Rain, flood and wind will come. It is not a matter of “IF”, but a matter of “WHEN”. When they come, they expose the foundation of the house for what it is, foundation that has been there for years.
Only the house is visible to others. The foundation is hidden and no one sees. But it is not what is visible that determines if the house can stand. It is what is invisible, the foundation, that determines the fate of the house. It is what holds life together. No matter how well we manage our image in front of others and how put together we present ourselves to the world, it is our motivations, fear, trust and treasure that no one sees that determines the outcome of our lives.
I have seen some within the Church family who are motivated by the acceptance by others. Fear of men dominates how they think, what they say and what they do to others. They put their trust in people-pleasing as the way to gain love and happiness. They crave and treasure others’ praises and recognitions. To them, God is just a vehicle to increase acceptance within the church context. If getting into spiritual things or ministry make them more popular, they will not hesitate to give themselves fully. Disappointment and relationship upheaval come suddenly like rain, flood and wind. When they don’t receive the attention and acceptance that they seek, they just walk away from God. Who God is to them is exposed for what it is. I have taken warning from past zealous church leaders who simply walk away from God and His people into a community of idol worshippers, swapping out the church lingo, camouflaging themselves into the new setting, ready to continue the acceptance hunt that was previously futile, assuming an entirely different persona as if the “christian” version has been erased.
There are many of us who want control over life exactly the way we want it. God is just an agent who can implement our agenda. Unexpected events like death of a loved one, loss of employment, sudden illness etc.. come like rain, flood and wind. Bitterness towards God erupts. God is attacked as an unloving, heartless agent who failed to do as He was told according to our agenda. We talk back to God saying, “This is wrong. How could you?” I have taken warning from seeing houses fall with great crash like this.
It does not take much for a house to not just fall, but fall with a great crash.
Soak our motivation, fear, trust and treasure in His Word.
May the love of our God be our motivation.
May the fear of the Lord lead us to wisdom and hold us back from evil, as we consciously seeking and living in His presence, moment by moment.
May the trust of the Lord gives us boldness and courage to live heavenly here on earth.
May God be the only treasure that we seek.
May this be the foundation that no one see such that when rain, flood and wind come, the house stands tall simply because it anchors on a God who is faithful.
All a person’s ways seem innocent to them, but motives are weighed by the Lord. It is only through the fear of the Lord, evil is avoided. Commit to the Lord whatever we do and let Him establish our plans [Proverbs 16].
