FOUNDATIONS

Preparing For What Is To Come

“And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house,

 and it fell, and great was the fall of it.”

Matthew 7:25-27

Patience And Perseverance Is Required

There is nothing more gratifying than witnessing young adults step into their roles with caution and intentionality. I wish that I had that sort of patience and focus on the bigger picture when I was a young adult. Building a solid foundation is the most important thing that we can do as human beings. Many of us have our eyes set on the here and the now and not on the long game realities of life.

Summer is approaching and many young people are looking for internships to test the waters for possible career opportunities. Others may want to focus on getting paid with the goal of making and saving money. Depending on how we approach our choices for how we spend our time and talents, we will set the course for how our life will turn out in the long run.

Christians are called to see the world from a different vantage point. We are called to seek first the kingdom of heaven and then we are promised that everything else will fall into place (Matt. 6:25-33). This is a different lifestyle from the hustle and bustle of the secular realm around us. This type of life requires patience and perseverance and most importantly, a focus on our Creator. This type of life involves trust. Trust in God. In order to trust God, however, one must come to know God.

This type of life, however, is easier said than done. Sometimes God gives us a vision and places dreams for accomplishment on our heart that will not be fulfilled for years. The story of Joseph that is recounted for us in Scripture is a perfect example of how God gives a vision to a teen-age boy that would not be fulfilled for decades (Gen. 37 – 50). Joseph was given dreams but had no idea what they meant or how they would come to fruition.

God will use all of us in the same way that he used Joseph, if we allow him to. He will never waste anything that we go through in life, even the difficult times and our mistakes. On this side of the cross, we have something that Joseph did not have. We have the canonized Judeo-Christian Scriptures, and we have the revelation of God’s final Massiah, Jesus of Nazareth found in the New Testament.

Throughout the Bible we are told to know God above all else. We are to love God first and to teach our children to know Him and to love Him (Deut.6:4-9). The prophets implore the people who have gone astray to turn back to God (Num. 14:42; Is. 44:22; Hosea 14). This is for their own safety and prosperity. God wants his people to prosper because in so doing they are able to support their own tribe as well as to be generous to those less fortunate. God will guide those who seek and listen to him (Matt. 7:7-8).

However, all of this is of the world and not everyone has access to the same opportunities for education or vocation. For this reason, our spiritual walk is far more important than our level of education or our jobs. Everyone has equal access to the King of kings. In the Scripture passage above, Jesus is talking to the average person struggling to make ends meet, even though his message is for all people at every level of life. The real trials in life come when we least expect them. Disasters, illness, diseases are never expected in our lives, but they can be planned for if we prepare in advance.

While we are healthy and in our right minds, God desires that we spend time building the foundation of our life with him in mind. Our spiritual foundation is formed through reading and discerning the Judeo-Christian Bible, like the Bereans did in the first century (Acts 17:10-11). The better we understand the character and nature of the LORD the stronger we become. We see beyond what the world sees.

God’s plan for his people goes further than the here and the now. Disasters and diseases do not surprise the Creator of the universe. A solid mature Christian will weather the storms in life so much better than a nominal professing “Christian” who never spends any time getting to know the LORD. Those who are walking with God, will seek his strength not only when they feel helpless but before they feel hopeless. God is faithful and will carry us through even in the worst times of need. Storms will still affect us and the situation will still be painful, but we will come out stronger on the other side.

Sadly, those who have not known the LORD and struggle for understanding are often not in tuned with his voice. Many nominal Christians end up walking away from the faith when hard seasons hit. Jesus tells his disciples that obedience to God’s word is necessary to building the foundation of our life. Jesus mentions building the foundation of our soul (our very existence) on the solid rock as opposed to the shifting sand (Ps 18:2; 1 Kings 6:12; John 14:14-16). The rock he is speaking of is the word of God. The Creator of the universe does not change like the ways of mankind change, nor is it subject to volatility of any sort.

Those who have taken the time to build on the solid rock will hear the voice of God and his perfect direction for their lives. These are the Christians that will exhibit discernment and wisdom during the coming great deceptions that Jesus warns about in these last days (Luke 21:7-9). Our very lives will depend on our ability to hear and obey the directions that we are given to weather the storms ahead without compromising our soul (Rev. 13:16-18).

** Set your sights on the LORD of all creation and make a difference in the world around you.