8.12.2009
8.11.2009
Built Upon the Rock
Recently our pastor preached a sermon on a parable that Jesus taught about the wise man who built his house upon the rock, and the foolish man who built his house upon the sand. I am sure you all know the story…The wise man built his house upon the rock, and when the rains came down, his house was firmly established. The opposite was true for the foolish man whose house was built upon the sand. His house was obliterated when the storms came.
A few nights ago I wasn’t able to sleep and while I was lying there, I started to think about the relationships in my life. I have had friendships of all kinds…new and old, short and long, deep and shallow. And of course, there are a lot of factors that go into building a friendship…personalities, chemistry, likes/dislikes, timing, need…etc. After all those things have been sifted through and friendships have been formed, I’ve come to realize one thing: the friendships that are based on trust and reliance upon our Savior seem to be the ones that weather the storms of life well. Like the wise man in the Lord’s parable, they are friendships that are built upon the rock.
It is a fact that the house built on the sand could use many of the same materials as the house built on the rock. The floor plan, decorations and even the exterior could be identical, but eventually, the structure built upon the sand will be revealed. And, as the rains come down, the unsure foundation will wash away and the struggling house will be weakened, until finally, it is either destroyed or rescued. It can be rescued if a better builder chooses to come in, restore the house and put in a new, secure foundation, but only then. How exciting to know that the love of Christ can and does restore the most dilapidated of structures!
An interesting side note: When things start to come unraveled, I tend to look at my friend and suggest that it is their fault that the foundation is not sure. Many times, in the storms of life, I forget that my foundation is securely built upon Christ and I look more at the billowing clouds and do my best to hide from the ensuing tragedy. My own forgetfulness has caused many stormy seasons in life. Misplaced trust in my own abilities and my own reasoning has resulted in loss and disaster.
It is raining outside my window and I am reminded of the promises of new life and restoration. I am looking forward to the rainbow after the rain. More than that, I am looking forward to the day when all relationships will be without blemish. The day when we will love perfectly and selflessly! I anxiously await the return of our King and His Kingdom!
A few nights ago I wasn’t able to sleep and while I was lying there, I started to think about the relationships in my life. I have had friendships of all kinds…new and old, short and long, deep and shallow. And of course, there are a lot of factors that go into building a friendship…personalities, chemistry, likes/dislikes, timing, need…etc. After all those things have been sifted through and friendships have been formed, I’ve come to realize one thing: the friendships that are based on trust and reliance upon our Savior seem to be the ones that weather the storms of life well. Like the wise man in the Lord’s parable, they are friendships that are built upon the rock.
It is a fact that the house built on the sand could use many of the same materials as the house built on the rock. The floor plan, decorations and even the exterior could be identical, but eventually, the structure built upon the sand will be revealed. And, as the rains come down, the unsure foundation will wash away and the struggling house will be weakened, until finally, it is either destroyed or rescued. It can be rescued if a better builder chooses to come in, restore the house and put in a new, secure foundation, but only then. How exciting to know that the love of Christ can and does restore the most dilapidated of structures!
An interesting side note: When things start to come unraveled, I tend to look at my friend and suggest that it is their fault that the foundation is not sure. Many times, in the storms of life, I forget that my foundation is securely built upon Christ and I look more at the billowing clouds and do my best to hide from the ensuing tragedy. My own forgetfulness has caused many stormy seasons in life. Misplaced trust in my own abilities and my own reasoning has resulted in loss and disaster.
It is raining outside my window and I am reminded of the promises of new life and restoration. I am looking forward to the rainbow after the rain. More than that, I am looking forward to the day when all relationships will be without blemish. The day when we will love perfectly and selflessly! I anxiously await the return of our King and His Kingdom!
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