Foundations

We lived in an old house in West Plains, Missouri, on South Hill Street, and we loved that house the best of all our houses. There is always quite a lot of maintenance on an old house, and this one had "needs." But we loved it, so we didn't mind it so much. It had a cellar that was about eight feet by eight feet, and when I was under there working on a bathroom pipe problem, I noticed in the corner, there was a strong section of rock and concrete, and God brought to mind the scripture in Matthew 7, where Jesus tells us to build our house on a firm foundation. Jesus is so good at making truth come home with us. Not just thinking about something, but "living" it. Matthew 7: ²⁴ “Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock. ²⁵ Though the rain comes in torrents and the floodwaters rise and the winds beat against that house, it won’t collapse because it is built on bedrock. ²⁶ But anyone who hears my teaching and doesn’t obey it is foolish, like a person who builds a house on sand. ²⁷ When the rains and floods come, and the winds beat against that house, it will collapse with a mighty crash.”

The rain and wind storms are gonna come in life, so why not be ready for those storms? Jesus in the above verses has good protection truth for when those storms come our way, and in verse 24 He says the following; ²⁴ “Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock. Jesus using the word "when" means that there will be storms, but He also gives a way to keep us from sinking in those storms. Remember, Jesus controls the weather and the storms, and when a storm came up on the Sea of Galilee, He calmed it every time, cause He can.

He also said that the storms will "beat" against our house from time to time, but He is the foundation that holds it all together, as only He can do. Jesus is our foundation, and not only our foundation, but the chief cornerstone that keeps the other stones in the foundation secure and strong. Without Jesus as our cornerstone, everything unravels. But with Him as the foundation, we hold strong!!! Ephesians 2: ²⁰ Together, we are his house, built on the foundation of the apostles and the prophets. And the cornerstone is Christ Jesus himself.

We do not have an option to turn to Jesus as our foundation, and the warning in Matthew 7 doesn't give us the option to be unwise in our thinking, because Jesus spoke through the prophet and gave a strong warning in Joel 2: 1 Sound the trumpet in Jerusalem^[Raise the alarm on my holy mountain, Let everyone tremble in fear because the day of the Lord is upon us. ² It is a day of darkness and gloom, a day of thick clouds and deep blackness. Suddenly, like dawn spreading across the mountains, a great and mighty army appears. Nothing like it has been seen before or will ever be seen again. Warnings from God are heeded by His children, the born again, because as Jesus said, "My sheep hear my voice and they know me." We don't just know "of" Jesus by reading about Him, but we "know" Him at our core (soul level), and He speaks to our heart, which we have given to Him. The Lord calls us to repentance in Joel and in Joel 2:12 That is why the Lord says,

“Turn to me now, while there is time. Give me your hearts. Come with fasting, weeping, and mourning. ¹³ Don’t tear your clothing in your grief, but tear your hearts instead.” Return to the Lord your God, for he is merciful and compassionate, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. He is eager to relent and not punish.

God doesn't just call us to repentance without giving us a promise that only He can give, and His promises are also found in Joel. Joel 2: ²⁸ “Then, after doing all those things, I will pour out my Spirit upon all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy. Your old men will dream dreams, and your young men will see visions, ²⁹ In those days I will pour out my Spirit even on servants—men and women alike. ³⁰ And I will cause wonders in the heavens and on the earth— blood and fire and columns of smoke. ³¹ The sun will become dark, and the moon will turn blood red before that great and terrible day of the Lord arrives. ³² But everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.

As you can see. Foundations are important, and Jesus is our foundation, so listen and do what His Word says to do, and all will be well. This is our faith walk!! Jesus is our foundation, in the midst of so many foundations being offered by our lost world, rely on His foundation, and you will handle all the storms of life. God spoke the following words through Joel, and two verses say a lot to me, and maybe you also. Joel 2: ²⁸ “Then, after doing all those things, I will pour out my Spirit upon all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy. Your old men will dream dreams, and your young men will see visions, ²⁹ In those days I will pour out my Spirit even on servants—men and women alike. Oh Lord Jesus, pour out your Spirit on me and use me for your glory!!!

The Pilgrimage Continues,

David Warren