Stability. That’s what we need. A firm foundation.

On Tuesday, we experienced the largest earthquake in the state of Idaho since 1983. It’s only the second time in my life I’ve felt one.

When things that you expect to be stable, suddenly aren’t, it really shakes you up (pun intended). But this makes us question the foundation on which our lives are built. I can’t help but think about what Jesus said about two builders.

“Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock.” (Matthew 7:24–25)

This is Builder A. He is a smart man. He is looking ahead. He realizes that storms in life happen. He wants to make sure his house can weather them, so he digs deep and builds his house on the rock. So is the person who listens to the words of Christ and does what He says.

Right now, we are not only going through a storm, we’re going through a crisis hurricane.

This is causing us to dig deep. If our thoughts are only as deep as the evening news, then our house will soon look like Dorothy’s.

Our whole world will be spinning…

We will be afraid…

We will be depressed.

Instead we must anchor ourselves to God’s promises.

The beautiful thing is that regardless of what is going on in the world, God’s promises remain intact.

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. (Hebrews 13:8)

Our health may fail, stock markets may fail, man’s systems may fail, but Jesus never fails, and His Word never fails. He never said life would be easy. Quite the contrary!

“These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)

But notice the place where Jesus said we would find peace–not in this world but in Him. He alone is the Rock on which we build.

Last night I woke up at 1:30 am with this verse firmly impressed upon me:

…for He [God] Himself has said, “I will not in any way fail you nor give you up nor leave you without support. [I will] not, [I will] not, [I will] not in any degree leave you helpless nor forsake nor let [you] down (relax My hold on you)! [Assuredly not!]” (Hebrews 13:5, AMP)

Now  that’s the kind of rock-stuff you can build your life upon!

On the other hand, you could be like Builder B…

“But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall.” (Matthew 7:26–27)

Notice that it wasn’t that he didn’t know the words of Christ. He heard them, but he didn’t do them. In this case, it’s not what you don’t know that hurts you but what you do know but aren’t willing to obey. And that will mean only one thing…

CRASH!!!

So may God help us dig deeply into His promises during this present storm. Let us believe them, hold fast to them, and above all…DO THEM!