The house not build on the rock.

We all know and have heard of the verses from Matthew chapter seven. You know the verses I'm talking about. Build your house like the wise man, on the rock, not like the fool who built on the sand. For a lot of believers, that's a very easy verse. Often associated with maintaining the strength and wisdom they have always had in Christ. Its a basic fundamental requirement of being a believer, ensuring your faith stays steadfast. It is in a believers nature, almost like breathing, to keep faith. Even through difficulties, Christ has taught them from a young age, that a house built on a strong, sturdy, immovable rock is their inheritance.

Not everyone has that privilege. Some grew up in homes built on gravel. They're technically a kind of rock, just slightly less stable. Perhaps the parents built on rock, but chose a location a bit to close to the strong waves of life. These waves slowly eroding and crumbling the strength and safety of that home. In that time that the foundations were crumbling, some souls came to be in the home and all they've ever known was the fear of their home crumbling and deteriorating. They say a fish that has grown in a dark cave may never know what the light shines like. Those who grow in these forever insecure homes may forever struggle with faith. They've had a lot of the basics. Their guardians may have tried their best to provide security. The fact remains, sometimes the walls sway. Sometimes the floorboards quake and crack. Sometimes the waves of life crash against the crumbled rock so hard and so high, they may break through a window and flood. Rebuilding can be catastrophic but not impossible. Until one day they must face the inevitable, they either have to completely rebuild the home further from the waves and someday face the same fate or walk away and rebuild elsewhere.

Some may be even less privileged. Some may grow up in a house built on sand. With every wind that comes the house sways and collapses. They build again and again and again. Their hearts and bodies become weary. Whatever faith they were taught was not strong enough to withstand even the basics. With every wind the faith was gone. The found new plans, new materials, new faiths, different faiths. They built again. All their lives, the hearts growing in these temporary faiths, with securities promised yet ever failing. What of these souls?

Jeremiah 1:5 says “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations.” The souls that God has consecrated, reserved specifically for growth through adversity, often times lose their way. Maybe His intention was for them to grow from this adversity. To many, however, especially in their darkest of days, it feels like damnation. It's easy, when you've always had the chance to shine in the light, to want to stay in the light. It's easy for those who were raised in shadows or even in darkness, to choose to stay in what they know best, and just admire the light from afar. Taking comfort in knowing that it's there but never being brave enough, never being motivated enough, never feeling hopeful enough to venture out to seek it. They grow comfortable, or maybe too fearful, to even try to make their flame a little brighter, maybe they'll run out of the little oil they have left, or maybe it'll burn too bright and break the vessel carrying it.

It's easy to look at them with pity or with frustration. "Why don't you even at least try? Just do it, turn it brighter, you'll see, you'll be fine. Just do it already, quit wasting time!" Pressing and raising anxieties in them, bullys of the light. How can you reach out to someone who who grew up in the house on the sand? Sure you lend a hand here and there and maybe a prayer too, but all to often those from the light grow weary and bored with the insecurities of those that are from the shadow. Often times, interest is lost because "How can you help those who don't help themselves?"

Christ , as always is our perfect example. He chose not to reach only to those in the light, they already know how to shine. His focus was to bring light to those who did not have any and could not leave their house on the sand because they could not see. His focus was to bring light to those who wanted to rebuild to have a strong home, but were too afraid because anywhere way from home was uncharged and maybe they could not see well enough to make it to the rock where they could rebuild. Jesus was willing to risk being associated with darkness, to bring light to those lost or left behind in the shadows. It took a lot of patience on His end. It took a lot of forgiveness, and a tremendous amount of faith and positivity. He stepped out of the brightness of Heaven to bring light, and in doing so, was able to aid many souls to rebuild strong homes, steadfast and true.

Just a remindful to be persistent in your love for God, and persistent in your love for those around you. You may not know which home they had the opportunity to growing in, but if you stay close to them long enough, they just might be able to follow your light to the safe rock where they can rebuild a strong home.

"Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love."

-Ephesians 4:20

To bear: meaning to hold up; support; remain firm