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Let's think about Jesus' sermon on the Two Builders, in Matthew 7:
(24)"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. (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. (26)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. (27)The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash."
What caught my attention is something implied in the sermon, albeit ridiculously obvious to anyone who knows about building. Although it does not tell us when each man built his house, it was definitely not while the rain, floods, and wind were present.
Ignoring, for this discussion, the idiot who built on sand, let us think about our own goals of building on the Solid Rock. When do we lay such a firm foundation in our lives, on the Rock Who we know is Jesus, and on His Word? Certainly not during life's storms! The key truth is that we need to have laid our foundations while the sun was still shining. We need to have taken time to build our relationship with God through spending time in His presence, to build our faith and hear His voice through meditation on His Word, during those periods of life when "all was well in our world."
The sad truth is that we have no problem finding time to howl to God when our house is collapsing about our ears. When all our work lies in a wreck, we have no trouble weeping and praying for help to rebuild. But the strength to endure life's storms--the foundation laid on Solid Rock, would have served us far better; it would have prevented the loss of our efforts, of years of our lives. Why did we not build such a foundation "while the sun was shining?" It's the same stupidity we see in all walks of life: "There's never enough time to do it right, but there is always time to do it over again."
In conclusion, let's think about the words of a popular Newsboys worship song. The songwriter understood this principle. Spend time in God's presence while the sun shines, and you will have the foundational strength to stand before Him and continue to "bless His name" through any storm--pain, suffering, sorrow--fill in the blank--that life throws at you.
Blessed be Your name In the land that is plentiful Where Your streams of abundance flow Blessed be Your name And blessed be Your name When I'm found in the desert place Though I walk through the wilderness Blessed be your name
Every blessing You pour out I'll Turn back to praise And when the darkness closes in, Lord Still I will say Blessed be the name of the Lord Blessed be Your name Blessed be the name of the Lord Blessed be Your glorious name
Blessed be Your name When the sun's shining down on me When the world's "all as it should be" Blessed be You name And blessed be Your name On the road marked with suffering Though there's pain in the offering Blessed be Your name
Copyright © Brad Fenichel 2005 All Rights Reserved
