Straw, Sticks and Bricks

      One Sunday morning, I heard a sermon preached on this children’s story.  Interesting topic, I thought, but as I listened to the point being made, I realized that this story could teach us some important spiritual lessons.

      God tells us in His Word that He has given us all things that pertain to life and godliness (2 Peter 1:3-4).  We must realize, therefore, that we cannot go through this life with little or no effort on our part, because we have an enemy who is looking, at every turn, for the opportunity to destroy us.  And we cannot become so comfortable with our lives the way they are, that we become complacent in our thinking, for at any moment our lives could drastically change…

      My husband had been working at the same job for most of his adult life.  With his seniority, we felt that his job would be stable and secure until he decided to retire in about 5-8 years.  Then, after almost 26 years of service, he was informed that his plant would be closing and moving to Mexico within one year’s time!  With the economy the way it was, our first reaction could have been one of fear.  But we chose faith instead, because we know upon Whom we have built our foundation, and we believe in His promises!  His Word tells us over and over that He will take care of us, if we put our trust in Him.   We never know what tomorrow will hold, but we know that our future is in His hands.  My husband has since been laid off from his job, but God has been faithful to provide for all of our needs.

      Upon what foundation is your life built?  Your job?  Your marriage?  Your finances?  The problem with building your life upon these things is that they may not last.  The only foundation that will last is the one that is built on Jesus Christ, the Solid Rock.

Straw, Sticks and Bricks

A story is told of the three little pigs,

Who one day set out on their own.

They each built a house: one of straw, one of sticks,

And the third was with bricks hard as stone.

The pigs who built houses of sticks and of straw

Weren’t prepared for the danger ahead.

It came up to their door; then with nowhere to hide

When their houses collapsed, they both fled.

For the houses they built had no substance or strength;

When adversity came, all was lost.

They used what they had just so they could get by,

But they never considered the cost.

The wise pig, who had built his house out of bricks,

Made sure a foundation was laid.

He knew he was safe in a structure so strong,

So that nothing could made him afraid.

When the enemy huffed and he puffed at his house,

His fierceness just faded away.

So up on the roof to the chimney he went

To enter a different way.

But lo and behold! The wise pig was prepared,

For he’d already started a fire.

Descending the chimney, the wolf felt the heat,

And the consequences were dire.

When the enemy tries to encroach on your life,

Make sure your foundation is strong.

With a life built on Jesus, the Solid Rock,

The enemy will not stay around long.

If you find that the enemy tries to persist,

Here’s something else I have learned:

When he’s up against Jesus, he’s playing with fire,

And that’s the worst way to get burned!

(The reflection and poem are an excerpt from Lisa's book, My Heart Makes Its Home in a Faraway Land, available through Amazon.com and Barnesandnoble.com).