STAND FIRM: Overcoming on the Rock

In my previous article, I shared about the Collapse of Everything Conference and how we need to have discussions that things will collapse. The reason for the conferences and those discussions is that the number one reason American adults leave the faith is because when a difficult trial happens to them, they’re unable to reconcile that trial with how they understand God and belonging to Him. This is a modern western problem because, around the world and throughout history, most people know “collapses” are merely a part of life. We’ve lost that. Things collapse, and we’ve just invented ways to dodge many of them.

The Bible is clear there are trials in life and maybe even more so for the follower of Jesus. Jesus showed He could truly empathize with us when He said, “…each day has enough trouble of its own” (Matt. 6:34 NIV). He called it right, didn’t He? He must have had “just one of those mornings” or read “one of those texts.” Well, maybe not the actual text, but you know what I mean. He could relate to the trouble in this world.

You may have also caught that I see the “Collapse of Everything” as a strong and intimidating title. My “two cents” in the planning meeting was that it would scare people away, but scripturally, there might not be a better word picture because we’re talking about overcoming difficulties now and in the last days. These are the collapses. Jesus spoke directly on how to be ready for collapses. It wasn’t an “end-time” teaching, it simply applies to following Jesus.

Jesus’ teaching on how to overcome collapses was recorded in Matt. 7:24-27: “Therefore, everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. 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.”

Matthew indicates these were the closing remarks of Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount. If they were, they were an absolute mic drop. That first century audience understood there would be collapses in their lives and that a final generation would face the ultimate collapse. The choice was that they could overcome them or not — that was it no middle ground and no neutral. They could build their house on the rock and overcome or build upon the sand and be swept away in the collapse.

Knowing this teaching should remove the surprise that professed Christians would turn away or shrink back when the floods of life came on them. This is our choice — build on that rock and overcome or not.

The key in Jesus’ illustration is often missed. I have missed it for most of my time of teaching it in ministry. Building one’s “house” on the “rock” isn’t just being saved or believing. Jesus specifically said the one who is like the man that builds his house upon the rock is the one who hears and obeys the words of Jesus.

In this illustration, we can overcome if we hear and obey what we have in Scripture and how we’re guided by the Holy Spirit. As I said, I’ve often missed that detail, but we should lean into the Word and obey.

I hope, from my challenge in the previous article, you have had discussions in your home and at church about how you will face collapses. As the old GI Joe and Transformers cartoons would say, “Knowing is half the battle.” It truly is. Not only should we know that the rains of life will come, but that we overcome by hearing and obeying God’s Word and Holy Spirit guidance.

I brought up the conference again, and I’d love for you to join us in Springdale at the Jones Center on July 29. You get 25% off on registration with the code #IKNOWJAKE and the first 15 pastors are free with the code #BMAPASTOR. To register, go to lastdaysovercomer.org/events.

— Jake is the newest state missionary and would love to share about the work in Northwest Arkansas and encourage your church to stand firm. (standfirmministries.com)