ICS Daily Devotions
A Firm Foundation
Romans 8:18 (NKJV) For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.
We should have the same attitude as the Apostle Paul regarding suffering. Despite his tremendous suffering for the Gospel, he still maintained the right attitude and a resilient faith. He encouraged us to have the perspective that our suffering in this life is nothing compared to the joy of being in God’s presence in eternity. We are merely sojourners on earth because there is a destiny that awaits us in heaven. The finishing line for all of us is where we spend eternity in the presence of God.
Luke 6:48-49 (NKJV) He is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently against that house, and could not shake it, for it was founded on the rock. But he who heard and did nothing is like a man who built a house on the earth without a foundation, against which the stream beat vehemently; and immediately it fell. And the ruin of that house was great.
Both houses in this passage were subjected to the stream that beat vehemently on them. The water level of the flood rose and started to beat on them for a prolonged period—it is a real test of the foundation of a house. As expected, the house that was built without a foundation collapsed and the ruin was great.
What are some of the possible “streams that beat vehemently” in our lives that might cause us to “collapse” and give up? To some Christians, it might be an unanswered prayer, such as not getting a promotion or the job we want, or not witnessing a physical healing. These minor disappointments in life will affect those Christians without a proper foundation in their lives. However, we must not have the attitude of the “strawberries generation” that is driven entirely by feelings. Wanting to give up on God simply because we don’t feel good about the outcome of our prayers is very shallow faith indeed!
Some of us might have gone through experiences which we are still hurting from and questioning God about. Pain, grief, and suffering are very real and there are experiences in our lives that can rock our conviction and love for the Lord. At such times, we are faced with the two choices of either being shattered by the ordeal or be resilient in our faith.
So how do we deal with a situation that comes upon us and we don’t understand what is going on? How do we react when our confidence in God is shaken? What do we do when our theology and conviction are called into question? Jesus has already given us the answer, which is to build the foundation well for ourselves and our children.
Sermon Series: Resilience
