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When Francis Schaeffer wrote, How Shall We Then Live? The Rise and Decline of Western Culture in 1976, it stood as a beacon of modern Christian thought. Of the many salient points Schaeffer made, one of the simplest comes to mind:

“A culture, or a person, with a weak base can stand only when the pressure on it is not too great ... but when the pressures mount, if then they do not have a sufficient base, they crash.” (p. 23)

There is nothing particularly profound about this assertion, except that Schaeffer goes on in detail to recount how very powerful civilizations throughout history have fallen from within, not from external forces. While there could be a correlation between the fall of Rome and 21^st century America (plenty has been written about this), the focus of this post is whether our personal foundation is stable and strong.  

Growing up in California I endured many earthquakes, including some of the biggest and most destructive ever recorded (Sylmar Quake in 1971, Loma Prieta Quake in 1989, Northridge Quake in 1994). For those who’ve never experienced one, it’s difficult to describe the feeling of being completely at the mercy of the earth below you. And unlike tornadoes, there is no warning for an earthquake — WHAM, you’re in utter chaos.

Life can often do the same thing—WHAM, you’re in a serious trial or tribulation.  

Experience with earthquakes informs us, among other things, to check the foundation of our home for instability. Similarly, when we face difficulties in life it’s prudent to examine our foundation. Jesus used a parable to illustrate the importance of this:

“Everyone then who hears these words of Mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. And everyone who hears these words of Mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.” (Matt. 7:24-27)

Notice the key phrase, “... who hears these words of mine and does them ...” Those who communicate God’s word for a living learn that an audience of 100 is largely comprised of spectators — simply being in attendance. Of the 100 spectators, 75 might be listening to the message. Of the 75 listeners, 25 might be hearing the message. Of the 25 hearers, a very small percentage become doers of the message.

In other words, simply being in proximity to God’s word is not a good foundation for an enduring life in Christ. James reiterates this in his epistle:

“But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does.” (James 1:22-25)

And Jesus said it this way:

“If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.” (John 14:15)

To “keep” (Greek - τηρήσετε) means, “to hold tightly and vigilantly guard.” “Earthquakes” will come — we are promised that in John 16:33. Yet in that same verse we are encouraged to “take heart” because our Foundation, Christ Himself, has overcome anything life throws at us. The world will get darker, empires will fall, but the word of God endures forever. Let’s therefore build on that foundation.

Rick Allen serves as Liberty Christian's Biblical Worldview Coordinator. You can read more of his blogs here.