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 the sands (Matthew 7:26).

There were two kinds of people in the days of Jesus. Some heard the words that Jesus spoke and were awed by His wisdom and understanding but did nothing about what they heard. Others heard those words and acted upon them. Jesus said that those who heard the words but failed to put them into practice were foolish and likened them to building a house on sand. How foolish, indeed, it would be to build a house on sand.

The person who followed what Jesus taught was a person who would be sure to weather the storms of life. "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." You never know how good your house is built until it is tested by the elements. Torrential rains reveal the quality of your roof. Wind and cold reveal how well your home is insulated. Heat and sun reveal the quality of your paint and siding. All of these elements reveal whether a solid foundation has been laid to make your home a secure and lasting place to live.

Many of us find that we have only given lip service to the commands of God. We are faced with the reality that our foundations are not strong enough to whether the storms of life. How do we react when the trials come? Do we fret and worry? Do we take life into our hands? Do we respond inappropriately when we don't get what we want? The Lord uses these times to help us recognize whether our foundations are sand or rock. Ask the Lord today if you have built upon His rock. If so, you can be comforted to know that you can weather any storm that may come your way.