A Good Foundation

Matthew 7:24-27,  "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."

      I am adding a screened porch to the back side of my house.  The footings are poured, and the blocks have been laid.  As I look at them, I realize again how important the right foundation is in building a porch or in building a life.

      It is easy to understand why people who are not believers in Christ build their lives on such worldly foundations as fame, power, wealth, beauty, athletic ability, good times, or possessions.  Unfortunately, other people build their lives on such destructive or corrosive foundations as greed, hatred, revenge, drugs, alcohol, or crime.  However, even Christians can build their lives on the wrong foundations.

      Notice in the parable that both builders heard God's word, but the wise builder obeyed God's word as well.  The foolish builder failed to put God's word into practice but instead went his own way and did his own thing.

      If a person is obeying God's word, yielded to the lordship of God's Spirit, we should be able to see the fruit of the Spirit evidenced in his/her life-love, peace, joy, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness, and self-control.  We aren't the judge of each other because we cannot see into another person's heart.  My friend Howard Ball says,  "You can spot a Christian every time--if you are God."   But I do think God tells us to be fruit inspectors to discern where people are and what their spiritual needs might be tin order to see how we could be of help.

      The storms of life eventually come to everyone.  Those who have built their lives on obedience to God and submission to Christ will withstand the winds of adversity, but those who have built on any other foundation will one day find themselves swept away in the storm.

Father, there is only one sure foundation in life, and that is You and Your word.  May I be discerning of the needs of others and help them to build on the Rock.  Amen.