My late father spent the early part of his adult working life in the building trade. Accordingly, as a young boy, I spent a lot of my Saturdays, and my school holidays, around building sites (‘Health & Safety’ hadn’t yet been invented!).
Perhaps that’s why I appreciate this parable of
Jesus. Once again, it is a well-known
one, and it concerns two builders.
You’ll find it in Matt.7.
One of these builders had been listening to his Techy Ed
teacher. When he decided to build a
house, he made sure that he had good solid foundations. He dug right down until he hit bedrock. Then, and only then, did he begin to erect
his house.
The other man was what might be called, nowadays, a bit of a
cowboy. He knew the shortcuts; he knew
where he could get materials at the ‘right’ price – albeit of an inferior
quality; he was more interested in ease and speed than in durability.
From the outside, it is true, each house looked as good as
the other. Then the storms came. Violent storms. The wind howled; the rain lashed against the
houses; the nearby river overflowed its banks.
One house stood – taking all that the elements could throw
at it; the other collapsed. You don’t
need me to tell you which was which!
Life can be like that – your life, and mine. Each of us, whether or not we realise it, is
in the process of building – building a life.
Some of us have been at it for years; some are only digging for the
foundations. However, whether a building
of bricks and mortar, or a life, we need a good foundation. Only if we have such a foundation will we be
able to withstand the storms of life – those times when it seems that the whole
world is against us; when we quickly reach the end of our tether; when there is
no light visible at the end of the tunnel.
Disciples of that same Jesus Who first told that story claim
that, in Him, they have a solid foundation.
Being His follower doesn’t mean that we avoid difficulty. Indeed, for those in more than fifty
countries around the world, declaring one’s discipleship is paramount to asking
for trouble – persecution, imprisonment, torture, death. However, although He never promised that His
followers would spend their lives lying on a bed of roses, He did promise that
He would be with them – and that makes all the difference!
Who is at your side when the storms of life rage? I commend Jesus to you.
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