Daily Encounter: A Week-day Devotional by a staff of ACTS International.

Monday, June 23, 2014

Jesus said, "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 sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash."¹

The recent earthquakes we've experienced here in southern California reminded me of a time I was visiting a church one Sunday in a town where there was an earthquake the night before. The pastor and people testified to the "fact" that God sent the earthquake as a wake-up call to the people of this city.

But was this true? Does God also send floods, tornadoes, forest fires, hurricanes and cyclones as wake-up calls for people to turn to God? He may, but I doubt it. We just happen to live in a world where natural disasters happen. For me, if I don't want to experience earthquakes, one thing is certain, I need to move out of Southern California. But if I choose to stay here and an earthquake destroys my home, will it be God who does it?

Or will it be because I have knowingly chosen to live in a place that is prone to earthquakes?

Also, if I choose to live in a low lying area close to a river that is prone to flooding and my home is washed away, will it be God who causes me to lose my home? Hardly.

As Jesus said, if we build our house on the sand and the rain pours down, and the streams rise, and the winds blow, we can expect our home to be destroyed.

And if I don't build my life on a solid, godly foundation and live an upright, moral life, I can't blame God if I crash. God may use my crash as a wake-up call to bring me to my senses, but it won't be God who causes me to crash. I will do it to myself.

And if I fail to accept God's free pardon for all my sins and his gift of eternal life, it won't be God who will keep me out of heaven and send me to hell, it will be me. I will do it myself.

Suggested prayer: "Dear God, help me to be wise, not only regarding the important matters of this life, but especially so regarding the life to come. Help me to build my life on the Solid Rockâ€"the Lord Jesus Christ. Thank You for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully in Jesus's name. Amen."

1. Matthew 7:26-27 (NIV).

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