly as it makes it’s advance towards you and only one option is open, move away from it’

For weeks before Hurricane Sandy finally hit, the US authorities had been warning the people in the places across its path to evacuate.  Some people heeded the warnings while others opted to stay.  I can’t help wondering whether most of those who died were among these ones who did not heed the warning to evacuate although I note that some of the fatalities were unavoidable.



Although Hurricane Sandy was a bigger storm than Hurricane Katrina, the fatalities and devastation was much more lower and we are thankful for God’s answers to prayers all over the world.

As I reflected on this event, it brought to mind the parable of the Wise and Foolish Builders in Matthew 7:24 – 27.

The beginning of verse 24 starts with ‘Therefore…’  This presupposes that Jesus had been speaking on various issues and was now concluding His talk. Verse 24 continues, “Everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock”.

There is a progression in that statement. First the word of God is heard, then it has to be put into practice.  Jesus compares those who hear His word and put it into practice like a wise man who builds his house on the rock.

The Word of God is the foundation for living. You don’t start building a house unless you have a strong foundation to build on. The kind of house you build is dependent on the foundation in place. This is why you cannot build a skyscraper on a foundation meant for a bungalow.

The same applies to life. We live in a world where we face challenges daily.  I have never heard any man claim that he is living a problem free life. There are seasons in a man’s life. There is a time of peace all around when it seems everything is working out well and changes are minimal.

There are other times in our lives when it seems like everything is going into a spiral. These are the times when the foundation of our lives is tested.  Some come out of this experiences stronger and wiser while others come out badly scarred, wounded or in extreme cases death.

Foundations are not just built for the fun of it. They are built to withstand adverse weather conditions. Imagine what would have happened if all the tall buildings in Manhattan were build on shallow foundations.  The extent of devastation will be so  widespread making shot term recovery impossible.

This is why Jesus went on to say in verse 25, ‘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” Sounds familiar?

On the opposite, the one who build on a foundation of sand had their structures reduced to rubble.  Jesus typifies these people as foolish.   They hear the word but because they did not put it into practice, it had little or no effect.  When the storms of life hit them as they would to every one of us at some time, they crumbled. Everything they depended on, career, bank account, friends and family among others, could not help them through the storm.

Are you going through a storm already? Do not despair, you can rebuild on the solid rock, which is Christ Jesus. You can be sure that He will recover for you all you have lost.

Not going through a storm yet? It is time to build a solid foundation. Do not wait until the storm comes. That way,  you can be sure that through the grace of God, you will still be standing, even after the storm is past.

 

Steve Popoola
© Biblepraise Fellowship Online.

 

Steve Popoola is the editor of Biblepraise Newsletter and the owner of Biblepraise Fellowship Online at http://www.biblepraise.org. He lives in London where he works as an IT professional. He currently serves in the worship team in at  his local church and on occasion, speaks at invited events. He is the Moderator/Editor of Biblepraise Newsletter. He can be reached through His email address, steve@biblepraise.org