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| Volume 26 Number 2 February 2024 |
Page 11 |
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| Volume 26 Number 2 February 2024 |
Page 11 |
Feroze Baksh
On April 27, 2014, I was in Clarksville, Arkansas along with my daughter Shenay Maria when devastating tornados struck and destroyed the cities of Mayflower and Vilonia. It was unexpected and tragic. Although we were safe, we were only about an hour’s drive from the city of Mayflower. A few days after the storm, we were able to view firsthand the wreckage and ruins left behind in the storm’s path. Lives were lost, many were injured and millions of dollars in properties was destroyed. Storms are catastrophic, especially when people are not prepared.
In His Sermon on the Mount, Jesus described an impending storm. Even though it is spiritual in nature, Jesus said that it is inevitable. Listen to His words.
Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house upon 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.(Matthew 7:24-27 NIV)
Jesus said that a storm is coming. The house represents life – yours and mine. Rain is going to fall, indicating pressure from above. Streams will rise, indicating pressure from beneath. Winds will blow and beat against the house, indicating pressure from all around.
If our lives are not built on the rock, they are going to fall when storms come. I remember hearing a story that happened in 1938, just when barometers were coming into popular use. A man who lived on the tip of Long Island went to New York City and purchased a new barometer. He took it back to his house and was about to mount it when the arrow pointed towards hurricane. He shook it and threw it down, but the needle still pointed towards hurricane. Very disappointed, he wrapped it up and drove back to the store. He exchanged it for a new one and drove back towards his home at the tip of Long Island. When he got there his house was gone. A hurricane came and destroyed his house. The barometer was right.
Jesus is right when He says that a storm is coming. We need to be sure that our lives are built on the Rock. The Rock is the Word of Jesus Christ.
The story was told about a wealthy man from a metropolitan city who bought a garbage pit, cleared it up and built a set of houses. Sidewalks were put in, drains dug and utilities installed. It became one of the most outstanding residential parks. People came from far distances and purchased new homes. Five years later, foundations began to sink, windows wouldn’t close, sewage blocked up and roofs began to cave in. Then someone remembered, “Our houses are built on garbage!” Many homes and lives today are built on garbage. What are we going to do when storms come?
A person is a fool who builds on sand. If someone came to you and called you a sinner, you’d probably accept it; but if someone came to you and called you a fool, you’d be insulted. Many of us are sand builders. We are not building our lives on the Rock of God’s Word.
Jesus gave foundation stones for wise builders in His sermon on the mount. These foundation stones are the Beatitudes. Only when we build our lives on the foundation of God’s Word will we be able to withstand the storms of life.
