A Firm Foundation

A Firm Foundation

Wanda Ritter

 “He is like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid the foundation on rock. When a flood came, the torrent struck that house but could not shake it, because it was well built.  But the one who hears my words and does not put them into practice is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. The moment the torrent struck that house, it collapsed and its destruction was complete.”  (Luke 6:48-49 NIV)

People who stand on shaky foundations often find themselves falling and getting injured.  They are generally amazed that they fell off what they considered to be ‘safe’.  One time my husband found himself in this very situation.  We were visiting at our son’s home and discovered a bird had built a nest in the opening of a vent that was over the ceiling of the guestroom.  The bird made such a racket; it kept us awake all night. The next morning, the men planned out a strategy to remove the nest.  As my son didn’t have a ladder, he stood the children’s small picnic table on end and held it, while my husband climbed up on it to clean out the vent.  The bird flew out, the nest was pulled out and things were going well.  As my husband began to climb down, his foot slipped.  My son grabbed him around the waist to stop his fall, but it caused him to pitch forward and land on his head.

Fortunately, although bruised and scraped, there was no serious injury.  My husband later laughingly said his head was the only place he could have landed on and not been hurt. The problem with this situation is, although what he was trying to accomplish was worthwhile, he was not standing on a firm foundation.  Therefore, it all came tumbling down and he along with it.

Many of us never knew what a ‘firm foundation’ was, unless you were in the construction business.  As a child, I remember my mother wearing, what she called a “foundation garment”.  That was a nice way to say, ‘corset’.  Women wore them to keep their bodies tucked in and firm.  These are not popular today and I am thankful for that.

However, building on a firm foundation will always be the right way to go, whether it’s building a structure, or a life.  In Luke, chapter six, Jesus told this parable of the difference between a man building his house on a firm foundation and the one who builds without it.  It was his way of telling us that we should build our lives on the foundation of Christ, the Rock (I Cor. 10:4).

If you have ever walked along an ocean shore, where there are huge rocks that project out of the water, you will find a lighthouse somewhere in the vicinity.  The beams from lighthouses around the world are there to warn ships of the danger of rocks.  In times past, many a ship has gone down on the rocks. These rocks are immovable, even when a large seafaring vessel collides with them.  The vessel will break apart, but the rock will remain standing.

On this same ocean shore, you will find sand; sand that is constantly shifting.  It may not look it, but the movement of sand is tremendous.  A good example of this movement was played out before me some years ago.  My husband and I were walking the Pacific Ocean shore in the state of Washington.  The sand was so hard that vehicles were driving up and down the shoreline.  We walked some distance when we came on a nice car sunk in the sand all the way up to the windows.  We were amazed to see this and someone nearby told us it had been left on the beach overnight about two days earlier.  It was obviously impossible to pull it out.  About two days later, we returned to the site to find only the top of the car showing.  It was lost to the shifting sand when the tide came in.  That made a great impression on me.  How easily in unguarded moments, we can get caught in sinking sand that could lead to destruction.

In our journey through life, we find floods and storms come in and can cause serious damage.  Are we prepared to meet a flood or storm that comes without warning?  City streets are filled with homeless, destitute in body, soul and mind, because they could not weather the storm.  Their lives were built on sinking sand and when the storm or flood came, they collapsed.  Today, you see that complete destruction in the lives of the street people.

Some may say that “fate dealt them a cruel blow”.  It wasn’t fate at all.  It was the foundation their life was built on and when the rains came their life crumbled.  Storms of life come to every one of us, just as the sun shines on all.   “…..He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.”  (Matt. 5:45 NIV)  Many of us have had terrible storms, such as losing a loved one, have a severe physical problem, going through the pain of divorce, or failing financially.  Those who don’t know Christ as the Rock, often turn to drugs, drinking, gambling, or just giving up on life when the rains come.  They do not know how to trust Jesus with their lives.

I was in that place for many years and when the floods and storms came, I turned to other things and found myself in sinking sand.  It was there I met the Savior and this is my testimony found in Psalm 40: 2-3, “He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand.  He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear and put their trust in the LORD.”   Today, I find when the rains come, I would prefer to grow a garden. 

 ‘Bloom where you’re planted’ is one of my favorite sayings.  This is the garden that will grow when it rains.  A good example of this is found in the Old Testament.  Joseph had been sold into slavery by his brothers, but he stood on a firm foundation and continued to trust God.  The Lord eventually raised him up to be the most powerful man in Egypt, next to the Pharaoh.  When years later he encountered his brothers again, he said this:  “But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good.” (Gen. 50:20 NKJV) When the storms come in your life; God will make something good from it if we trust him and stay strong with Jesus as our rock.

With Christ as my Savior, my foundation is firm.  I believe as Isaiah did when he wrote, “……When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the LORD shall lift up a standard against him.”  (Isa. 59:19 KJV)  He shall be at my side fighting the battle against the enemy and also at your side if you put your faith in him.

Put your trust in Christ today and begin to build your life on him by reading His Word and putting it into action.  Don’t let the floods and storms of life destroy you.  Don’t get caught in sinking sand.  There is an old hymn titled, “The Solid Rock”, that says it all.

                        My hope is built on nothing less,

                        Than Jesus blood and righteousness.

                        I dare not trust the sweetest frame,    

                But wholly lean on Jesus name.

                        On Christ, the solid rock I stand,

                        All other ground is sinking sand.

                        All other ground is sinking sand.