While traveling up the Rhine Gorge in Germany this week, I spotted a peculiar building set on a low rock in the middle of the river. Pfalzgrafenstein Castle was constructed in 1327 as a defensive stronghold and toll-collecting station.
Despite numerous wars over the centuries, no enemy ever conquered the fortress. More astounding, the annual onslaughts of ice and floods from the Rhine never washed it away. It seems impossible when viewing the position of the castle to believe it’s stood there for 700 years.
Which reminds me of these words from Jesus:
As for everyone who comes to me and hears my words and puts them into practice, I will show you what they are like. They are like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid the foundation on rock. When a flood came, the torrent struck that house but could not shake it, because it was well built.
The words of Jesus embody solid ground. As we struggle to live by them, we slowly anchor our foundation onto bedrock. We eventually become castles in the river, not succumbing to ice sheets or raging waters or blistering attacks.
Open the Good Book and build your house on solidity and permanence.
Luke 6 in Through the Bible in 2024
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