– John Newton

Have you been pummeled by storms, afflicted by trials, and tested by pain? Here are 3 ways to know that your faith can be built upon the Rock.

A Sure Foundation

When a person read and trusts in the words of Jesus, they have a sure foundation. The opposite of course is true and why Jesus’ says “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” (Matt 7:26-27). Should we rather not be like the one “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” (Matt 7:24-45). The storms of life will test our foundation so it must be set upon the Rock and that Rock is Christ (1 Cor 10:4). All other ground is sinking sand.

Unless the Lord Builds the House

We can build our own house or have the Master of the House be our builder. The psalmist wrote “Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain” (Psalm 127:1). There is no doubt that “God’s firm foundation stands, bearing this seal: “The Lord knows those who are his,” and, “Let everyone who names the name of the Lord depart from iniquity” (2 Tim 2:19). The point is that if you don’t depart from iniquity, God’s firm foundation is not going to hold you up because “this is what the Sovereign LORD says: “See, I lay a stone in Zion, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone for a sure foundation; the one who relies on it will never be stricken with panic” (Isaiah 28:16). That stone in Zion is Christ and is indeed a precious cornerstone and a sure foundation. Is He precious to you?

Faith Comes By Hearing

This seems so simple yet this point is often overlooked. That’s why people are saved by both the hearing of the Word and the reading (or preaching) of the Word but Paul wrote “How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent” (Rom 10:14-15a)? They cannot be saved unless they hear the Word (or at least read it) and how can they ever hear it except someone goes to them and tells them? That’s why Paul said “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news” (Rom 10:15b)! The point is that “faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ” (Rom 10:17) and if we hear it (from biblical preaching) and read it, our faith will be strong and the more you get into the Word the more the Word gets into you. Go through the Word and the Word will go through you. The faith that comes by hearing will sustain you through difficult times.

Conclusion

If you have Christ as your Rock, the Lord is the Builder, and you are regularly partaking in the Word of God. This will serve to increase your faith so that all of the painful trials of life cannot shake such a sure foundation as the one that God builds. All other ground is sinking sand.