“If the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do?” (Psalms 11:3 NKJV) 

Leaning Tower of Pisa – In the 1170’s construction of a tower was initiated but because of the soil composition under tower the foundation was not solid enough and as the tower grew it started to lean. Construction was halted several times due to wars and later attempts to fix the lean resulted in making it worse. They attempted to fix the lean by making the short side taller. This only added to more weight which caused the tower to lean further. All this was due to not having a solid foundation. 

“But why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do the things which I say? Whoever comes to Me, and hears My sayings and does them, I will show you whom he is like: He is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently against that house, and could not shake it, for it was founded on the rock. But he who heard and did nothing is like a man who built a house on the earth without a foundation, against which the stream beat vehemently; and immediately it fell. And the ruin of that house was great.” (Luke 6:46-49 NKJV)

Jesus spoke about building a firm foundation for our lives. I have heard this story many times growing up in Sunday school. We even sang a song about it. In verse 47 Jesus tells us exactly what it means to build our lives on a firm foundation. 

He tells us that we just need to do three things:  

  1. Come to Him 
  2. Hear His sayings 
  3. And do them

In verse 49, Jesus contrasts the person who heard His teachings and did not do what he heard as someone who has built their house without a foundation. The result in that person’s life or “house” was great destruction. 

 Jesus was confronting those who called Him Lord but did not actually live by His teachings. They liked the feeling of being associated with Jesus. They liked the benefits of being associated with Jesus, but they were not true followers of Jesus. Jesus’ teaching was a warning to them that if they did not actually do the things which He was teaching they would not be able to survive the storms that would come. 

It is not God’s heart for anyone of us to be swept away by the challenges that they face in life. It is His desire that we are able to stand firmly rooted in Christ and the life that He has taught us to live. So, when we encounter the storms of life, we can lean upon Him and what He has taught us. Just like a building leans upon it’s solid foundation. 

“Heavenly Father, thank you that you are my firm foundation. Jesus, I come to You, I submit my life under Your word and learn from You. I commit to obey everything that you teach me as you lead me by Your Spirit. I want to stand firm through the challenges of life by leaning upon you and the strength that is provided to me in Your word.”