Last week, my house flooded, and I'm not going to lie to you, it sucked pretty badly. Late on the night that our house was filled with three inches of water, a clean up crew came and began to rip out our one year old wood laminate flooring. It was gut wrenching to see bare concrete where our once beautiful floor had been.
Then on Sunday, I heard of another house flood that happened in the home of the parents of a church member. They too, had had their house submerged under gallons of water as they slept through the night. They, however, had much nicer flooring than Jodi or I had. They had real wood floors that would have to be replaced. The big problem comes, however, when we discover what lies underneath their wood floors. While we have a concrete slab, they actually have a wooden sub-floor.
Although my wood laminate was not as nice as the wood flooring, the concrete foundation that rested beneath it turns out to be a major blessing. Since it was concrete, the water dried very easily, and we won't have to replace the sub-flooring at all because it is strong and undamaged by the water. Unfortunately, our friends may have to replace the sub-floor as well since it is made of wood that can absorb the water and warp as it dries. As I was thinking on this matter today, a passage that I had read came to mind:
Matthew 8:24-27
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 winds blew and beat against the house and it fell with a great crash.
Some of us have built rather "beautiful" lives. From the outside it appears that things are going well. We have all the right "Bible" and "Sunday School" answers. We attend church, support our communities, and play with our kids, everything that we are supposed to do. We have a great job, 2 kids and a dog, and a white picket fence.
Others of us have struggled a bit. Financially we may be in trouble because of poor decision or poor luck. You may be divorced or headed that way. You look like life is spiraling out of control .
Or maybe you're somewhere in the middle.
The truth of the matter is this: It doesn't matter what your house looks like. What matters is the strength of the foundation that supports it.
Jesus tells us that many people can build beautiful homes. Multi-level, multi-bedroomed, with pools and bowling alleys. You can keep your yard perfectly manicured, and everyone who passes by your home and looks at it can be amazed at how beautiful it is. But if your house is built on a sand foundation that shifts and moves, then your house will NEVER stand, no matter how nice it is. The same is true with your life. It doesn't matter how "together" you appear, or how "good" you look to the world, if your life is not based on the solid foundation of Jesus Christ and God's Word, then you will never be able to stand the test of time. It will, sooner or later, come crashing down around you. Perhaps not in your time on earth, but sandy foundations will not last forever.
For some of you, this may require breaking down your beautiful home to the ground in order to start with the appropriate foundation. It won't be easy or fun, but if you build your life upon the Word of God, and the salvific act of Christ on your behalf, then not only will you be a house on sturdy ground, but you will stand for an eternity.
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