If you've ever had to build a house then you've probably encountered a building inspector. This is a man who makes sure that everything you have done or are about to do is going to be within compliance with the building code. If something is not up to code it has to be change, and in some cases the entire house is in violation. This is especially true if the foundation is not up to code.
Matthew 7:24-29 says,
24 “Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: 25 and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock.26 “But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: 27 and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall.”28 And so it was, when Jesus had ended these sayings, that the people were astonished at His teaching, 29 for He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.
How many of us are truly building upon our house upon the Rock of Christ Jesus, and how many are building upon a different foundation?
The above passage of scripture points out some things about life that I think we should all be aware of. There is actually a code we have to be up to if we wish to be successful in this life.
First of all, Jesus makes a comparison of “whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them” to “a wise man who built his house on the rock.” So instead of getting hung up on the illustration too much we should rather look at the point He is making. Jesus is talking about a life more than a house. A life is like a house!
So we can say that whoever hears these sayings of Jesus, and does them – this person's life is on the Rock, and this Rock is Christ Jesus. So you've built your life upon Jesus. Likewise the opposite is also true, for you can choose to build your life upon another foundation besides Jesus. As in verse 26 where it says, “ everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand”.
So what kind of foundation will you build your life upon? There are many to choose from but only one type of ground is solid. Many people build upon foundations made of sand. Will yours be up to code?
Some trust in money, some in material possessions, some trust in their status in life or how other people perceive them, some trust in their career or education. Not all of these things are bad, but if any of these things are what you are building on then it is a sanding foundation. To have an education, a job, and provide for our families, are all blessing from God. However, God wants to be the very Foundation your life is set upon - not something added to your already built house. This means hearing His word and doing it! If you choose to do this then your life (house) will be built upon the Rock (Jesus).
In verse 27 we find another truth, “and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall.” Often we wonder why we live for Christ and still have problems in this world. In the above illustration I want to point out that BOTH houses went through the storm. One house however, was left standing. That was the house built on the Rock!
So why do we build our house on the rock?
Psalm 1:1-3 says,
Blessed is the man
Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly,
Nor stands in the path of sinners,
Nor sits in the seat of the scornful;
2 But his delight Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, Nor stands in the path of sinners, Nor sits in the seat of the scornful;2 But his delight is in the law of the Lord,
And in His law he meditates day and night.
3 He shall be like a tree
Planted by the rivers of water,
That brings forth its fruit in its season,
Whose leaf also shall not wither;
And whatever he does shall prosper. And in His law he meditates day and night.3 He shall be like a tree Planted by the rivers of water, That brings forth its fruit in its season, Whose leaf also shall not wither;And whatever he does shall prosper.
