Matthew 7:24-27, New King James Version

“Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock.  “But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall.”

The three pigs. One built his home with straw, one with sticks, and one with bricks. When the wolf came to huff and puff and blow the homes down, he was able to blow down the first two easily because they were not made of a strong foundation. But when he came to the brick home, he wasn't able to blow it down because it was made of a solid foundation. Our spiritual lives are a lot like that. The foundation that our spiritual lives are built on have to be strong enough to withstand the enemy's blows. Straw and sticks represent a weak faith and foundation, while bricks represent a strong faith and foundation. 

Jesus taught a parable on the value of having a good foundation. “I will show you what everyone is like who comes to me and hears my words and obeys. That person is like a man building a house who dug deep and laid the foundation on rock. When the floods came, the water tried to wash the house away, but it could not shake it, because the house was built well. But the one who hears my words and does not obey is like a man who built his house on the ground without a foundation. When the floods came, the house quickly fell and was completely destroyed” (Luke 6: 47-49, NKJV).  

A person's faith is built on a firm foundation when it is rooted in a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, the cornerstone, and when they listen to His teachings. This foundation provides stability and strength to withstand life's challenges (when the wolf blows) Building on this foundation involves trusting in Jesus and living out the teachings of the Bible in all aspects of life. 

What does having a firm foundation look like? Belief that Jesus Christ as the cornerstone: First, the belief that Jesus Christ is the one and only foundation for faith. Secondly, you have a personal relationship with Jesus. Cultivating a personal, two-way relationship with God through actions like confession, acceptance, and seeking Him.

You are obedience to God's Word: Acting on the teachings of the Bible, which involves listening to Jesus's words and following them.

You trust in God: Developing trust in God for strength and direction, particularly during uncertain times and trials.

A firm foundation provides stability during storms. The foundation is meant to remain stable and unshaken, even when faced with life's "storms" and trials.

A firm foundation is protection from collapse: According to the parable in Matthew 7:24-27, a house built on rock will not collapse, symbolizing that a life built on Christ will not be destroyed by challenges.

Even the best foundations must be inspected periodically to make sure they are not damaged. In the natural world, environmental issues can weaken even a good foundation, causing cracks. Likewise, the pressures or blessings of life, disappointments, responsibilities and relationships can all impact on our spiritual foundation - strengthening or weakening it. If caught early, cracks in our spiritual foundations are not difficult to fix. But left alone, cracks grow and result in destruction.

If you turn to Jesus, your foundation is firm. But if not, you need some repair work. When a foundation is left unchecked for long in our personal lives, our family, our business or ministry - hard decisions are required. 

Spiritually speaking: What have you built your life on? What exactly does your faith, family and future rest on? Have you considered how you have built, or are building? Have you come to realize that life experiences have been unshakable, unmovable, or have they continuously been shifting you in with every direction, sometimes crumbling you? It might be time to examine the foundation your life is resting on.

Thank the Father that our foundation is Christ. That we can lean on Jesus, always. That we will not be shaken when storms come because our foundation is on the Rock. Ask the Holy Spirt to reveal any cracks in the foundation of our lives and faith and give Him permission to work in us to repair any faulty foundations that are found. Make sure you are standing on the firm foundation: Jesus!