Foundations

In the wake of the earthquake that hit the San Francisco area this morning, I am reposting this (originally published February 23, 2014).  I originally wanted to write about shaky foundations and the house of cards, but I think it is more important to focus on what is considered a solid foundation.
~Kathy

-> A friend of mine was discussing his perception of his life changes that were the result of a divorce.  He described life with his family as a foundation for him.  He was gainfully employed, had a wife and kids, and a house.  He had met the societal expectations of success (in his mind).  But, the marriage fell apart, resulting in divorce with the kids living away from him.  Although he is healthy, has a job and a house, the loss of his family resulted in the loss of his foundation.  He described this in this picture he created.  

Each of the bricks represent the pieces of the foundation he had carefully laid (kids, family unit, friends, etc).  Now, the bricks have scattered, resulting in no stable place for him to rebuild his life.  What foundation does he have now?  

I studied this picture.  I see the bricks and the man sinking slowly into the desert sand.  Any efforts made by the man to gather the bricks together are futile, as the bricks sink, moving away from one another.  The foundation is gone.

Was this a solid foundation?  Jesus described the ideal foundation as obedience to his teachings in the book of Luke.  "So why do you keep calling me 'Lord, Lord!' when you don't do what I say?  I will show you what it's like when someone comes to me, listens to my teachings, and then follows it.  It is like a person building a house who digs deep and lays the foundation on solid rock.  When the floodwaters rise and break against that house, it stands firm because it is well built.  But anyone who hears and doesn't obey is like a person who builds a house without a foundation.  When the floods sweep down against the house, it will collapse into a heap of ruins." ~Luke 6:46-49 (NLT)

My friend admits the loss of his foundation has brought him closer to God, and forced his path into new relationships he would never have formed otherwise.  Divorce and loss are not God's design for us, but often times, the bad events in our life are the very things He uses to bring us closer to Him.  He would have us build our life on the foundation of obedience to His Word.  He brings us to truth that cannot be wavered, shaken or rotted.  Even if the winds and waves of life beat against us, we will always have our foundation if it is based on the Word.

"When the storms of life come, the wicked are whirled away, but the godly have a lasting foundation." ~Proverbs 10:25 (NLT)