What Type of House Do You Have?

Have you ever read "The Three Little Pigs" or have you read the story lately?  Just to refresh your memories.  It is about three little pigs who went into the world to make their own living.  As they were leaving their mother's home, the three little pigs departed from one another.  The first little pig found a man with a wheelbarrow of hay.  He bought the hay and decided to make his home out of hay.  Once he was completed, he had a home to live in.  One day, a wolf came by and wanted to capture the pig.  The pig escaped into his home.  The wolf said, "Let me in."  The pig said, "Not by the hair of my chinny chin chin."  So, the wolf huff and puff and blew the house down.  The pig end up being captured.

For the second pig, he found a man with a wheelbarrow of sticks.  He bought the sticks and made his home out of sticks.  The same wolf came by and said, "Let me in."  The second pig said, "Not by the hair of my chinny chin chin."  So, the wolf huff and puff and blew the house down.  The second pig end up being captured.

For the third pig, he found a man with a wheelbarrow of bricks.  He bought the bricks and made his home out of bricks.  The same wolf came by and said, "Let me in."  The third pig said, "Not by the hair of my chinny chin chin."  So, the wolf huff and puff and couldn't blow the house down.  He then tried again.  He huff and he puff and couldn't blow the house down.  He couldn't believe it!  The house was still standing.  The wolf walked around the house and was looking for a way in.  He finally noticed the chimney.  He decided to climb down the chimney.  The third pig noticed what the wolf was trying to do so he put a large pot of boiling water in the fireplace.  As the wolf climbed down the chimney, he fell into the hot boiling water.  He freaked out and climbed right out the chimney and never came back.

So, what is the point of this story and how does it relate to our Christian walk?  In Matthew 7:24-27, Jesus said, "Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is a 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. (NIV)."

As the pig left their mother's home, they were probably taught what to do.  The first two pigs built their homes out hay and sticks that can never protect them.  They did not plan well and did not think about their own safety.  They wanted something simple that does not require much work.  They did not put the time and effort to knowing God and putting God's word into practice.  In the end, the wolf, who can be considered the devil, came and destroyed their lives.  The first two pigs have nothing to stand on because their their home was built on sand (not listening to the teaching of God's word).  This allowed a huge opening for the devil to destroy their lives. 

For the third pig, he labored to build his home.  Building a home made out of bricks require much work.  He had to use cement to secure the bricks in place.  This process can be long, but the outcome is worth it.  Just like us getting into the word and building a strong relationship with Jesus.  The process may be hard because we are fighting against our flesh, but if we press through for the high calling of God, we will succeed in life.  When the devil comes, he cannot break through the brick wall which was built on the rock of God's word.  When he finds a crack, he will try to get in.  As the pig noticed how the wolf was coming in, he new exactly what to do.  As Christians, when we practice God's word, we can discern where the devil is trying to enter into our lives.  We need to quench that opening by putting that hot boiling water (the Word of God) on the devil.  Make the devil wish he never tries to mess with you.  Let him know who you are in Christ and make him run for his dear life by using the Word of God as your weapon to pulling down strongholds.  Know that God is with you at all time and continue to meditate and build your relationship with Him through prayer and talking to Him.  Remember, it is very important that we Christians continue to listen to God and put His word into practice, so that when a storm comes, we are prepared and know that in the end we will still be standing in the house that we built on the rock.