Firm on the Rock

With all the recent talk about storms it seems only right, before moving on to other topics, to say a bit about Jesus's famous analogy in Mt. 7:24-27:

"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 rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash" (NIV).

After every major hurricane, people who built lovely seaside homes are left staring at the foundations (if even that much is left), wondering what ever made them think this was the perfect location. Such is the portrait of many a wrecked soul: his whole life was centered on achieving money, success, or that one special someone--then a storm of hardship blew in; the foundation he was depending on for security couldn't stand the strain; and he was left with nothing.

How do people react when that happens? Too many remain foolish: they rebuild on the exact same spot; they search for another worldly, equally flimsy foundation; or they just sink into permanent depression and give up trying. But a few let the experience "wise them up" and lead them to God, the only solid Foundation.

Incidentally, if you're tempted to get smug because you used the right Foundation from the beginning--you didn't. All of us start off building on sand; it's inherent in the human sin-nature. Some of us just grow up earlier than others, in which case it isn't our job to mock or scorn them.

Instead, we should be helping them find the better building site before a real storm comes.

(One version of the following poem was set to music years ago. I probably still have the only existing audiotape.)

A long time ago in a faraway land
A man built a house by the sea:
He anchored it firm on a high, solid rock
With a foundation strong as could be.
A great storm came and it shook the house,
And it seemed it would blow it away,
But that house held firm to its place on the rock
And it stood through the storm that day.

Firm on the Rock is the place to build;
Build it strong and you'll find you can't go wrong:
God is our Rock, and He holds our lives in hand--
Trust His strength even when the storm is long.

A long time ago in a faraway land
Another man built a home:
He couldn't be bothered to find a rock,
But built on the beach by the foam.
A great storm came and it shook the house,
Shook it hard to blow it away,
And that house was swept like a leaf from the sand
And the man lost it all that day.

Firm on the Rock is the place to build;
Build it strong and you'll find you can't go wrong:
God is our Rock, and He holds our lives in hand--
Trust His strength even when the storm is long.

In all days of time, in all lands on earth,
We all build our lives on our faith;
Some place all their trust in the only true Lord,
But many choose gods that are fake.
When the storms of pain come and shake our lives,
Cheap foundations will all blow away:
But the soul that anchors itself in Christ
Will hold firm to the final day!

Firm on the Rock is the place to build;
Build it strong and you'll find you can't go wrong:
God is our Rock, and He holds our lives in hand--
Trust His strength even when the storm is long.

Firm on the Rock is the place to build;
Build it strong and you'll find you can't go wrong:
God is our Rock, and He holds our lives in hand--
Trust His strength even when the storm is long.