"Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them, may be compared to a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and yet it did not fall, for it had been founded on the rock. Everyone who hears these words of Mine and does not act on them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. The rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and it fell-and great was its fall." (Matthew 7:24-27 NASB)
The foundation I laid so long ago in the days of my youth is still here. Some of the buildings I created on that foundation, (my marriage, a good career, my office of full-time father to four sons) were razed to rubble by the demolition of my wickedness. The walls and lean-to structures I constructed thereafter, during this period of reckless sin and rebellion (2004 to 2009), is dashed to pieces. There is little left, and my wayward philosophy of death lay bankrupt in the dust.
But as I sweep the debris from the landscape I begin to discover something solid underneath. The foundation, which had been laid with tiny, trusting hands. Built from the bricks of the Word and the mortar of grace, with the help of my family, God's church, and Jesus Christ himself, this foundation I find unscathed by the trials of my life. The gleaming Cornerstone blinds me now, and I fall to my knees to weep. For I know I have been the one who rejected my Savior and the one who must now confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.
O Christ, I'm a poor steward of your resources. O Great Architect, I trust Your blueprint for the next project. O Expert Builder, I offer my hands and heart wholly to your service. O Resourceful Contractor, lead me to the right personnel, materials, and tools. O Wise Foreman, keep watch over my every step that I not fall asleep on the job and lose my life. O Eternal Investor, apply my soul to this project without interest. By debts are paid in full by the blood and death of your precious Son. My inward work begins now and Your masterpiece will be reflected outside for men to see and glorify You alone. The worlds are Yours, O Mighty, Loving God, and may your will be done in me. Build it or dash me to pieces, only to brush me beneath my crucified Savior, Jesus the Christ. If the Lord builds it, it will stand. Amen.
The foundation I laid so long ago in the days of my youth is still here. Some of the buildings I created on that foundation, (my marriage, a good career, my office of full-time father to four sons) were razed to rubble by the demolition of my wickedness. The walls and lean-to structures I constructed thereafter, during this period of reckless sin and rebellion (2004 to 2009), is dashed to pieces. There is little left, and my wayward philosophy of death lay bankrupt in the dust.
But as I sweep the debris from the landscape I begin to discover something solid underneath. The foundation, which had been laid with tiny, trusting hands. Built from the bricks of the Word and the mortar of grace, with the help of my family, God's church, and Jesus Christ himself, this foundation I find unscathed by the trials of my life. The gleaming Cornerstone blinds me now, and I fall to my knees to weep. For I know I have been the one who rejected my Savior and the one who must now confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.
O Christ, I'm a poor steward of your resources. O Great Architect, I trust Your blueprint for the next project. O Expert Builder, I offer my hands and heart wholly to your service. O Resourceful Contractor, lead me to the right personnel, materials, and tools. O Wise Foreman, keep watch over my every step that I not fall asleep on the job and lose my life. O Eternal Investor, apply my soul to this project without interest. By debts are paid in full by the blood and death of your precious Son. My inward work begins now and Your masterpiece will be reflected outside for men to see and glorify You alone. The worlds are Yours, O Mighty, Loving God, and may your will be done in me. Build it or dash me to pieces, only to brush me beneath my crucified Savior, Jesus the Christ. If the Lord builds it, it will stand. Amen.
