How To Prepare
“Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.” (Matthew 7:24-27)
If any verse of the Bible describes the last few weeks of Hinds County living, this is it! The rain has fallen, the floods have come, and the wind has blown. However, is this unusual? Do we not expect rain and wind? The failure of the Three Little Pigs was not simply a failure to buy adequate construction materials; the failure of the Three Little Pigs was a failure to prepare for the inevitable consequences of living in a fallen world.
What are the consequences of our day which demand preparation? Temptation will come, scandal and stumbling will arise, sudden tragedy will strike, and death will lay its hand on your shoulder. Do I really need to list specific examples? We all know them, and we all know how debilitating they are for one unprepared. Years pass, and we continue to relive our losses through “what ifs” and “I shouldas.” Am I right? Great is the fall of a house because of the great time and cost required in the building, but how much greater is the time and cost required in the building of a reputation, of a family, of a life?
Reader, we have reached the end of Jesus’ most famous sermon., and He leaves you with two options – build your life upon His Words and endure into eternity or build your life upon your own wisdom and fall. Some of you may sit at home, idle and isolated, passing the time because all that you built has crumbled. Listen – a foundation stone has been laid in Zion, and He invites you to build upon His Word. “But Zach, what about all that I’ve lost?” But reader, what about all that you have to gain? The mountains may be thrown into the heart of the sea, the earth may give way, but we will not fear because God is our refuge, our help, our firm foundation (Ps. 46).
If you have been reading with us for the last 14 months, if you have found yourself convicted of sin and unrighteousness, if you realize how shabby your foundation is, Jesus holds forth the offer of making you wise unto salvation. Go, hear Him in His Word, in His worship, with His people. And build.
