Building Using Rock or Sand

We get many builders in this world. They build for clients on the clients’ empty stands or they build for themselves; complexes or homes that they resell. During the years I have been working, and traveling around often in various cities and suburbs, one finds all types of buildings on all types of lands. The surfaces of the lands are either rocky, or muddy, or clay, or just soft sand; at least for a few meters deep. Usually the builders have to compensate when building homes or offices, especially when it comes to the foundations and how the building will eventually look like. It takes lots of hard work and extra materials to build on sandy surfaces or muddy areas. To me the best is to build on a solid surface like a rocky area, or stony area where the land is more stable. Other areas tend to move with the years and one sees the cracks appearing along the walls – bad building?

Jesus, after the Sermon on the Mount, decided to leave the people who were there to hear the sermon, with some advice. It was to obey His commands and to live according to His teachings. Matthew 7:24 is where it all begins, His advice to the followers present, including His disciples. Let’s see what it says – “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.” What does this mean to us today, and from that time onwards? This is the story about two different people, both calling themselves followers of the Lord. Both heard the gospel. They now understand and know the gospel. They both know what Jesus expects from them, what He wants from them. He offered them, and us as Christians today, with an option. Are we wise builders or not?

Or are you the foolish builder? We today are in that same boat. Which one are you? Both received the word and what they do with it will determine the outcome of their lives. We too have received this word, but what are we going to do about it. We are all going to be tested with storms of adversity, with trials that will test our decisions in the “building” of our lives. The one who builds his life upon the ‘sand’ heard the Word of God but did nothing about it; he actually disobeyed it. The one who heard the Word and put it into practice in his life, he is the wise one and his life “building” is planted solid and will not collapse due to trials and tests. He built his life upon the Rock called Jesus.

Everyone will face times where the “storms of life” will descend upon us. But those who have heard His Word and have put it into practice will remain standing, because their faith is solid and steadfast. They have built their faith foundation upon Jesus Christ. Those whose faith is weak and are not living out their lives upon the foundation of the Rock called Jesus Christ, they are going to fall hard. Pain and hardships will destroy them because their faith was never solid. Now, I ask you. Which one are you? I’m definitely the builder who has his life planted upon the Rock. I’m the one who has built his life on a solid foundation of strong faith. Don’t you want to do the same? Amen.