Solid rock or shifting sand ∙
Everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. – Matthew 7:24
Matthew 7:24-27
24 Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock.
25 Though the rain comes in torrents and, the floodwaters rise, and the winds beat against that house, it won’t collapse because it is built on bedrock.
26 But anyone who hears my teaching and doesn’t obey it is foolish, like a person who builds a house on sand.
27 When the rains and floods come, and the winds beat against that house, it will collapse with a mighty crash.
Standing majestically in Dubai, UAE, the Burj Khalifa claims the title of the world’s tallest building. Construction began on January 6, 2004, and was completed on October 1, 2009. It’s a marvel of modern engineering, towering 2,722 feet with 163 floors.
The foundation of such an immense structure is crucial for its stability. The Burj Khalifa’s deep, firm foundation consists of 192 piles of steel and concrete that go nearly 17 stories into the ground.
Choosing the right location is paramount in construction. You need to build down to build up. It begins with a suitable location. Who would be moronic enough to build in a flood zone or a dried-up riverbed? The ultimate folly found in construction is giving no thought to the location or foundation.
This principle of building on a solid foundation applies equally to spiritual formation. A robust and dynamic spiritual life also demands a strong base. Unfortunately, many overlook the importance of establishing this foundation and never seriously consider it. They are embarking on their spiritual journey without direction. They start building haphazardly, a little here and a little there. When the storms of life come, it can lead to disaster.
Making informed decisions starts with asking the right questions. What is the basis of your life? Is your information accurate and proven to be reliable over time? Can your chosen foundation genuinely support your well-being?
While advice is abundant, not all of it is beneficial. Bad, paltry advice is even more plentiful. Some suggest following one’s passion, while others advocate pursuing wealth and material success as a path to comfort and security. Some recommend seeking love and finding the right person as the ultimate goal. However, given our imperfect nature and flawed world, even the soundest advice may be limited.
Every child of the King should diligently seek the best, wisest counsel available. Choose your advisors well. The Scriptures abound with narratives of individuals who have thrived under wise counsel. The Father and His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, have a solid track record that stretches through the ages.
The Lord Jesus Christ provides the best of all counsel. He offers unparalleled advice. Listening to His teaching and acting upon it allows for a sure foundation for life.
REFLECT & PRAY
“It begins with a suitable location.. Those who obey out of love for Jesus build a solid life for themselves of strength and endurance. Terrible storms may hit them, but they can never destroy them.” (Stanley).
Father help me hear, reflect upon, and obey the words of the Lord Jesus Christ.
The Sermon on the Mount was given near the Sea of Galilee. The soil surrounding the Sea of Galilee consists of alluvial sand. It was hard on the surface during the heat of summer. But during the winter, when rains came, the alluvial surface of sand would become soggy and unstable. However, there was bedrock approximately 10 feet below the surface of the sand. To build a stable structure, a wise builder had only to dig down to the bedrock and begin there.
“Houses built on bedrock would be able to withstand the floods. Excavations in the late 1970s in the region uncovered basalt stone bedrock that was apparently used for the foundation of a building in antiquity” (Wilkins).
Before the era of modern technology brought the threat of nuclear annihilation and existential fears, natural disasters loomed as humanity’s paramount concern. The Ancient Middle East was subject to periodic famines and earthquakes, but floods were the most common and frequent natural catastrophes. This is the cultural background and context in which the Lord Jesus Christ delivered his message. His audience knew well the dangers of building on a poor foundation.
Matthew 7:24-26
24 Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock.
26 But anyone who hears my teaching and doesn’t obey it is foolish, like a person who builds a house on sand.
What does it mean to build your life on solid rock? When the Lord Jesus Christ closed the sermon on the Mount with the parable of the builders and the foundations, He did not pull any punches. His words were direct, plain, and clear when He spoke, penetrating the soul and spirit. They are intended to create a bit of discomfort, stimulate reflection, and spur self-evaluation.
Nothing has changed.
Lord Jesus Christ describes two individuals: one had chosen wisely, and the other had been a fool. The Greek word translated as a fool is moro. Moro describes someone devoid of wisdom, good sense, or sound judgment. The English word moron is derived from moro.
He explained that the wise man dug deep until reaching the bedrock, after which he constructed his home on a stable foundation. Conversely, the foolish man built a similar structure on the sand. The foundation of one man’s house is solid, and that of the other is unreliable. The onset of heavy rains and subsequent flooding reveal the quality of the foundation upon which the structure was built. The fool’s thinking was literally way too shallow.
“The man who builds his house upon the shifting foundation is likened to the person who hears Jesus’ words but does not put them into practice. The man who builds his house upon the rock is likened to the person who not only hears Jesus’ words but also puts them into practice. The difference between the two houses is, therefore, likened to the difference between obedience and disobedience” (Carson).
Becoming familiar with the teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ is crucial. But familiarity and even agreement with Him are insufficient. It is one thing to hear and even approve of what He said; it is quite another to obey and put it into practice.
Listeners to His words are at a crossroads: they can either embrace and act upon His guidance or reject it and turn away. There are no other options. There is no middle ground. The storms of life reveal the strength of the foundation upon which we have built our lives.
The Word of God is the owner’s manual for the human race. We “do” His words by making them our guidebook, our manual for life, and building our lives upon them.
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© Dr. H 2022
Dr H Reflections 