Building on Rock

“Anyone who hears my words and puts them into practice is like the wise man who built his house on rock.” 

Matthew 7:24

On December 11, 1993, an entire apartment building, Block One of the Highland Towers, collapsed in Selangor, Malaysia. 48 people were killed. The cause: the soil on which the building was constructed was oversaturated with water that it became mud. 100,000 square meters of mud pushed on the foundations of the building making cracks on the road, warning of an impending collapse. 

Sometimes there are cracks in our own spiritual makeup or disposition. Too much stress, anxiety, shame, unforgiveness, introspection, pride, sensitivity, or blaming others for our life.  While listening to the video of Christine Caine this morning, she said we have to have the courage to let go of the past. She showed Saddleback Church some papers on powerpoint. One was her birth certificate which had “Unnamed” on the line where her name should have been. She also showed a 25 year old letter from the Education Department which said she was not competent, unqualified, and if she wanted to pursue any kind of social work, she had to go back to school. 

Today Christine, along with her husband, is the founder of A21, an anti-human trafficking, anti-slavery organization operating in 11 countries around the world. She did not let her black and white documents define her. Instead, she looked to another black and white love letter, the Bible, which said that everything was possible to him who believes (Mark 9:23). It also showed her that even if she was unnamed at birth, even when she was in her mother’s womb, God knew her, and set her apart.

(Jeremiah 1:5). 

If there is something in our past holding us back from pursuing what God wants us to do, we can rebuild a better future based on the rock solid plans found in the Bible. “For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper

you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future” (Jeremiah 29:11).