As the Winds Blow - Build with Bricks
One
day I heard my two year old son repeating aloud while holding a book:
“chin-chin-chin… fuff-fuff-fuff… blow house in, chin-chin-chin… fuff-fuff-fuff… blow house in.” He couldn’t read, but he knew the story
of the Three Little Pigs and was recounting it with gusto. The
story reduced to the dramatic climax brought to mind for me the fact that there
are forces out there that threaten to blow the house in – my house – your
house. If the wolf hasn’t come or the winds haven’t already started to
blow, they will. There are forces of doubt, discouragement, apathy,
immorality, pornography, drugs, false ideas, pride, greed, hate, violence
and evil. There are winds of financial disaster, health challenges and
devastating accidents. So how might we protect our house? I think of the
Savior teaching the following parable:
Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will
liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat
upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and
doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon
the sand: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat
upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it. -Matthew 7
The winds, floods and rain pounded on every house – it didn’t matter whether it
was built on sand or rock. So if there isn’t a guarantee against
problems, then what protection is in building on the rock? I’m thinking
it is that it will stand. It will not fall. It is an inward
protection. It is all about the kind of person we are becoming and God cares
about that very much. He cares who we serve and where we look for
strength. He cares who we are during the storm and after the storm.
Five months into my first pregnancy we discovered there was no
heartbeat. I gave birth to a stillborn baby boy. I was
devastated. But perhaps it was then I began a personal journey of
learning to trust the Lord. I felt during that experience God's love for me and
some understanding over the years has come piece by piece. That has given
me a pattern to fall back on.
I watch friends and family who have and do face
the winds, floods, and rain of financial difficulty, disappointment,
debilitating health challenges, cancer, gender disorientation, rebellion, drug
addiction, pornography addiction and accidents who trust God. I can’t deny
the light and hope and strength I see in them as they face their storms with
faith in Christ. If the light they radiate is connected to Him, then
building on the rock in obedience and perseverance must be the most powerful
weapon against the adversary I can imagine.
The
wolf can’t blow the house down if we look upward to God. Every scripture, every prophetic teaching,
every heaven sent inspiration followed by action is to build brick by brick a personal
house of hope, faith and strength that will stand.
