We have all heard the story of the man who built his house upon the sand and the man who built his house upon the rock. The lesson of the story is that it is important to choose what kind of foundation we will build on. Will it be weak or strong? Not only is it important factor when physically building something but it is in our spiritual lives as well.
If your foundation is made up of lies and taking shortcuts, then the life you grow will be built on them. When you try to shortcut your life. you can end up far away from where you want to be or planned to be. It is easy to find yourself off the path that God has set for you. Not only are you hurting others, but you are hurting yourself. When you build your life on the fruits of the spirit: love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, gentleness and self control – you will find that your foundation is strong. It takes a lot to follow this path as sometimes it may seem easier to take advantage of people’s kindness to step on them and get ahead. Yet in the long term, we are not only building our lives for this realm but also for the next one.
We are told to “love our brother as ourselves.” Again, the word “brother” doesn’t mean just your flesh and blood relatives, but includes all those around us. Today we would call them friends. If we can’t show tolerance and kindness toward them, then how do you show it to yourself? These are often the action points as to how well balanced we are individually. If we treat others with love and compassion, then we can treat ourselves that way as well. However, people who are cruel toward others are covering up for their own shortcomings and the fact that they can’t tolerate who they are. Often this is due to something that has happened in their past.
We are meant to be a “beacon of light set upon a hill” that points toward God through us, not to us. We can only be strong when we have our feet firmly planted on solid ground. Have you ever walked along a sandy beach? After awhile, lifting your feet can become difficult and tiring. However, when you walk on flat ground, you can travel further and longer before needing to rest and refresh yourself. Isn’t it a better idea to build within ourselves a strength that will carry us further in life rather than find that we have allowed ourselves to be misled and end up wallowing in a world of self-pity and distress lashing out on others?
It is unfortunate in our society that so many people applaud the failure of others rather than their successes. It has been instilled in our society that if we are lazy and don’t work for something, it will be handed to us. Those who work hard and have great achievements often have others who are unwilling to do the work throw verbal rocks at them. This has become even easier in this day and age due to social media. It is simple to place “fake news” out there that people will readily eat up and side with, rather than doing their own research. We choose to forget that ‘he who is without sin should cast the first stone.’ People line up to throw the stones. Why? Others are doing it and they would rather be one of the crowd than set apart.
Yet, God has called us to be set apart. He has chosen us to walk what may seem a difficult life yet one that has many rewards, both on earth and in Heaven. For as it is on earth, it will be in Heaven. We can create our heaven on earth through our actions. Today’s society has gotten so far out of control: we shun people, we tolerate abuse, we accept sin without batting an eye. “This is how it is, we can’t fight it.” No, this is not how it is: this is what we accept it to be as we don’t want to be the one to be ‘set apart’ for fear of being ‘called out’ ‘shamed,’ and ‘attacked.’
The destruction of this world has become acceptable on too many levels. We sit back and do nothing. We no longer pray, because we think God doesn’t hear our cries. Yet, we need the gentle reminder that YES, HE DOES. He hears our cries from Heaven.
“If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.” 2 Chronicles 7:14
All we have to do is humble ourselves. Yet too many people see this as a weakness instead of a strength. It is a strength to be willing to humble ourselves and ASK for help. Not just from our Lord and Savior but from each other. Our nation has become too full of pride to remember we need to turn to God. We forget this nation was build on Christian principles and the belief in God. That at one time we were allowed to pray in schools. We were allowed to sing His praises and be thankful for our nation without fear of repercussion. That we respected life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.
Let us not forget that there is no time limit on building a strong foundation. We can turn from a path of corruption and resentment to a path of love and joy. We can leave the crumbling house on the sand for one that is built on a rock with magnificent views. We can have peace and happiness flowing from our minds, hearts and souls and embracing others who need to enjoy that same feeling.
My prayer for you today is to remember that you are child of the King. That we aren’t meant to shudder and hide but to stand strong in the Lord and the power of His Might. (Ephesians 6:10) For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, even though it may seem like it, but against powers and principalities. That through prayer we can change things. We don’t even need much faith, just the faith of a mustard seed and we can move mountains. Nothing is impossible! We just need to accept that in our hearts and move on it. Faith without works is dead. Let us not allow our faith to die.
Instead, I encourage you to stand strong. Stand Firm. Be of good heart!
Prayer:
Lord, we come before you and we thank you for the joy that you instill in our hearts. We thank you that YOU are our rest and refuge where we find rest. Let us be of good will and willing to stand firm in our beliefs. Let us not act and react our of fear, but help us to remember we need ‘fear not’, for you are God. We thank you that YOU are our Strength and our Shield. Thank you for this nation that You have blessed for so many years. We humbly ask that your blessing continue on our great nation. That you protect your people and remind us that we are a light that points to you. That you are our light that guides our steps. Remind us that when we are in the shadowed valleys, you continually watch out for us. You keep and protect us.
In Jesus Name we pray.
Amen