A snowdrift in the living room in the winter was the first indication of trouble. That might not be surprising if the home was an igloo, but this was a typical wood frame home in the Midwest. The problem was with the foundation - it didn't really have one. The living room addition had basically been built on dirt, which is prone to expand and contract with the seasons. With the onset of winter, the floor separated from the outer walls, opening a gap for brutal cold air and snow to blow in.
Sadly, that house represents the foundation too many people have for their lives. A poor foundation is a recipe for disaster, whether a literal home or a life.
"Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them, may be compared to a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and yet it did not fall, for it had been founded on the rock. Everyone who hears these words of Mine and does not act on them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. The rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and it fell - and great was its fall." (Matthew 7.24-27)
The true test of a foundation is adversity. My friends' home offered no hint of structural defect during the warm season when it was purchased. Only when the adversity of frost and freezing came did the serious problem become readily apparent. And so it is in our lives: the storms of life reveal the true condition of our foundation. A life built upon the solid foundation of biblical truth and application remains rock-solid when the storms rage. Lives built upon a poor foundation crumble in the time of testing.
Foundations are not easily observable. Only a portion of the foundation of a building can be seen. Unless there is a problem with the foundation, rarely does anyone carefully dig down to inspect its integrity. And so it is with the foundation of our lives. Nearly everyone appears content, fulfilled, and grounded when all goes well. Amidst the storm, the condition of the foundation is quickly apparent. But, if there is a problem, there is no worse time to try to fix a faulty foundation than during the storm.
A little foundation inspection is in order today. Often there are telltale cracks or settling issues that can be observed on a building with a foundation problem. To ignore them is to imperil the building. And so with our lives. Are there telltale indicators of problems? Have we been negligent in the key disciples of prayer, Bible study, and Christian fellowship? Have we neglected to shore up our foundation through application of God's word?
The storms may be raging in your life today. If so, I pray the foundations stand firm. If not, I ask for emergency divine mercy and help. But, if all is well, there is no better time to inspect your foundation. I pray all is well with it. But, if not, may God's Spirit give wisdom and guidance as to urgent, necessary steps.
Steve
©Steve Taylor, 2013
Sadly, that house represents the foundation too many people have for their lives. A poor foundation is a recipe for disaster, whether a literal home or a life.
"Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them, may be compared to a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and yet it did not fall, for it had been founded on the rock. Everyone who hears these words of Mine and does not act on them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. The rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and it fell - and great was its fall." (Matthew 7.24-27)
The true test of a foundation is adversity. My friends' home offered no hint of structural defect during the warm season when it was purchased. Only when the adversity of frost and freezing came did the serious problem become readily apparent. And so it is in our lives: the storms of life reveal the true condition of our foundation. A life built upon the solid foundation of biblical truth and application remains rock-solid when the storms rage. Lives built upon a poor foundation crumble in the time of testing.
Foundations are not easily observable. Only a portion of the foundation of a building can be seen. Unless there is a problem with the foundation, rarely does anyone carefully dig down to inspect its integrity. And so it is with the foundation of our lives. Nearly everyone appears content, fulfilled, and grounded when all goes well. Amidst the storm, the condition of the foundation is quickly apparent. But, if there is a problem, there is no worse time to try to fix a faulty foundation than during the storm.
A little foundation inspection is in order today. Often there are telltale cracks or settling issues that can be observed on a building with a foundation problem. To ignore them is to imperil the building. And so with our lives. Are there telltale indicators of problems? Have we been negligent in the key disciples of prayer, Bible study, and Christian fellowship? Have we neglected to shore up our foundation through application of God's word?
The storms may be raging in your life today. If so, I pray the foundations stand firm. If not, I ask for emergency divine mercy and help. But, if all is well, there is no better time to inspect your foundation. I pray all is well with it. But, if not, may God's Spirit give wisdom and guidance as to urgent, necessary steps.
Steve
©Steve Taylor, 2013
posted by steve @ 7:56 AM
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