“But they were scheming to harm me; so I sent messengers to them with this reply: ‘I am carrying on a great project and cannot go down. Why should the work stop while I leave it and go down to you?’ Four times they sent me the same message, and each time I gave them the same answer.” Neh 6:2-4
Faulty foundations in life are painful to have torn down. Christ is the foundation upon which we are to build our lives. But if we do not build our lives on Christ and His words, we are setting ourselves up for disaster. “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.” Matt 7:24-27
If we build on faulty foundations in life, when the storms of life hit our foundations will be laid bare. A foundation is anything that holds your life up and holds it together. Faulty foundations are different for each of us. It could be an addiction, your marriage, your money, or other things. It is a painful thing to have what you’ve built torn down. Then your life or parts of it are in ruins. You are left vulnerable to attack from the Enemy. This was the situation of that of Jerusalem when they were conquered by the Babylonians and made into ruins. Under Nehemiah’s leadership they set out to rebuild the walls of their city so they would not continue to be vulnerable to attack.
Nehemiah’s name means “Comfort, Consoled by God.” Under Nehemiah, Israel rededicated their lives to God. They set out to rebuild their lives. Anytime we rededicate our lives to God and start to rebuild our lives on Christ the enemy attacks. We face distractions, opposition, and persecution much like Nehemiah. Since we are now a threat, Satan tries to distract us with things from our past or things that we have struggled with and were starting to make headway in. Satan’s aim is to distract us from further advancement, he uses things that appeal to us or make us feel threatened so we back down in fear.
It wasn’t like the Israelites rededicated their lives to the Lord and then had no problems living that out. I think anytime we rededicate our lives to Christ we can expect that opposition from the enemy will increase. Nehemiah’s response was perfect. He continued rebuilding and refused to be distracted. Instead, he prayed to God, “Now strengthen my hands” (Neh 6:9). Whatever you used to struggle with that distracted you from the Lord previously before you surrendered to Him you have to put down. If you have struggled with a particular desire or longing and lay it down before Him and if you then receive it, do not let that gift distract you. Continue with the work you have been given - to build on a strong and enduring foundation. Then, when the storms of life hit you will be left standing and held together. The Lord will see to it that this work is finished.
Of course when we start building we must count the costs. “Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Won’t you first sit down and estimate the cost to see if you have enough money to complete it? For if you lay the foundation and are not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule you, saying, ‘This person began to build and wasn’t able to finish’” (Luke 14:28-30). I think what Christ is saying here is don’t be deceived, life with Christ is not painfree. This is not a prosperity gospel. Storms in life will come, it’s not a question of if but when. He isn’t promising a life without storms. He is promising a firm foundation - Himself. He will hold up your life. You will not be destroyed by the storms
