Building Your House on the Rock

Building Your House on the Rock

“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. 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. 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. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”

“When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching, because he taught as one who had authority, and not as their teachers of the law.” (Matthew 7:24-27)

            As we come to the conclusion of the Sermon on the Mount, let’s remember how it all started: Blessed are the poor in spirit, blessed are those who mourn, who are meek, who hunger and thirst after righteousness, are merciful, are pure in heart, are peacemakers, and are persecuted. 

            Blessed – happy – will you be when you follow me and live this way, says Jesus. And it’s not happiness as the world gives – a fleeting joy that comes for a moment and then is gone when the circumstances change – but it is living in an ongoing state of happiness, contentment, and peace that does not change regardless of circumstances. Jesus assures us, “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” (John 14:27-28 NKJV)

             The storms of life might seem strong from time to time – rain pouring down and the streams rising and the wind blowing – but whatever you are going through you will stand strong if your foundation is Jesus and his teachings.

            Notice that Jesus didn’t say that if we followed him than he would calm every storm and keep us from every hardship. He didn’t say that at all. On the contrary, he said that when the stormy circumstances of life come upon us, we would stand strong if we structure our life upon Him. He is our strong foundation and His teachings are the cornerstones of our life.

            As a pastor and an avid “people-watcher,” let me assure you that this principle is being played out in the lives of people all around you. Take a look around and you will see that it is true – when the storm hits, when a loved one dies or a career comes crashing down or something terrible happens – those who have centered their lives upon Christ and His teachings seem to make it through it okay. Sure, they weep, they grieve, they get angry, they might do some things that they shouldn’t. But in the end they hang on to the Lord and come out on the other side, entering a new season of life with happiness and anticipation and hope for the future.

            However, and this breaks my heart, many who have not structured their life on Jesus are completely destroyed when the storms of life hit them. They have no foundation, and they are washed away into an ocean of sorrow and regret and hopelessness that surrounds them and overwhelms them for the rest of their life. They try to cope with many worldly methods – the passage of time, finding someone new, easing the pain with alcohol, medications, drugs, sex, overworking, or whatever they think will help. Ultimately, though, their only hope is to find the Savior, for when the streams rose and the winds blew, their life came crashing down and their only hope for restoration and new life is through Jesus.

            Wherever you are at in life, whether young or old, having experienced tremendous loss or not, structure your life upon Jesus and you won’t be sorry. He will help you to pick up the pieces and start over again, and when the storm hits He will be your solid foundation. He will be with you in the midst of the storm; he will be with you during the clean-up and the rebuilding; he will be with you during the calm.

            And when you finally make it through to the other side, when you are finally able to once again simply relax and enjoy being in his presence, you will be amazed at what Jesus did in your life. After all, he not only taught as one with authority, he has all authority on heaven and earth and he will be with us until the end of the age (Matthew 28:18-20)

            Come quickly, Lord Jesus!

Pray with me:

            Lord, I want to structure my life upon you and your teachings. Help me to do that. Help me to live in that place of blessing, of ongoing happiness, contentment, and peace. Help me to be poor in spirit, meek, merciful, and all the other Beatitudes. Help me to hunger and thirst after righteousness. Give me a hunger and a thirst for you and you alone. I am turning away from selfish living and I will seek after your kingdom, your reign, your lordship in my life. Lead me now as I pray…continue praying as you are led…

For further study, meditate on these Scriptures:

Luke 6:46-49 "Why do you call me, 'Lord, Lord,' and do not do what I say? I will show you what he is like who comes to me and hears my words and puts them into practice. He is like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid the foundation on rock. When a flood came, the torrent struck that house but could not shake it, because it was well built. But the one who hears my words and does not put them into practice is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. The moment the torrent struck that house, it collapsed and its destruction was complete."  NIV

1 Cor 3:11 For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ.

Eph 2:19-22 Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God's people and members of God's 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. And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.

Please use this blog for personal devotional use and feel free to share it with friends and family. However, all publishing rights are reserved. No reproduction or publication of this blog is permitted without the permission of the author, Pastor Randy Brockett of New Song Foursquare Church in Colorado Springs, Colorado. To contact Pastor Randy, email him at randybrockett@yahoo.com.