​In October of 1780, in the middle of the American Revolution, the deadliest hurricane recorded in the Atlantic swept across the Caribbean islands, killing more than 20,000 people. The Great Hurricane of 1780 destroyed nearly every home on the island of Barbados. Eyewitnesses reported that stone buildings and forts were demolished and that even heavy cannons were thrown hundreds of feet.

Many people have lost their lives by not having a firm foundation. Jesus gave this warning at the end of His famous Sermon on the Mount, classifying people into two groups: the wise who hear and obey His Word and the foolish who also hear but don't obey. The difference between the two is their foundation.

The wise build "on the rock," which is none other than Jesus Himself, "the chief cornerstone" (Ephesians 2:20). The cornerstone is the first and most important stone laid: It orientates the building in a specific direction; every other part is fit based on it. So does Jesus orient our lives when we choose to follow His commandments; He determines how we are to be.

Notice that every person gets the chance to hear God's Word. The choice is left to us. Jesus promises that those who build their lives in His image will never be destroyed, no matter how hard the winds of strife blow. Will disaster strike? It certainly will. But those who are aligned with "the Rock of our salvation" (Psalm 95:1) will be cemented to the Word which "stands forever" (Isaiah 40:8).

( Prayer )
My Solid Rock, today 1 choose for You alone to be my firm foundation; recreate me into a doer of Your Word.

For Further Study: Proverbs 4:20-22; James 1:22-24; Revelation 1:3