Is your faith storm proof?
The Scriptures present a clear message that trials, often described metaphorically as storms of life, are a universal aspect of the human experience. Under both the old and new covenant, the comfort offered to Yahweh’s faithfuls is not an exemption from life’s storms, but a promise of His presence, preservation, and power to prevail.
Isaiah 43:2-3 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned, the flames will not set you ablaze. For I am the Lord your God, The Holy One of Israel, your Savior.
John 16:33 In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.
On multiple occasions, scripture records the disciples navigating storms a-sea, even with Jesus in the boat.
☞ So the question is hardly if we will be confronted with storms, but when, and more importantly, what will remain when the storm is passed?
—What will remain when the storm is passed?—
As Jesus wrapped up His most widely known sermon, the Sermon on the Mount, He offered a vivid illustration to demonstrate that the answer to this question depends on our response to His teachings.
The illustration is one of a torrential storm beating down on two houses. After the storm passes, one remains unshaken, but the other is completely destroyed (Luke 6:46-49).
Like the houses, there are those who after a life storm is passed, remain with their faith unshaken and unmoved, and those who are left with ruins and dying embers.
Although the conditions of the storm were equal in both cases, that is, both houses were beat down vehemently, the outcomes were different.
Jesus offers a simple answer for why the same storm streams that vehemently beat against both houses, left one unmoved, while greatly ruining the other — the former was well built.
—What does it mean that the house was well built?—
Thankfully, Jesus didn’t leave us guessing. Here are four* attributes of this well-built house, that we can pattern our lives by if we want to successively navigate the inevitable storms of life.
☞ 1: It is being built with a foundation.
The foundation of a building determines its stability, structural integrity (that is, its ability to carry its own weight and withstand various stressors), and longevity.
Building with a foundation therefore implies careful thought in planning for the long haul, building to last, and setting up a house to be established.
An established building is not one that is here today and gone tomorrow. Therefore the person building a house with a foundation is committed to the house. They have made strong investments to establish roots for strength, security, and permanence.
☞ 2: Its foundation rests on a rock.
A rock has the imagery of a steady, immovable force. In the Epistles, we are taught that Jesus Christ, is the rock and cornerstone (1 Cor 10:4, 1 Peter 2:6-7). So we know that the foundation is laid not on a pastor, a vision, an angel, an experience, a denomination or a lifestyle, but on Jesus Christ Himself.
While experiences fade, visions get blurred, and people change, lie, deceive, and die, Christ is the immutable rock that provides an unshakable anchor for a life and faith that will prevail through storms.
☞ 3: Its foundation is being dug deep.
The picture of the house’s foundation being dug deep is reminiscent of the parable of the sower (Matthew 13:3-9; 18-23). In the parable, some seeds fell on shallow soil, and although they sprung up quickly, they ultimately withered, not being established with deep enough roots.
Perhaps this is why in his letter to the Colossians, Paul encourages them to “let your roots grow down into Christ” (Colossians 2:7).
A practical way to understand digging a deep foundation is to consider that Christ’s Word ought to penetrate deep into our very being and overflow to all aspects of our lives. That Jesus’ Word is not merely welcomed on the peripheral level of activities, but that one’s entire person and perspectives are shaped by Him.
Such a life has a secure conviction in the truth of Christ that causes storms to find one ready, prepared, and sturdy.
☞ 4: It is being built by hearing Jesus’ Word and putting it into practice.
This is the focal point of the illustration. Faith that will endure and thrive through storms belongs to those who do not merely hear the Word — listen to a sermon, read the Bible, join a Bible study, attend Sunday school — but who hear it, and put it into practice by walking in intentional obedience to what they have learned.
It goes without saying that in order to put God’s word into practice through intentional obedience, we ought to first know His word. So, building a habit of hearing and studying His Word is a non-negotiable aspect of building this house. However, the missing piece in the house without the foundation is not the hearing of the Word, but the practicing.
☞ As a bonus attribute*, notice that most English translations render the word “building,” as in “it is like a man building a house…,” in the present continuous tense, in agreement with the original Greek. The faith walk is one of continuous, consistent action. Hearing, listening, putting into practice, hearing again, listening again, putting into practice again. Consider that earth side, the building is never completed, but we embark on a life long journey of building.
—Before you close the page—
And so, put the lesson contained in this exposition into practice. You have read the Word, what action will you commit to taking in obedience to what you have learned in this article?