A SOLID FOUNDATION

Matthew 7:24-27

June 17, 2007 Pastor Jack Harpold

Every house has a foundation. One foundation is of rock, and one of sand. He who hears and does the word of Christ founds his house upon a rock. He who hears and does not, founds his house upon the sand. The time is coming when the foundations of our houses and the houses themselves will be tested. The rains will descend, floods will come, and the wind will beat upon our houses. Will our life-building stand?

This is a very practical parable. And if I might change one term, we are home builders. Not all would consider themselves house builders, but we are homebuilders.

The only foundation for secure life-building is the hearing and heeding of Christ’s teachings. "Other foundation can no man lay than that which is laid—Jesus Christ" (I Corinthians 3:11). We begin with Jesus as the foundation of Christian character.

People try other foundations. Some people attempt to build their lives on good intentions, or the lives of noble parents, or moral deeds, or will power, or shrewd wits.

Christ is the only foundation for life for three reasons: 1. He alone can save us from the sins that undermine us. 2. He alone can protect us from the storms that beat upon us. 3. He alone can bring us to the city that has a foundation eternal in the heavens.

The testing. "The rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat upon that house" (Matthew 7:25a). "God shall try every man's work, of what sort it is" (I Corinthians 3:13). God subjects the true and the false professor to the same tests—temptations, afflictions, persecutions, death, and judgment. The one comes out of the trial purified and strengthened, the other can not "abide the evil days" and is swept away to destruction. "When affliction or persecution arises for the Word's sake, immediately they are offended" (Mark 4:17).

It is too late to get a good foundation when the sky is already black with the coming storm. Cyclones and earthquakes, and floods do not give long notice. Build for the testing time that is coming.

In the "wise man's" case it brought security. "It fell not, for it was founded upon a rock" (Matthew 7:25). "They that trust in the Lord, shall be as Mount Zion, which can not be removed, but abides for ever" (Psalm 125:1). Testing brought utter ruin for the "foolish man,". "The way of the ungodly shall perish" (Psalm 1:6).

Too many souls are rearing their hopes for eternity upon the sands of error. When the testing floods come and the winds beat upon the house, it will fall How sad. But no storm ever yet drowned a true believer, or washed out the foundations of his life.

As we are building our home, everything we do in life is training our children as well, to follow in the examples and teachings of Jesus.

A young woman teacher with obvious liberal tendencies explains to her class of small children that she is an atheist. She asked her class if they were atheists too. Not really knowing what atheism is but wanting to be like their teacher, their hands explode into the air like fleshy fireworks. With one exception. A girl named Lucy did not go along with the crowd. The teacher asked her why she has decided to be different. "Because I'm not an atheist." "Then," asks the teacher, what are you?” "I'm a Christian," answered Lucy. The teacher is a little perturbed now, her face slightly red. She asked, "Lucy, why are you a Christian." "Well, I was brought up knowing and loving Jesus. My Mom is a Christian, and my dad is a Christian, so I am a Christian."

The teacher was now angry. "That's no reason," she says loudly. "What if your Mom was a moron, and your dad was a moron. What would you be then?" A pause, and a smile. "Then," said Lucy, "I'd be an atheist."

When life's problems seem overwhelming, it helps to look around to see what other people are coping with. You may be far more fortunate than you imagined.

A couple decided to save the top layer of their wedding cake for their first anniversary. They carefully wrapped it and put it in the freezer of their small refrigerator. It was a nuisance. They has no room for ice with the cake in the freezer. The big day came. When they tried to cut the cake, much to their surprise, they found that the baker had used cardboard for the top layer and had covered it with pretty icing and flowers. It was pretty on the outside but hollow and empty on the inside.

It is quite apparent that there are a lot of people in the world just like that cake—they do good works, they smile and put on a good face, but inside they are hollow because they do not have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Without Jesus in your life you are completely hollow in your soul.

It’s Father’s Day. You have been waiting for me to say something about fathers. This is it. Fathers, don’t neglect your wife or children. Don’t get so tied up in work or other activities that you have no time for them. But let me say, I don’t care how many ball games you attend, or how much time you spend with your family, if you don’t introduce your children to Jesus, what has been accomplished? You see, the main instruction given to fathers in Scripture have to do with providing for the family, but far more is said about teaching children the Word of God, about bringing children up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. If you are afraid to tell your children about Jesus, or if you are going to wait until they are old enough to make their own decision about faith, then maybe you need to examine your own faith – your own understanding about salvation. If you have the assurance that we have talking about today then it should be easy to tell others. Not that you have to do it in deep theological terms. Just tell what it means to you. And of course, the greatest lesson is that which is learned by example.