When building, even a deck on a house, one must dig down deep, pour concrete footings, and establish a firm foundation. This is necessary in order for the structure to last the test of time and weather the storms that inevitably will come.
Jesus spoke a parable about building on a firm foundation, as recorded in Matthew 7:24-27. He said that those who hear what he says, believe it, and obey his words are like people who build on a rock, a firm foundation. Rain, floods, and winds come, but the house stands because it is “founded upon a rock.”
People who ignore what he says and who refuse to believe and obey are like people who build on the sand, without a sure foundation. Rain, floods, and winds come, and the house falls. In fact, he says, “it will collapse with a mighty crash” (v. 27 NLT).
In 1834, a preacher named Edward Mote wrote a song which magnifies Christ as the solid Rock. Its chorus is based on the Matthew 7 Scripture, and its stanzas refer to other Scriptures. The first stanza shows the assurance that our salvation is based on Christ’s completed work alone:
“My hope is built on nothing less
Than Jesus’ blood and righteousness;
I dare not trust the sweetest frame,
But wholly lean on Jesus’ name.
On Christ the solid Rock I stand;
All other ground is sinking sand.”
The song’s next two stanzas deal with troubles of life and assert that Christ is our anchor who holds us safe in every storm and that he never forsakes us. “When every earthly prop gives way, / He then is all my Hope and Stay,” writes Mote. The last stanza celebrates our reward in heaven with Jesus, because of His work, because He is our solid Rock.
The important lesson to draw from this is that no matter what happens to us—even during this time of Covid-19—our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ has got us. He is the solid Rock on which we stand. He is our anchor. He is our hope. His righteousness provides our security—now and for eternity.
All we have to do is listen to him, believe him, and obey his Word. In short, build on the solid Rock, not on the shifting sands of our darkening culture. He is called our rock two times in second Samuel and four times in the Psalms. Psalm 18:2 celebrates that “The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower” (KJV).
These metaphors fit this time. We face Covid-19, media hype and propaganda, state and local government tyranny in places, proposed dubious vaccinations, planned population thinning, battles over what medicine is best to use, loss of business and even bankruptcy by small businesses, closed churches, enforced mask wearing, social distancing, and massive quarantines.
Though some of those actions may help some of the population, we are being overwhelmed with messages of “fear,” enticing us to hide away as though Covid-19 had the power of God—the power of life and death. To base our hope on a vaccine, a ventilator, a mask, or massive amounts of hand sanitizer is to build on “sinking sand.”
As individuals, we can only trust in Jesus’ name. In his grace and goodness. As a nation, we can only trust in his willingness to forgive as we repent of our national sins. Those national sins are comprised of millions—no, billions—of individual sins, many of which have yet to be repented of. Will the self-righteous and truth-haters of our nation repent?
The future of our nation—of our liberty—stands in the balance. Upon what, as a nation, will we build our hope? Upon what name will we call? Upon what surface will we stand and build again a nation of unity and morality. The solid Rock? Or sinking sand?
Upon what will we build our individual lives? Hopefully on Christ, who came to give eternal life and abundant life (John 10:10). If we build on him and his Word, our life will be secure in his will, safe in his care, and we will stand through all storms.
Be safe, y’all.
Feel free to comment or share your stories with me.
Silenced and Silent
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The Right Way
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"Let Freedom Ring"
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Caring and Sharing
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One Race -- Two Creations
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An End to Racism
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With One Voice
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Trust in God
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A Firm Foundation
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No Fear!
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Author of Peace, Not Confusion
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Too Timid to Tell
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Resurrection Promise
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God's Mercies
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Yet I Will Rejoice
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Slow Suicide—Part 2
3/5/2020 6:00:00 AM by: Vicki Dorshorn
Slow Suicide—Part 1
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V-I-C-T-O-R-Y
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A Stable and an Empty Tomb
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Do Definitions Matter?
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Darkness Creeping In
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The Presence and Purpose of Pain and Sorrow
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Salt and Light
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Real Rainbows and True Light
8/17/2019 3:17:00 PM by: Vicki Dorshorn
The Light of Life
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A Giant Eraser
4/23/2018 3:09:00 PM by: Vicki Dorshorn
He Is Risen
3/30/2018 2:57:00 PM by: Vicki Dorshorn
Rejection
7/22/2015 by: Vicki Dorshorn
Liberty Bell & more
7/4/2015 3:32:00 PM by: Vicki Dorshorn
Breaking News
6/22/2015 11:26:00 AM by: Vicki Dorshorn
Cracked Foundations
6/12/2015 1:50:00 PM by: Vicki Dorshorn
Power Transformers
6/5/2015 12:27:00 PM by: Vicki Dorshorn
Transformers
5/28/2015 by: Vicki Dorshorn
What is my name?
5/20/2015 by: Vicki Dorshorn
What age is Jesus for you?
12/21/2014 8:41:00 PM by: Vicki Dorshorn
Part 2 - Stories of Sovereignty from England
11/21/2014 by: Vicki Dorshorn
Stories of Sovereignty from England
11/15/2014 7:28:00 PM by: Vicki Dorshorn
Coincidence or Sovereignty?
11/3/2014 by: Vicki Dorshorn
Time to Care
8/24/2014 10:59:00 PM by: Vicki Dorshorn
"Lion on the Loose"
8/16/2014 5:29:00 PM by: Vicki Dorshorn
Lessons from My Garden - Part 6
8/10/2014 by: Vicki Dorshorn
Lessons from My Garden - Part 5
8/3/2014 by: Vicki Dorshorn
Lessons from My Garden - Part 4
7/27/2014 by: Vicki Dorshorn
Lessons from My Garden - Part 3
7/20/2014 3:33:00 PM by: Vicki Dorshorn
"Lessons from My Garden -- Part 2"
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Lessons From My Garden - Part 1
7/7/2014 7:23:00 PM by: Vicki Dorshorn
Dreams, Revisions, and Renewal
6/29/2014 10:30:00 PM by: Vicki Dorshorn
A Dream that is Reality
6/21/2014 9:13:00 PM by: Vicki Dorshorn
The Return of the Swallows
6/14/2014 by: Vicki Dorshorn
Part 2 - Where will I go when I die?
6/7/2014 2:30:40 PM by: Vicki Dorshorn
Where will I go when I die?
5/31/2014 9:05:00 PM by: Vicki Dorshorn
Truth or Deception
5/24/2014 5:34:00 PM by: Vicki Dorshorn
Deliverance from Falling
5/16/2014 2:30:00 PM by: Vicki Dorshorn
Deliverance from Tears
5/10/2014 8:03:00 PM by: Vicki Dorshorn
Deliverance from Death
5/3/2014 by: Vicki Dorshorn
The Significance of Death
4/27/2014 5:45:00 PM by: Vicki Dorshorn
Conclusion of Why Bad Things Happen
4/19/2014 8:35:00 PM by: Vicki Dorshorn
Good and Bad, Relatively Speaking
4/12/2014 1:18:00 PM by: Vicki Dorshorn
The Potter and the Clay
4/5/2014 9:10:00 PM by: Vicki Dorshorn
"Bad Things" - Part 5
3/29/2014 1:47:00 PM by: Vicki Dorshorn
"Bad Things" - Part 4
3/21/2014 12:52:00 PM by: Vicki Dorshorn
"Bad Things" - Part 3
3/15/2014 12:18:00 AM by: Vicki Dorshorn
"Bad Things" - Part 2
3/8/2014 1:56:00 PM by: Vicki Dorshorn
"Bad Things" - Part I
3/1/2014 7:14:00 PM by: Vicki Dorshorn
Who are "good" people?
2/26/2014 by: Vicki Dorshorn
Why do bad things happen to good people?
2/22/2014 by: Vicki Dorshorn
