Houses & Hurricanes

“We must have faith, for this is the foundation; we must have holiness of life, for this is the superstructure.” – C.H. Spurgeon

What good is a solid foundation if you don’t plan to build on it? And of what value is a multi-million-dollar mansion if it rests on a shaky or crumbling foundation?

In 2008, the housing market collapsed as did much of the banking industry. That extended recession hit our area especially hard as homeowners saw the value of their house cut by 50% or more. Likewise, builders who started a development were forced to shut everything down and, in some cases, to abandon the project entirely. The result was scores of vacant lots where foundations had been laid and that’s about it, leaving a virtual ghost town behind.

In the same manner, people who are anxious to build their mega-mansions as close to the ocean as possible had better make sure that their foundations are firm. I can’t imagine anything worse than having shifting sand beneath your house, especially when a hurricane hits.

Charles Spurgeon, the “Prince of Preachers, takes that analogy and adds a spiritual application…

“What use is the mere foundation of a building to a man on the day of tempest? Can he hide himself in it? He needs a house to cover him as well as a foundation for that house. Even so we need the superstructure of spiritual life if we want comfort in the day of doubt. But do not seek a holy life without faith, for that would be to erect a house that can provide no permanent shelter because it has no foundation on a rock. Let faith and life be put together, and like the two supports of an archway, they will make our devotion endure. Like light and heat streaming from the same sun, they are full of blessing. Like the two pillars of the temple, they are for glory and for beauty. They are two streams from the fountain of grace, two lamps lit with holy fire, two olive trees watered by heavenly care.”

If I could add a last thought of my own, paraphrasing both the Apostle Paul and James, the half-brother of Jesus…

The entire purpose of a foundation is to support a structure. It would be foolish to construct one without the other. By the same token, for a Christian to stop at salvation and not build good works upon it would be as ludicrous as counting on good works alone to get you into heaven.

//“For it is by grace you have been saved through faith, and this not from yourselves; it is the gift of God, not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance as our way of life.” Ephesians 2:8-10 (BSB)

“So too, faith by itself, if it does not result in action, is dead. But someone will say, “You have faith and I have deeds.” Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds.”// James 2:17-18 (BSB)

- Rev. Dale M. Glading, President