BUILD YOUR HOUSE ON ROCK

 

                        

 

House builders in ancient Palestine had two site choices; build a house in the valley on sandy soil or build it on the rocky hillside. Building in the valley was easier than the building on the hillside. Hillside builders planned for the worst, valley builders hoped for the best. Very few people wanted to build on the rocky hillside. It meant grading the side of a slope and hauling up materials. Living on the hill made travel much more difficult, water had to be toted and winter winds were colder.

Most people followed the path of least resistance and build along the sandy riverbeds. The scenery was more pleasant, the water more conveniently located and the house was sheltered from the cold winter winds. Most of the year the streams trickled pleasantly down the hillside into the river below. However, on rare occasions there would be an unusually heavy snow or a torrential downfall and the result was a vicious flash flood which swept away everything in its path, house after house would be washed away (Building according to code- Brett Blair).

The Sermon on the Mount recorded in Matthew chapters 5, 6 and 7 is one of the greatest sermons delivered by Jesus. Among the many things that Jesus taught in the sermon is the absolute need to build our faith on a solid foundation. At the end of the sermon (Matt 7:24-27) Jesus gave a simple yet powerful illustration of two home builders to drive his point home. He used an easy to understand yet profound vivid picture to direct us in laying the right foundation for our lives. Jesus may have had in mind an Old Testament passage “When the storm has swept by, the wicked are gone, but the righteous stand firm forever” (Prov. 10:25)

The two builders in the parable had persevered in building and both had completed their houses. The person building on the rock must have taken longer and the job was tougher but he eventually completed the house. But apart from the invisible foundations which were quite different, the rest of the buildings were similar. The two houses looked the same from outside. In due time the rain descended, the floods came and the winds blew and beat on the houses. The house built on the rock withstood the storm while the house built on the sand collapsed.

Jesus said that hearing his word and doing it is equivalent to building our lives on rock. Hearing his word and not doing it is equivalent to building our lives on sand. Just like the two builders both build houses; these two listeners heard the word.  The only difference is what they did with what they heard. You can have two people who go to the same church; they listen to the same sermon and serve in the same ministry with great enthusiasm. One of them internalizes and practices the sermon teachings while the other one hears the teaching but it is soon forgotten leaving no impact.

Knowing Jesus as a savior is the first building block of a life that will last; your name is written in the Book of Life. If it’s not there, it does not matter how many sermons you hear or how much service you give to God, you are on the broad road heading to destruction ( Matt 7:13-14, Rom 20:15; Rev. 20:15). After salvation Jesus starts living in you transforming your from the inside (John 14:23, Gal.2:20) .You develop an insatiable appetite for spiritual truth- God’s word.

Knowledge gives substance to faith. What do those who do not know the truth rely on? They rely on emotions, feelings, somebody else opinion, traditions, humanistic hope. As a result their faith lacks substance. Paul confidently stated “I know whom I have believed in and I am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day (2 Tim. 1:12)  Knowledge stabilizes us during times of testing; when we know what God has said and then we go through a period of pain, when the bottom nearly drops out of our life, we don’t panic, we don’t doubt, we don’t ship our faith. The knowledge we have gained stabilizes us and equips us with the essential calming fortitude when the testing comes.

   \

Knowledge equips us to take the path to Heaven accurately (2 Tim. 3:16-17). It equips us to detect and confront error ; we are not tossed here and there by waves, blown about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming  (Eph 4:14). When you know what you belief, no one can get you off-course. When you hear erroneous information you can tell right away.   Knowledge makes us confident in our daily walk. As you expose yourself daily to the scriptures you develop confidence. People who know the Bible are not easily intimidated.   Spiritual truth filters out our fears and superstitions.

The storms of life will prove the strength of one’s foundation, even though it is hidden for now.  Storms are an inevitable part of life. It’s a simple reality that in our lifetime we shall experience some storm. Jesus warned us that the foundations of our lives will be shaken.  Building your life on the rock is essential for this life and for the life to come. Too often we sacrifice quality for convenience. But if we want to ensure that we can weather life’s greatest storm no matter how strong the wind and how torrential the rains, we must not build our houses on the quicksand of convenience but on the bedrock of lasting truth.

Both the wise and the foolish builders experience storm alike. The righteous have had their share of storms in life. Job was blameless and upright (Job 2:3) yet he was reduced from the wealthiest man in the East to a sick and lonely man. Abraham the friend of God (James 2:23) had no child until late in life. David a man after Gods own heart (I Sam.13:14, Acts 13;22) went through much trouble in his life (Ps.13). Paul the great apostle suffered to a point of despairing of life (2Cor.1:8). He said that “we must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God” (Acts 14:22).

I wonder why God allowed the pathway to Heaven to be paved with so many storms. Jesus reveals to us the strategy for victory over such hardships- be wise and build your house on the rock. The winds, rains and floods represent the challenges (physical, psychological and spiritual) that we will face on earth. The wise person walks by faith in God. His life is anchored in the truth as revealed in the Scriptures. He does what the Scripture commands and stays away from what it forbids. Even though at times it’s tough and does not make sense, he believes that he is safest right in the center of God’s will.

The fool walks by sight (2 Cor. 5: 7). Foolish builder do not give attention to the Scriptures because they do not find them relevant to daily life.  Even though they go to church and perform religious duties they have a form of godliness but deny the power there of (2Tim 3:5). Some people are very good by human standards. They have great integrity, do works of charity and maintain high ethical standards. Yet, they have not developed a personal relationship with Jesus. These people are standing on sinking sand. They are living under false security and the fall of their houses will come as a great surprise.

Sand is an unsteady and unreliable platform; you will sink sooner than you think. A rock is stable, dependable and supportive especially in times of trouble. A rocky foundation helps you to keep your head in all situations (2 Tim 4:5). Stephen (Acts 7:54-60) and Paul (2 Tim.4:6-8) faced execution without a flinch. Peter slept soundly on the eve of his planned execution (Acts 12: 6-7). Moses regarded disgrace for the sake of Christ as greater value than the riches of Egypt (Heb 11:24-26). The early believers joyfully accepted the confiscation of their property because they knew that they had better and lasting possessions (Heb 10:34).

Building on the rock in our physical lifetime leads ultimately to an eternal life with God. Life is brief; the Bible describes it as a shadow, flower or vapor. It comes and quickly disappears. We are going to spend far more time in eternity than on this earth. That is why Jesus instructs against the foolishness of building a life for here and now without thought of eternity (Matt. 16: 26). Christian’s live for eternity and this alters their values. It changes the way they live because they recognize that the here and now is not all there is; they have a wonderful future (1 Cor. 2:9).

On the judgment day, we shall be surprised when we see who has truly built upon the rocky foundation. Many will stand before the judgment seat and say Lord, Lord I prophesied in your name, but Jesus will say sorry I never knew you (Matt.7:22-23). It is better that we test the foundation of our life now rather than later, at our judgment before God when it is too late to change our destiny. Merely hearing God’s Word isn’t enough to provide a secure foundation. It is necessary that we are also doers of His Word. Are you standing on the sand of world ways or on Christ the rock? In God’s sight, you are wise to choose Christ over the world.