“All who listen to my instructions and follow them are wise, like a man who builds his house on solid rock. Though the rain comes in torrents, and the floods rise and the storm winds beat against his house, it won’t collapse, for it is built on rock.
But those who hear my instructions and ignore them are foolish, like a man who builds his house on sand. For when the rains and floods come, and the storm winds beat against his house, it will fall with a mighty crash.” – Matthew 7:24-27 (TLB)
Jesus taught about building our lives on a solid foundation. While both men in this story heard the same instructions and experienced the same circumstances with the torrents of rain, flooding, and storms, the outcome for each of them was vastly different.
The contrast between wisdom and foolishness was not due to ignorance, but of one man listening to the instructions of God, and the other man ignoring them. It’ll be the storms of life that expose who is truly living on a solid foundation, and who is crumbling - desperately needing saving.
The word “when” stands out to me in these verses. It’s not “maybe you will” or “if” you experience storms, but “when” the storms come in your life, pointing out that they’re inevitable.
When they come, how will we respond? When the torrent of anxiety, inconvenience, strife, discontent or pain comes, will we be standing on a solid foundation or will we come crashing down?
A simple parable like this is such a great reminder of just how much we need Jesus, and His Spirit, in our daily living. Thankfully the times when everything’s come crumbling down in our lives, doesn’t have to be the end. By God’s grace we have a new chance today to surrender. To listen. To follow Him. To secure the foundation of our lives and ensure that it’s solid. That we ourselves are grounded on what is Holy and right, before our Gracious God.
It’s often when there is no rain, and life is going how we desire, that we stray away from God’s instructions because, in some twisted way, it’s as though we feel like we don’t need it. In reality it’s when there aren’t any storms on the horizon, that it’s the best time to draw close to Jesus, to meditate on His Word, and tune our ears to listen to His Spirit; so when those raindrops start to fall, we know how to battle through the storm. We know how to stand firm and by Who’s strength we’re able to ensure we have a solid foundation.
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