It All Depends Upon The Foundation Your House Built On

"Therefore whoever hears these sayings of mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock; and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock." Matthew 7:24-25 In this fallen world, everyone is going to experience storms, and sometimes these storms can be devastating. Disease, death of loved ones, loss of wealth, rejection by loved ones, and the list could go on forever. Scripture says that Satan is the god of this world, that he gained this authority when he caused Adam to sin, and he is behind all the destruction throughout the world, and means to bring everyone down through the schemes he levels against each one. The Lord has not spared us from the storms of life, because he uses them to teach us, to sanctify us, to establish right priorities in us, and to grow us up to maturity. We know that we're only passing through, this is temporary, and we have heaven to look forward to. Jesus made a most important foundational statement - he said that whoever hears his Word and receives it, will not fall when the storms of life come. I remember, at the lowest point in my life, that I reminded him of that and asked how is it that I'm destroyed? He answered me that I was NOT destroyed! And he led me every step of the way to recovery and to health. My house did not fall. It shook violently, it was a category 5, but it did not fall, it COULD NOT fall, because it was founded on the Rock, which is Christ. On the other hand, Jesus said that those who are not built on this Rock, when the storms come their house will not stand. Some will give up on God, some will turn to alcohol or drugs or they will seek comfort in sin, in adultery, in illicit relationships, in people who Satan will be only too happy to use to bring them down. Their house will fall, shattered, their lives destroyed and they are left in bitterness, resentment, hatred, all that Satan intended to bring about - to their destruction. There are only two ways to walk through this journey, either your house is built on Christ, or it isn't. The choice is yours, God will not violate your free will. Either way, the storms are going to come and blow violently against it because this is common to all. Those whose house is built on the Rock look back and wonder how anyone can make it without the Lord and the comfort and encouragement of his Word. We know that without it, we would have been done for. “Now If the righteous one is scarcely saved, where will the ungodly and the sinner appear? Therefore let those who suffer according to the will of God commit their souls to him in doing good, as to a faithful Creator." 1 Peter 4:18-19 Our position in the world to come will be determined in the here and now as we walk with the Lord through our journey, knowing that he truly is the FAITHFUL Creator. All who are truly his will remain intact, and through their trials they will learn and grow and be brought to maturity. Then when the storm is past, they will be able to encourage others as they go through their own storms. "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also abounds through Christ." 2 Corinthians 1:3-5 If Christ is not the foundation of your life, you won't make it intact. You may think you're strong enough to, but Satan knows you and knows only too well your red buttons, where you're weak, how to destroy you. No, establish yourself in Jesus Christ and you will stand, no matter what.