BUILD ON SOLID GROUND

 

By Evang. Taiye Ajayi

God made life in stages and levels, and true maturity comes when we outgrow our current level and prepare for the next one. God does not place upon us blessings that we are not ready to carry. Before promotion comes preparation, and before increase comes testing. Many of the challenges we face are not meant to destroy us but to reveal whether we are ready for greater responsibilities.

Today, we will be looking at the importance of building life on a solid ground.

The storms of life will surely come. Difficulties will arise, disappointments will come, and seasons of testing will appear. These moments reveal the kind of foundation upon which our lives are built. Jesus spoke about two foundations: the solid rock and the sinking sand.

God desires that we build our lives upon His Word, for Christ Himself is the living Word of God. He warns us not to build our lives upon the philosophies of this world, material possessions, human wisdom, or worldly achievements. These things may appear attractive and secure, but Jesus describes every life built apart from Him as a house built upon sinking sand.

Many people have built careers, businesses, organizations, and even families without Christ at the center, only to look back later in life with regret. Success without God may stand for a season, but only what is founded on Christ can stand forever.

Meditation on the Word of God is one of the surest ways to establish a solid foundation. This foundation must be laid early in life. The Bible encourages us to train up a child in the way he should go, and when he grows old, he will not depart from it. Foundations matter because what is built well at the beginning can withstand the storms that come later.

A story is told of two farmers who planted trees on the same day. The first farmer spent time digging deep and strengthening the roots before expecting growth above the ground. The second farmer wanted quick results and paid little attention to the roots. For years, the second farmer's tree appeared healthier and taller, while the first farmer's tree grew slowly.

Then one day, a violent storm came. By morning, the tall tree with shallow roots had fallen, while the slower-growing tree remained standing because its roots had gone deep into the ground. The difference was not the storm; both trees faced the same storm. The difference was the foundation beneath them.

Life is exactly the same. The storms do not determine who stands; the foundation does.

Some years ago, I lost almost everything I had, but I did not lose my Bible or the Word of God stored in my heart. I continued to read it, study it, and meditate upon it. In time, God restored what I had lost and gave me strength for the journey ahead.

If you fail to keep God's Word in your heart, you are setting yourself up for failure. The Psalmist declared, "Thy word have I hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You."

Jesus spoke of two men: one heard His words and obeyed them, while the other heard the same words but failed to put them into practice. Both men heard the Word, but hearing alone was not enough. The difference was obedience.

Hearing the Word produces knowledge. Storing the Word in the heart produces faith. But acting upon the Word produces results. This is why the Bible says that faith without works is dead.

As you journey through life, make it your priority to build upon Christ, the Solid Rock. Careers may fail, wealth may disappear, and human wisdom may disappoint, but a life built upon God's Word will stand when every storm has passed.

Build on the Rock today, and tomorrow you will have no reason to fear the storm.