Shifting Sands

https://odb.org/MY/2022/01/04/resilient-faith

If we watch documentaries on TV or YouTube on deserts, we will see that the desert sand will shift by day or even by the hour. As the wind blows, the sands shift and the whole landscape may even change if there is a sand storm, sometimes burying things under the sand or revealing and uncovering things previously hidden under the sand.

It is thus impossible to build any permanent structure in a sandy desert environment as Jesus rightly pointed out, a house built on sand will not stand. When the rain comes down, streams rise and the winds blow and beat against it, it will come crashing down. We saw this during the recent floods in the Klang Valley and surrounding areas. As much as the furniture, electrical equipment and other belongings were destroyed and made unusable, the brick houses stood their ground amidst the flood waters. But we can’t say the same thing of the wooden holiday chalets at the edges of the hills around Bentong. Some were literally swept away when the water from the hills came down and overflowed rivers and swept everything in its path. In fact, we saw how the waters brought down thousands of cut timber from the hills to the valleys in Pahang.

The spiritual application of this analogy as explained by Jesus is simple. If we just hear His words and don’t put them into practice, we will be like houses built on sand. Our faith will come crashing down when tested. But if we hear His words and put them into practice, then we will be like a house built on rock. The rain came, streams rise and winds blew and beat against it, it will not fall as its foundation is built upon rock.

There is thus a need not to just read the Word but to apply it. When we apply the Word, we will experience God in our lives. God becomes real to us and His glory is manifested. The Word itself is God and thus applying it will both encourage and strengthen our faith. We will know for sure God is with us and we know and recognise God in the process. So when a crisis comes, we go to God instead of relying on others or ourselves. We pray and seek God’s guidance before we act. Our faith is unchanging as it is built on solid foundation, on the rock that is Christ. We will still be strong and unwavering. We will be focused and will still trust God despite the crisis we are going through. If we had not applied the Word and had not experienced God, we will not dare to trust God. We will then rely on others or ourselves. We will act without praying. Our faith will thus be like shifting sands and if we are not careful may come crashing down.

A strong foundation in Christ is necessary and essential to stand the test of time and crisis, especially during these end times when we can expect to go through trials and tribulations. The best way to avoid shifting sands is to hear the words of Jesus and apply them. I think we should take this literally by reading through the Gospels and hearing and applying the words of Jesus as He had said them before. Our faith will then be on a strong and solid foundation.