From His Heart - Week of August 31
Do You Have the Right Foundation?
And everyone who hears these words of Mine, and does not act upon them, will be like a foolish man, who built his house upon the sand. Matthew 7:26
One of the world’s famous landmarks is an eight-story cathedral bell tower located in Pisa, Italy. The tower is famous for one embarrassing reason: it leans approximately 4 degrees, resulting in a whopping 12’ 10” departure from vertical at the very top.
Work on the tower began in 1173. According to Wikipedia, “The tower began to sink after construction had progressed to the second floor in 1178. This was due to a mere three-metre foundation, set in weak, unstable subsoil, a design that was flawed from the beginning.”
Why does the tower lean? For the simple reason of a bad foundation.
SO MANY SAND BUILDERS
Jesus told a parable one day about fools who build on the sand and wise men who build on the rock. Sand builders are those who take the path of least resistance. Why? Because it’s easier … it feels good … it provides instant gratification. The sand builders get their houses up in no time.
The rock builders, on the other hand, have to work hard and dig deep and clear away all the sand. It is tough sledding building on the rock … but it’s worth it.
In the parable, the rains and storms and problems of life came to both houses. The rock builders were safe and secure, but the sand builders were swept away. Their demise was terrible and tragic and catastrophic. The worst of it was this: it didn’t have to be that way. They could have chosen to build on the rock.
BUILDING ON HIS WORD
What is a rock builder, anyway? It is a person who listens to the Lord’s Word and acts upon it. It is someone who sets his value system not on the shifting sands of conventional wisdom and political correctness, but on the timeless truths of the Word of God.
A rock builder says, “Lord, Your ways are right concerning everything. What you say is the foundation for me and my house. I will obey You and live my life according to Your Word.”
Therefore, a rock builder is not debating in his mind if sex before marriage is “ok” if you love each other. He is not basing his moral understanding of homosexuality on his gay friend who is so nice and kind and claims he was born that way. He is not divorcing his spouse because he is unhappy and his marriage is really tough right now. He is not compromising with sin because it’s fun and exciting ... and everyone else is doing it.
No, a rock builder is someone who takes God’s Word seriously and yields to Jesus as Master and Lord of all. And that person lives a life that (1) pleases God, (2) is filled with the goodness of God, and (3) stands strong in the storms.
Let me ask you, and be completely honest: Are you building on the rock or on the sand? Choose wisely because the rains are coming one day.
Love,
Pastor Jeff Schreve
From His Heart Ministries
Jeff Schreve is Senior Pastor of First Baptist Church in Texarkana, Texas. He and his wife Debbie have been married for over 20 years and are blessed with three wonderful girls. Jeff began From His Heart Ministries, a radio and television ministry, in January of 2005. This ministry is completely listener/viewer supported. It continues only through the faithful and generous gifts of people like you. Pastor Jeff takes no salary from this ministry. All gifts go to further the broadcast.
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