We just started a new year and I’m guessing old habits might get replaced with hopes for a new start. Gym memberships are being purchased, organic food is replacing all of our cans of chili and we are all trying to read the Bible in a year, right? I have the same high hopes to build this year into a bigger, faster and stronger one than last year, but let’s take a step back and look at what we are building on. A wise Book once spoke toward this very idea:
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 7:26-27, ESV)
Sometimes we build a tent or a fort
I have started many years on some pretty sandy foundations. Once I tried to commit to doing 100,000 pushups in one year, and I was on track for about 35 days, until the “flood” came and things got busy and I lost motivation. We can do most anything for a short amount of time, but when we can build endurance to face what life has to offer, our faith will endure.
Storms of life often threaten to overwhelm us, unless we build our houses wisely--on the Word of God
Scripture talks about building a house; a house is meant to stand for a long period of time, structurally sound to take on certain elements and be around for a while. Sometimes instead of building that house, we build a tent or a fort or lean some branches against a hill. We do the bare minimum to get by without considering the long haul, putting in the hard work and investing in what will stay strong. This is where I have seen Sin creep in. We look at the short term and feel like we can handle it on our own, but when the strength of the flood endures longer than we can, we fall.
The strength of the Holy Spirit is available to us
God has given us everything we need to beat sin. The strength of the Holy Spirit is available to us to endure, and I want to encourage you to receive it. Start this year looking at where your foundation lays. I would even encourage that your focus this year would be building a foundation in Christ that will strengthen you for future years to endure turning from sin and seeking righteousness.
Blessings,
Chris Cummings