- Proverbs 10:25

Proverbs 10:25
When the storm has swept by, the wicked are gone, but the righteous stand firm forever.

When I woke up this morning there was a rather large storm passing through our neighborhood.  It was dark with loud rumblings.  The trees were bending a bit in the wind and it was raining... hard.  But even in the darkness, you could see that this storm was going to have a tough time battling the dawn. 

Driving to Men's Prayer, I could already see the clouds start to break and the heat of the sun shoot through.  By the time prayer was over there was a gorgeous contrast between the dark storm clouds passing and the early morning sun pushing them further away.  The trees were saturated with water and glistening with light against a clear blue sky.  It was glorious!

After prayer, a brother who is preparing to serve in the ministry wanted to interview me for a school project.  He was asking me questions about my role as a pastor and we spent quite a while in the following verses...

Ephesians 4:11-16
It was He who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming. Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into Him who is the Head, that is, Christ. From Him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.

The whole experience made me think about this verse...

Proverbs 10:25
When the storm has swept by, the wicked are gone, but the righteous stand firm forever.

We all know that the storms of life are no respecter of persons, nobody is immune.  We all go through the wind and the waves at some point.  The question is, will we be tossed back and forth, swept away or stand firm?  The answer lies in our foundation and what we use to build on that foundation.

Are you building on sand and your castles are being washed away with every wave?  Or, are you building on a firm foundation, but using wood, hay and straw, finding that even the slightest breeze affects you greatly?  Both the foundation and the materials used to build on that foundation are vital to withstand the wind and the waves... to be found standing firm after the storm has swept by.

Jesus said concerning our foundation...
Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.

Paul said concerning building materials...
For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. If any man builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, his work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light.

There is a storm coming... are you ready?  Is Jesus Christ your foundation?  Is He your rock of refuge?  Have you asked Him to forgive you and to be Lord of your life?  If not, start there.  Then, be careful how you build on the solid rock of Jesus Christ... hearing His words and putting them into practice.  Then you will no longer be tossed back and forth by the waves or blown here and there by the wind.  You'll be able to say, like Paul the apostle, "None of these things move me."

Are you in a storm right now?  Cling to Jesus!  Stand on your Rock.  Be strong in the Lord, in the power of His might and trust in His holy word.  He is faithful and will see you all the way through. Take heart follower of Jesus.  This storm won't last forever.  The day is coming and He will lead us safely home.

Psalm 107:28-31
Then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble, and He brought them out of their distress. He stilled the storm to a whisper; the waves of the sea were hushed. They were glad when it grew calm, and He guided them to their desired haven. Let them give thanks to the LORD for His unfailing love and His wonderful deeds for men.

Thank you Jesus!!!