This time of year a lot of people are dreaming about a house on the beach. White sand, blue ocean, palm trees… sign me up, right? You might be surprised to learn that even Jesus talked about it! He mentions such a tropical scene in his famed Sermon on the Mount.

“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.” - Matt 7:26

Actually, he is talking about foundations. He is saying that you might build a terrific house, but if it isn’t built on a good foundation the whole thing is in constant jeopardy. In his metaphor, the house represents what we make of our lives. The foundation represents the principles that we choose to build our life upon. He is telling us that the only sure foundation is the Word of God.

The Word is a strong foundation because it is forever settled in heaven. Because God is all-knowing and all-wise, he doesn’t make mistakes when he speaks. Unlike us, God never needs to ‘eat his words’. He says it right the first time. And then he stands behind his words with all of his power, his integrity, and his righteousness. He “watches over his word to perform it.” So when we build our lives on God’s Word we are building upon an unchanging and unshakeable foundation.

Without a such a foundation everything we build – a career, a family, a business – is constantly at the mercy of life’s storms. A flood of problems, a volcanic relationship, a financial mud-slide, or a tornado of bad coincidences can bring it all crashing down. And make no mistake – sooner or later “the rain falls, the floods come, and the winds blow.”

So how does one build their life on the Word of God?

1. Study the Word. It’s impossible to build on something you don’t know or understand. Vague memories of a few Sunday School stories isn’t enough. I grew up in a Christian home, went to Sunday School, Bible Camp, and all the church picnics! But when I finally got serious with God and began to read the Bible at age 22, I was surprised to discover that Matthew, Mark, Luke and John all told the same story! Twenty two years in a Christian home and didn’t even know that! You can’t understand the Word unless you’re willing to study it for yourself.

2. Believe the Word. I know this should go without saying. But this is the whole point of studying – to shape what we believe. It is only when our minds have been “renewed” by the Word of God that we can be transformed and begin to demonstrate God at work in our life. Many study the Bible with the sole objective of explaining it away. Just believe it.

3. Speak the Word. You can always spot a real student of the Word. It changes the way they talk. Biblical ideas, language, and excerpts start to infiltrate their speech. Incorporating the Word into your everyday speech has a double benefit: it accelerates the renewing of your mind; and it places a demand on the promises of God, calling on him to fulfill his Word in your life.

4. Live the Word. It all comes down to this. A life that is built upon the bedrock of God’s Word is one that consistently follows what it teaches. It means that eventually all your values, your priorities, and your goals are determined and directed by the Word of God.

The result, though perhaps not a tropical beachhouse, is life that can stand the storms and prosper regardless of the circumstances!