A new housing development is taking shape adjacent to my neighborhood. A couple of the homes are already occupied and a few others are in various stages of being built. I’ve been watching the progress of one of these houses on my morning walks. There’s a particular spot where I get a good view of it.
I watched the framing go up day by day. Then the walls, a roof and windows. It’s still not finished but they’ve definitely made some progress on it in the last couple of months. My daily walk has also given me a look at a couple of house “flips,” some front porch additions and about three new roofs since the summer. A lot of home improvements happening in my neighborhood.
For a while I was noticing the roofing jobs and thought maybe there was some kind of lesson in those. Maybe there still is but nothing that God has opened my eyes to. Then one day recently I was passing that new build when it got its roof and it occurred to me that I was thinking too high. It’s not about the roof. The lesson is actually in the foundation.
If we don’t get the foundation right, we’re in for a whole lot of trouble. On the surface at least, I think most of us realize that. Maybe it isn’t something we think about all the time but basically we understand the concept. Where my thoughts ultimately went were just how much that I value my own foundation.
My mind goes to Matthew 7: 24-27 which says, “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. Now 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.” A similar version is also in Luke 6.
Thankfulness and gratitude are buzz words this time of year. I’ve been thinking about gratitude myself lately. In fact, I’m reminded of a lesson that I received while attending an intensive grant writing workshop at the University of Louisville a few years ago. Go with me on this for just a minute.
In the most simple of explanations, in grant writing everyone is asking for money. Everyone knows that, especially the funder. At this training, the instructor encouraged us and had us do exercises on thinking deeper about what we were really asking for. For example, XYZ non-profit might be wanting a van. Often the difference for a successful grant is digging deeper and asking not for the van, but for what the van will actually solve. An example might be a mobile foodbank. So you’re not asking for a van, but for help in fighting hunger in impoverished areas. See how it’s more than just asking for a van?
I’ve been digging deeper on my gratitude lately in much the same way. As I am coming out of a season of death and grief at this Thanksgiving time of year, what is it that I’m actually thankful for? And, rest assured, I am very thankful. Each time I do that the answer is the same – my foundation. I am deeply, deeply thankful for my foundation in Jesus and the Word of God. I am grateful for my parents and the time that I had them, but I am more grateful that they taught me about God and about Jesus. That they gave me a foundation that would stand and not crumble when faced with the heaviest of storms.
Nothing on Earth is meant to last, including people we love no matter how much we love them. Our foundation will 100 percent be tested. Having a foundation built on the rock of Jesus is what I am absolutely the most thankful for. It is the only thing that holds no matter the strength of the storm.
The time to make sure our foundation or the foundation for our children is sound, is right now. Cosmetic improvements are fine for sunny days but they don’t hold up. Even the sun will fade them in time. Invest in your foundation and the foundation of the people you love. This is of eternal value.
Isaiah 54:11 says “O you afflicted one, tossed with tempest, and not comforted, Behold, I will lay your stones with colorful gems, And lay your foundations with sapphires.” I love this verse and much of this chapter. To me, it says when we’re suffering in the worst of storms, God’s foundation is precious and valuable. If you read on, He promises peace, protection and freedom from fear. These are benefits of having the right foundation.
We can be thankful that we don’t have to fear the storms when our foundation is built on Christ. I’m not saying we have to like them, but we don’t have to fear them. They won’t prevail. We can make it through our most challenging storms. And that is positively worth being thankful for.
