Rock Foundation
Today’s Text: Matthew 7:24-27
FOUNDATION

The Bible is the Foundation for Life.

In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus included some simple advice about creating stability when facing the storms of life.

MATTHEW 7:24-27

“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: 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.

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: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall.”

A much loved song based on today’s text was sung nearly every week in opening exercises during Sunday school in the 1960s. It was always a favorite; remember singing, “The Wise Man Built His House Upon the Rock”?

Man Looks Out over Tel Aviv Seashore – Yafo (Jaffa), Israel.

After nearly two millennia, Jesus’ words still create a powerful mental image. His message is common sense and easy enough for a child to grasp.

Two builders each constructed a house. One builder secured his residence in the bedrock with a substantial and solid foundation. The other builder— apparently convinced that the foundation was irrelevant—ignored the risk of constructing a house where the soil was sandy and unstable.

Taking a casual look at the finished homes, there appeared to be no difference in the construction. The disparity only became obvious when both were battered by a storm that tested the structural integrity of each house. In the end, one house withstood the powerful winds and the driving rains; the other collapsed and crumbled.

Every person of faith is involved in the process of building a “house”—the metaphor Jesus used to signify one’s life. When constructing your house to withstand the storms of life, choosing to build on a rock foundation is imperative. That foundation is the Word of God (1 Pet. 1:23-25). 

Storms are inherent to life in a fallen world (Job 5:7). Whether storms of personal adversity, the battering winds of pressure to conform to popular culture or the effects of a secular worldview that have the potential to impact societies like a flooding deluge—all threaten to destroy people of faith who are not securely anchored in God’s Word. Only what is personally built on the Word of God will survive.

Today, determine to not only read and study, but memorize the Word of God. It takes time and commitment to incorporate God’s Word into your life. However, when you choose to assimilate the truths of God’s Word into every facet of your being, you will have the foundational stability to withstand the storms of life without crumbling.

Be wise; build your life on the rock!

Charles E. McCracken is an international Bible teacher, long-time friend of Israel and advocate for the Jewish people. Known for authentically communicating biblical truth, Rev. McCracken’s presentations are relevant for those seeking to understand the significance of Israel and the church in Bible prophecy. He staunchly supports the nation of Israel and the Jewish people’s right to exist and live in peace.

© Charles E. McCracken 2016, devotional comments only. Repost/Reprint with permission from the author. Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved. (Emphasis added).

IMAGES:
1) Bible opened to Isaiah. By, Ken Horn, [CC BY 2.0] via Wikimedia Commons – Enhancement: MKM Portfolios
2) Man Looks Out over Tel Aviv Seashore – Yafo (Jaffa), Israel. By Adam Jones from Kelowna, BC, Canada [CC BY-SA 2.0], via Wikimedia Commons – Enhancement: MKM Portfolios

♦