“So, everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts upon them [obeying them] will be like a sensible (prudent, practical, wise) man who built his house upon the rock. And the rain fell and the floods came and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock.” Matt 7:24 (Amplified)
It seems that nature has a brutal way of periodically challenging and exposing human folly. These difficult and testing times usually become apparent when our experts are caught napping by events and they just seem powerless to address the situation or bring succour to the needy. Well, we have another of such ‘situations’ in the shape of the credit crunch on our hands and living for some has just become that bit difficult. Many will be confronted with the brutal reality of life when the life they thought they had painstakingly built over many years starts crashing about them like a house of cards. Many who have made their careers, families, businesses etc the centre of their existence struggle to find meaning to life when those crutches are suddenly removed from under them and some who are unable to cope with the new humbling reality choose to end their lives in the mistaken belief that they had nothing else to live for.
While watching a documentary sometime ago, I learnt that civil engineers usually look for bedrock whenever they want to build an edifice, especially skyscrapers. They would dig deep into the ground to find such rocks which would serve as a firm and unshakeable foundation for their project. They knew from experience that the only way to guard against failure is to be prepared for all eventualities, hence their search for the solid and dependable bedrock. In the passage above, Jesus Christ alluded to the reality of life’s harshness and unpredictability and the need for us to be prepared to weather the vagaries that life might throw at us. More than ever, that insight has become increasingly relevant as we live in a climate of uncertainties when the solid ground that we have trusted for ages begins to suddenly move under our feet, fuelling our desire for the certainties to which we are accustomed to.
The challenge for many is just to weather the financial storm that the world is going through. However, as Christians, this should be the least of our aims. It is said that the Chinese character for the word crisis is the same as that for opportunities. So, in every crisis lurks great opportunities to profit and better ourselves. That which is perceived as crisis today could also furnish the beginnings of new things in our lives, but the foundation of that future has to be laid today. So, the question you need to answer is “Is my life founded on the solid rock of God’s word?” If your response is in the affirmative, then congratulations and get ready to prosper in adversity. If not, this is a good opportunity to rethink the essence of your life and to make the most important decision that you will ever make. Make Jesus Christ the Lord of your life and His word the firm foundation for that life. You will then be prepared for whatever life throws at you. You will thus become a man or woman for all seasons, ready to meet and overcome all challenges.
Prayer:
Father, in this unstable financial climate, let your word be not just a shelter from the storm for me but also wind in my sails. Enable me to not only survive but to actually prosper in adversity so that the world will see and acknowledge the glory of your name. Amen.