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How Strong is Your Foundation?

by Richard McCaw  
11/12/2014 / Salvation

How Strong is your Foundation

by Richard McCaw

Outside the threatening winds grew worse, the rain pelted down in torrents. The walls of the little board house shook, the windows rattled. As the floods increased, his hands trembled and sweat broke on hiS forehead. What would he do? A sinking feeling crept across the pit of his stomach.

He tiptoed to the back window. The roof was already caving in and one wall was cracking. His wife and children huddled in one corner of the front room.

"Grab the children and come," he shouted. He pushed up the front window and began to climb through.

"B-b-but outside!" her teeth chattered, as she led the children to the window.

Hardly outside, he stood knee-deep in the flood waters, rain pelting down all over him. The family barely escaped into the vehement stream before the back walls of the house collapsed. He hugged the trunk of a nearby coconut tree while his family held on to him firmly. He saw his house being swept away down the flooded road with all their personal belongings.

Up the road he could see his neighbour comfortably secure through it all. Why had he not taken the contractor's advice? Building on sandy soil may have been cheaper and easier, but he should have built on the rock further up the road and been ready for any disaster. But he had been too proud to take advice.

Sensible builders agree, and the Lord Jesus Christ Himself taught that when erecting a building the first question is: HOW STRONG IS YOUR FOUNDATION?

On what things do people build their lives? Concerning this life

1. Some say: "If I can just make enough MONEY and own a nice home" But soon they find that moths and rust corrupt, thieves steal and everything passes away (Matt 6:19; 1 John 2:15-17).
2. Others think: "If I can get my DIPLOMA..." bit afterwards there is still an emptiness that only Christ can fill. EDUCATION IS NOT ALL!
3. Some believe: "ROMANCE or MARRIAGE will solve all my problems!" only to have all their illusions dispelled later by the frailties of human nature.
4. Others argue: "If I can gain POLITICAL POWER " only to prove human government a dismal failure!"

CONCERNING THEIR ETERNAL DESTINY -

5. Some declare: "MY CHURCH is the ONLY TRUE CHURCH" but are soon disillusioned by the weaknesses of the flesh and internal strife right in the professing church.

6. Others look to holy men or long departed saints for guidance and protection: "St. Peter, St. Joseph, St Mary pray for us" Many live and die deceived, not realizing that ALL HAVE SINNED, and that all true saints have confessed themselves as SINNERS, and Christ as their SAVIOUR (Rom 3:23; Luke 1:47; 5:8).

7. Many are saying: "I attend church" "I have been baptized or confirmed" "I speak in tongues!" "I'm doing the best I can!" but find no real change within their lives, because Christ is not really in CONTROL.

All this reveals the unscriptural idea that salvation depends upon individual, human striving to win God's approval. But the Word of God declares, "BY GRACE are you SAVED, through FAITH...and THAT not of YOURSELVES; it is the GIFT OF GOD: not of WORKS (human effort or striving) lest any man should boast" (Eph 2:8, 9). It is "to him that WORKS NOT, but BELIEVES on HIM that justifies the ungodly, his FAITH is counted for RIGHTEOUSNESS" Rom 4:5).

One young man was mildly religious. He went to church occasionally, prayed now and then, believed God existed, but never knew Christ as SAVIOUR. One night, he overheard his parents discussing possible divorce. Under pressure, his world caved in. Because the foundation of his life was weak, he blew out his brains.

Can any experience be more dreadful than after trusting in EARTHLY things to find your world collapsing, while you remain empty, confused and fearful of ETERNITY? Or after hoping that your good works would all add up to satisfy Christ, to hear Him say," ALL YOUR RIGHTEOUSNESSES are as FILTHY RAGS!' (Isa 64:6). Or after building your entire life on HUMAN EFFORT to hear these words: "DEPART from Me; I NEVER KNEW YOU! (Matt 7:23).

Thank God, like Paul, the apostle, we can say, "Other FOUNDATION can no man lay than that which is laid, which is JESUS CHRIST!" (1 Cor 3:11). Let's face it. ONLY a life built deep in Christ as the SOLID ROCK can withstand the pressures of temptation, economic hardships, and every moral and spiritual testing. JESUS CHRIST is the ONLY ONE morally and spiritually strong enough to be the FOUNDATION for any of our lives. He has been tried, tested and proven capable of bearing the full weight of our human frailties and sins!

If you have been trusting in ANYTHING or ANYONE else, why not put your CONFIDENCE in Him today? He is the WAY, the TRUTH, and the LIFE (John 14:6).

Why not throw the responsibility of your entire future upon Him RIGHT NOW? Turn FROM your way! LOOK ONLY TO HIM! He WILL deliver you! Only then will your life be built on a STRONG and FIRM FOUNDATION, and He will give you PEACE.

Writing and publishing poetry and short stories since 10 years of age. Published one serialized novel in a youth magazine. Edited two magazines. Wrote freelance articles for newspapers and magazines. Became the center page devotional writer for a weekly political newspaper that reached to other countries as far as Nigeria. Classical and gospel musician and teacher (piano, violin, guitar, vocal, speech dynamics,writing technics, personal evangelism). Published one music book - "The Art of Playing by Ear -Piano Technique for absolute beginners. Pastor, evangelist (preached mostly and trained Christian leaders in high schools and churches between 1965-1994), youth pastor, elder, and father of six, 2 are musicians and teachers. Landscape artist as well. Former Senior piano instructor for Boys' and Girls' Clubs in Ft. Lauderdale. Taught Music, Spanish, Drama, Computer and Art in schools. Ministered the Word in conferences in Trinidad, Montserrat, Curacao, Guyana, Canada, England and the United States. Represented Jamaica in the Caribbean Writers' and Artists' Conference in Trinidad years ago.

Article Source: http://www.faithwriters.com-CHRISTIAN WRITERS

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