A Season of Harvest Day 7: The Good Foundation

Everyone who comes to Me and hears My words and acts on them is like a man building a house who dug deep and laid a foundation on the rock. When there was a flood, the river burst against that house and could not shake it, because it had been well built. But the one who has heard and has not acted accordingly is like a man who built a house on the sand without a foundation. The river burst against it and it immediately collapsed. The ruin of that house was great. Luke 6: 47-49

A good foundation is like good soil for a bountiful harvest. It grounds us in the things that matter and the things that last. A beautiful home that shelters, comforts and protects cannot stand throughout the trials of life without the solid support of Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 3:11).

Building a house is a stressful, but rewarding endeavor. A few years ago, as part of our dream together, my husband and I built a beach house to live in for what we thought would be the next twenty years: the Surf & Soul Cottage. Little did we know he would die before we lived in it two years, but the process helped us build a foundation for our marriage and a foundation for our lives with God. We did an owner build, hiring our own subcontractors, and built some of it ourselves. Among many other things, together we painted everything inside and out, and installed floors, cabinets, backsplashes and appliances. We sodded the yard, graveled the driveway and dug in the landscaping.

Most importantly, we painted the concrete footings and the door lintel with Bible verses that were the foundation of our marriage together.

If our foundation is built on Jesus, and we have heard and acted on what He has told us, we will not collapse or be shaken when the flood comes. I miss him, but the foundation we built continues to carry our dreams forward.

Sometimes we don’t get to build from scratch, but are called to rebuild, to repair and to restore. If you have ever watched a reno show on TV, you know the first thing they check is the foundation. And, it can be the most costly part if it wasn’t built correctly. Renovating the pretty parts is so much more enjoyable, but doing the hard work of making sure your foundation is secure is so much more valuable in the long run.

The repairing cannot begin until the old stuff has been removed or demolished. Demo Day can be fun with a house reno, but probably not so much fun with your life. God’s “Junk Is Us” team might start with that cleansing flood to shake you up and wake you up. He will continue the renewing process when you are ready and when you ask Him.

He came as a new baby. He will make everything new. And it could be new like it never was before.

Analyze what parts need shoring up. Take steps to rebuild your life and engage with a recovery group or with a group of like-minded Christians. Identify areas of needed growth and commit to that. Spend more time in the Bible. Become part of your church’s foundation by volunteering. Pray. Listen to Him. Ask God to clarify what He wants you to build with your life.

What part of your life have you become accustomed to that probably needs to be thrown away?

How will Jesus become your cornerstone (Ephesians 2:20)?

What could securing your foundation in Christ look like?

How could this new building serve and support other people who have experienced floods?

Master Builder, whatever part of my life needs repairing or removing, I commit it to You and Your work. Amen.