She Built Her Life on the Rock

This evening, I finally came to the last unopened birthday card. This card was a precious gift to me tonight, for the young woman who wrote it is no longer on this earth. Last night, Amy Calderone went Home to be with the Savior she loved so dearly and whose Face she could not wait to see. Just over a month ago, she suffered a sudden brain aneurysm that left her unresponsive and on life support. All who knew and loved Amy held out hope that she would return to us but knew there was no guarantee.

Amy was a source of great encouragement and support to me over the past year. Her life was marked by a deep compassion and love for other people that flowed out of her love for God. Though ten years younger than me, she took time to care for me in numerous ways and became a dear friend. She continually filled my inbox with scriptures and sweet truths and was always ready to take a walk with me around our small neighborhood. I'll never forget those walks together or the great bear hugs she gave. I miss her so already. Amy loved to think about Heaven. It was a Real Place for her. Though she was blessed with an incredible family and friends who loved her dearly, her greatest joy was knowing that one day she would arrive Home where she would see her Savior face-to-face, the One who had given His life for her. Now that desire has been fulfilled. Amy is free. Home. Safe. Rejoicing forever.

This past Sunday, my pastor, Joshua Harris, preached a message from Luke 6:46-49 which relates the story of two men – one who built his house on the sand and one who built his house on the rock. A great storm came and washed away the house built on sand, but the house built on the rock stood secure. "We are all building our lives on something," Josh said and asked us to consider if the foundation on which we are building is one that will withstand any storm. It is so easy to build our lives on things that can be swept away in a moment – our family, relationships, money, a job, the esteem of others. I am sure you could add your own items to the list. It's a sobering thought. Most of us assume that we're "rock people." We go to church, know every Bible story, and may even have Christian parents and friends, so we must be safe, right? But, it's possible to be immersed in Christian culture yet not actually have ever come to Christ for ourselves. It is possible to know everything about God but not truly know God. It's possible to think you're built on the Rock and really be built on the sand.

Then, when the storm comes to the house built on the sand it is completely ruined. But if you are built upon the Rock, you have one thing that can never be taken away from you - the love of Christ. The storms may tear away everything else you hold dear, but you will never be separated from His love. The only way to build your life upon the Rock is to come to Jesus yourself. Amy knew this. She built her life upon the Rock. And she was not disappointed. Now, her incredible family is enduring the dark storm of loss, yet even in the midst of the winds and waves they are standing firm upon the Rock of Christ.

Amy closed her card to me with the words from 2 Corinthians 4:16-18: "So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal." At only 19 years old, she knew how fleeting life is – how quickly it is gone. She was looking forward to the "eternal weight of glory" that lay ahead of her. Oh, that we would do the same. Thank you, Amy. You have left us a treasure. I know if you could speak to us right now, you'd ask us "what are you building your life on?" May we all build our lives on the only Rock that can hold us up, just as you did.