Built to Code

"...when a flood arose, the torrent broke against that house and could not shake or move it, because it had been securely built..." Luke 6:48 (NIV)

There was a season in my life when I felt like my tears were my very best friend and closest companion. The overflow of my emotions, whether in joy or pain, happiness or sorrow could be expected to make an appearance at almost any time without the need for an invitation. When you are in a season of growth and maturity you are desperate to hold on to anyone or anything that resembles familiarity and comfort; thus were my tears. In retrospect, that intense season of my life seems as if it was centuries ago. I find that what I thought would strip me of my power and significance only served to unveil a greater degree of power that had been concealed by my immaturity. I discovered that I am “built to code”. You may ask the question, what does it mean to be built to code? To answer your question I’d like for you to think about the guidelines a contractor must adhere to when building a structure. A key guideline in building construction is that a structure must be able to withstand the stormy seasons. Boisterous winds and raging floods are inevitable. Therefore, building codes have been put in place to ensure that no matter how vicious the storm, when all is said and done the structure is still standing. Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. (Matthew 7:24-25) Despite all that I have encountered in my life the Word of God has been the anchor of my soul. Through it all, when the dust settled, I was still standing, better than I was before the storm. Did I cry many days? Yes! Did I mourn some losses along the way? Yes! Did I pray when it seemed my prayers were useless? Yes, and I am still standing today because I was built to code. There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it. (1 Corinthians 10:13) I desire to be an encouragement to you today. Dear one, do not give up but hold on to the everlasting Word of God. You may have to cry but embrace your tears as God’s way of washing away the debris from His precious masterpiece. You will, without a doubt have to pray your way through, but you are built to code. This too shall pass and you will come out of whatever you are going through in victory. Your significant life is on the other side of this season. Always keep in mind that seasons are guaranteed to change. Your process may be ugly and even ridiculed by onlookers, but you cannot abort. Your latter is destined to be greater than your former. Keep getting up, praying up and showing up. You were built to code and you will not fall. Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen. (Jude 1:24-25)