Some years ago, I was walking with one of my young nieces out in a play area. There were low trees that were easily accessible for children to climb. The grass was still green although autumn leaves were scattered around. We were having such a good time we didn't notice the ground we were walking on. Suddenly my niece’s small foot plunged into deep mud covered lightly with verdant green moss. Play shifted to duty because we had to wipe mud and water off of her foot and shoe. We stood for a moment looking carefully at the ground trying to discern where the mud started and stopped. Once we figured that out, we were able to run and play again.
We take the ground and foundations for granted, don't we? Unless we land in mud, hear a squeak or a rumble we just boldly step forward certain that the foundation is going to be there, stay there and hold us up.
Jesus told a great story in Matthew 7:24-27. Let's read his parable.
24 “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. 26 But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. 27 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”
This story is not just about a very practical and wise builder, but also about a very foolish builder. At first glance this story makes so much sense. Of course, you build on a rock—a secure place! Why in the world would you build any other place? That is an interesting question. Why would you build a house so close to a river that floods consistently? Why would you build where there is an earthquake fault? Why would you build on soil that moves and shifts? Doesn't it seem utterly ridiculous to do that kind of thing? It doesn't make any practical sense.
Some of you have been builders and construction workers. You know that the preparation work is almost more important than the actual construction. I don't pretend to be a builder or construction worker, but I have kind of figured that if the foundation isn't secure or set right we’re going to have problems all over the house for a long, long time.
Jesus knew something about poorly built and well-built foundations as well as quick solutions and long-term solutions. He was a carpenter and he would tell it like it is. You build a sloppy foundation on unstable land and you cannot expect the house to stand. You build a house on a secure foundation, like a rock, and the house will be able to withstand even a mighty flood.
When Jesus was telling this story he wasn't just talking about buildings and rocks. He was also talking about our spiritual lives. He might have had two Old Testament Scriptures in mind when he was speaking that day. Psalm 127:1 says, Unless the Lord builds the house the builders labor in vain. And Proverbs 24:3-4 says, By wisdom is a house built and through understanding it is established; through knowledge its rooms are filled with rare and beautiful treasures.
Jesus was telling the people something they may not have realized until much later—which is the power of a parable. As they grew in relationship with him and understood he who he was over time, they would remember this story. The spiritual truth in this story is that Jesus is God and he alone is our sure foundation! Everything else will fall away, crumble or be destroyed. But anyone who stands on him will be saved. That's great news folks! Our souls can be secured in Jesus Christ. No matter what life, or Satan, or the consequences of our confessed sins throw at us, if we are repentant and hidden with Christ (Colossians 3:3) we will be saved. I don't know about you, but that's good news to me!
I really don't want to be found foolish, bobbing up and down in the great torrent of a river next to my pet and the couch and a refrigerator. I don't want to feel the coldness of the water rushing against my skin. I want to be in my house—secure, warm, and knowing that everything is going to be all right.
The apostle Paul wrote to group of Christians in Corinth who were experiencing great difficulties with their foundations. He worked very hard in a very aggressive manner to correct this foundational problem. The people were thinking in worldly, shifting ways. They were drawn to and following different human leaders. We learn in Acts that Paul was a dynamic and zealous man. And we learn in Acts that Apollos was a great orator, very articulate and pleasing to listen to. Neither of these men, Paul was sure, would have asked anyone to follow them in ways that would divide the church. He placed the responsibility back on the people in the church. They had put far too much interest, affection and loyalty into their leaders in the church. Sure, they were the leaders and preachers, but they were still people—still servants of Jesus Christ. So, Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 3:10-15.
By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as an expert builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should be careful how he builds. For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. If any man builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, his work will be shown for what it is, because the day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each man's work. If what he has built survives, he will receive his reward. If it is burned up, he will suffer loss: he himself will be saved, but only as one escaping through the flames.
Paul described to the Corinthians the reality that God had used him to start the church there in Corinth. It does take a person, a willing, humble person, to really get things established on the foundation of Jesus Christ. If the first pastor of this church had told the people that in order to live a godly life you had to dress like him, walk like him, talk like him...well the people would have been in very serious trouble. What Paul was saying and what other godly ministers say is, "Be like Jesus. Set your feet that rock. I'll give some tools, the directions and encouragement. But you must build on the rock, Jesus Christ."
There are two very clear reasons for this. People can be led astray. Leaders can become headstrong and egotistical. They can, if they do not stay humbled in the sight of God, build a cult of personality around themselves so fast it would make your head spin. The only time you will know if a person is following God faithfully as a leader is at the judgment! Paul says that only in time will any builder’s work be shown for what it is. I could preach and lead for three more months or 20 more years, but you won't know about the quality of my leadership or my character for very long time. You have to trust in God first and at all times…and not in other people!
It is so much easier to look to another human being for perfect direction and comfort, but ultimately the purest direction and comfort you will find is in God himself and through his word. This is why godly ministers will instruct us over and over to read and study our Sure Foundation—the Word of God and the Person of Jesus Christ. This is the reason why godly ministers will ask us over and over to learn how to pray, to pray constantly and to pray effectively. For it is from God that we can and will find the power to build as Paul did, as expert builders.
Jesus Christ has never disappointed me. God has never disappointed me. The Holy Spirit has never disappointed me. The church has disappointed me, but the church is not God. Leaders have disappointed me, but leaders are not Jesus Christ. I have disappointed myself but, thanks be to God, I am not my own conscience!
A long time ago Jesus told a short story of a wise and a foolish builder. Christians have been meditating on that story ever since. In that story was a most powerful truth. The only foundation that is worth our time is the one true foundation of Jesus Christ.
Do you know this today? Are you standing on the Rock? Did you think you were following the right people, but suddenly discover mud on your feet? Do you need to stop and clean them off and then turn again in freedom and confidence to the Sure Foundation? Turn your eyes on Jesus Christ and you can be certain that no matter what mud holes, storms and floods may come into your life you will be secure on the Sure Foundation!
Amen
© M.R.Hyde 2024
