Building on a Solid Foundation
Matthew
7:21-29
Eleven miles off Scotland's east coast in the North Sea stands the Bell Rock Lighthouse. It has endured the
North Sea's ferocious storms since 1811. It rests on less than one acre of
solid rock. Seawater covers that small reef for 20 hours each day. The
lighthouse's builder, Robert Stevenson, and his band of 65 skilled artisans had
only four hours each day to chink the stone and gouge a foundation in the rock.
Because of this painstaking, patient work, the 115-foot-tall lighthouse is
still in use today."[1] The masonry work on which the lighthouse rests was
constructed to such a high standard that it has not been replaced or adapted in
200 years.[2]
Similarly, as followers of Christ,
if we want to withstand the strong currents of cultural norms, the storms of
life, and the enemy's onslaught, what must we do? If you are a parent with
young children, you have a limited time to build them up to withstand life's
storms. Parents must take advantage of that short window and lay a foundation
for them on solid rock."[3]
We are coming to Christ's concluding remarks
in His Sermon on the Mount. After establishing the sure path to heaven through
the narrow gate, He exposed the deceptive yet subtle vicious nature of the
false prophets. He equipped His disciples to recognize and avoid them. He
distinguishes a true Christian from someone who merely appears to be one,
between the man who truly is born again and a child of God, and the man who
only thinks he is.
To make this distinction, Jesus uses
a double comparison. Two men went out to build houses for themselves. What kind
of men were they? What kind of foundations did they use? Which house caved in
quickly, and which house withstood the storms? What can we learn? Building
on a Solid Foundation Matthew 7:21-29
I.
What Makes A True Disciple?
Matthew 7:21: "Not everyone who
says to me, Lord, Lord, will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who
does the will of my Father who is in heaven." In Matthew 7:15–20,
Jesus warns His audience about false prophets and explains how to recognize
them by their fruit.
In Matthew 24:24, we read, "For
false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and
wonders to deceive, if possible even the elect." In fact, Jesus says many of them will even call Him "Lord,"
but their teachings and deeds do not align with God's will. With that in mind, let's
read Matthew 7:21: "Not everyone who says to me Lord, Lord, will enter the
kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in
heaven." Then who will? That privilege is reserved for those who will do
God's will.
Earlier
in His teaching, our Lord taught His disciples to pray, saying, "Let your
will be done on earth as it is in heaven." In the end, God will do what He
wills, with or without our intervention. But He also wants us to be the answer
to the very prayers we pray, especially those for His will. Jesus cares more
about our walk than our talk. He wants us to do the right thing, not merely say
the right words. Jesus addressed shallow, superficial discipleship.
What makes a true disciple? A true
disciple is someone who not only calls Jesus Lord but also does the Father's
will, just as Jesus was obedient and did His Father's will. On the final
judgment day, we will not be judged on our intellectual knowledge of the right
doctrines or teachings of Jesus Christ, but on whether we obeyed what we have
known and did God's will.
This begs a question: What is God's
will, and where do we find it? We find it by studying God's Word. Enlightened
by the Holy Spirit. At times, God also reveals it supernaturally. After
exposing the false prophets and explaining what makes a true disciple, Jesus
used a building analogy to help the disciples build their lives on a solid
foundation.
II.
Building On a Solid Foundation (Matthew 7:24-27)
Christian discipleship is like building a house: it
takes intentionality, effort, the right materials, and, above all, time and
patience. But in the end, it's worth it. Let's listen to the Master Builder on
how to build lives that will stand through life's storms. Matt 7:24-29: Two men set out to build their houses, probably with the same vision of living securely
and happily.
Though they shared the same vision,
they built differently. One took the complex, laborious path, while the other
chose an easy, quick way. One built a deep, strong foundation on solid rock,
and the other laid a shallow foundation on sand. A house's true strength depends
not on how beautiful it looks on the outside, but on how well it withstands
storms and flooding.
The rain came in torrents, the floodwaters rose, and the wind beat against both
houses. Which house do you think will stand the test? As you rightly predicted,
the house built on the rock would stand firm. The house on the sand collapses
with a mighty crash. Jesus commended the one who built his house on the rock as
wise, but the one who built on sand as foolish. Why?
Let's say
these two were followers of Christ and both heard the same teachings. What was
the difference? The wise builder listened to Christ's teaching and followed it.
The foolish builder listened to the teaching but did not follow it and went on with his building. What principles can we learn for building our lives so they
will withstand any storms of life?
Let us search our hearts and ask: Where is our spiritual foundation, and how
are we building our lives? If you are a wise builder, you want to look for a
solid foundation. In a world of conflicting philosophies and ideologies, who
can help us find a solid foundation? God himself becomes our solid foundation
for all of His children. The prophet Isaiah prophesied long ago, saying in
Isaiah 33:6, "He will be the sure foundation for your times, a rich store
of salvation and wisdom and knowledge; the fear of the LORD is the key to this
treasure."
When Jesus
wanted to build His Church that would last forever, he looked for a solid rock
that would withstand any attacks from Satan and his followers. He himself
became that solid rock foundation when He said, "On this Rock I will build
my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it." Matthew 16:18.
The Bell Rock lighthouse lasted for 200 years, but the Church of Jesus Christ has
lasted for over 2000 years, despite many trying to destroy it.
Is Jesus
the rock of our salvation, our solid foundation, or the shifting sand of the cultural
norms and worldviews? If Jesus is not our sure foundation, we need to lay a new
foundation on Him as our Chief cornerstone. Once we have determined Jesus as
our firm foundation, let us begin rebuilding. This new discipleship involves
regularly reading and studying God's word.
Like the
early disciples, we gather each week with fellow believers to worship the Lord,
pray, and fellowship. This also calls us to share our faith with others so
they, too, might come to know Jesus. Like a wise builder, we not only hear
God's word but also obey it, for obedience brings a blessing. How are you
building your life today? Whose blueprint are you following?
Christian
discipleship is never practiced alone, but within a community of believers. For
that reason, you need to belong to a Church where Christ is preached and
worshipped. We need the help and support of other believers to grow strong in
our faith. The apostle Paul, writing to the Church in Ephesus, reminds them of
this truth: we are not alone but are being built together.
Ephesians
2:19- 22: Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow
citizens with God's people and also members of his household, built on the
foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief
cornerstone. In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a
holy temple in the Lord.” The goal of Christian discipleship is to become a
dwelling place for the Lord. For that to happen, join a healthy Church and stay
committed to it so you can grow in your faith and withstand any storms in life.
Amen!
