HOW FIRM IS YOUR FOUNDATION
… based on Matthew 7:24-27
A # of years ago I had the opportunity to spend several weeks in Italy. Now for somebody who loves history, & especially Roman history … WOW! I stood in the Colosseum in Rome! I spent a day in the Vatican library! I went to St. Peter’s Cathedral! I toured the museums in Florence! I rode the gondolas in Venice! And I went to Pisa! Now, when anyone mentions Pisa, Italy, what’s the 1st thing you think of? … (the leaning tower)
Back in 1173, the Italian architect,
Bonanno Pisano began work on what would become his most famous project … a separately standing bell tower for the cathedral of the city of Pisa.
The tower was to be an 8-story, 184’ structure.
Although he didn’t know it at the time, it would take 199 years to finally finish.
But as the builders were completing the 2nd floor, to Pisano’s horror,
the tower began to sink. The soil was much softer than anyone had anticipated, & the 10’ foundation was far too shallow to adequately support the structure. And sure enough, before long the whole tower had begun to tilt … & it continued to tilt … until finally the architect & the builders realized that nothing could be done to make the Leaning Tower Of Pisa straight again.
(The word “Pisa”, by the way, means “marshy land” … now I’m not the sharpest knife in the drawer, but shouldn’t that have been a clue to Signore Pisano that there might be some structural issues to deal with?)
Anyway, today the tower leans some 13’ from plum,
& it continues to shift a fraction of an inch every year.
And the day is coming … when it’s going to topple over.
The moral of the story, of course, is about the foundation.
Foundations are important. A doghouse doesn’t need a foundation.
My 1 story house is on a concrete slab.
But the 701’ Salesforce Tower in Indianapolis requires a deep & solid foundation.
We’re going to talk about foundations this morning, but before we do,
please turn to selection #547 (“The Church’s One Foundation”) in the hymnbook. And as we sing this, pay close attention to the words. Our faith is built upon the solid rock foundation of Jesus Christ & His word. Let’s sing it now. …
Listen now to Good News, as recorded by Matthew, to us who have gathered here for worship. Within our hearing comes the Word of the Lord …
“So then, anyone who hears these words of mine and obeys them is like a wise man who built his house on rock. The rain poured down, the rivers flooded over, and the wind blew hard against that house. But it did not fail, because it was built on rock.
“But anyone who hears these words of mine and does not obey them is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain poured down, the rivers flooded over, the wind blew hard against that house, and it fell. And what a terrible fall that was!” (Matthew 7:24-27)
Jesus said, “Heaven & earth will pass away,
but my words will never pass away.” (Mark 13:31)
May the Lord grant that we may engage in contemplating the mysteries of His Heavenly wisdom with really increasing devotion, to His glory and to our edification. Amen
“The Church’s one foundation is Jesus Christ her Lord.” The Church, & I’m talking about the universal Church, the Apostolic Church, the Christian Church, the catholic (small “c”) Church … is built upon Jesus Christ.
He’s a solid, unshakable foundation. (Matthew 16:18)
This morning, I want to talk about the foundation of your faith & mine.
How firm is it? What happens when the storms of life hit us?
Because the truth of the matter is … each one of us face any # of “storms” as we journey through life. And when they come, the question we’re dealing with today, will our faith stand firm? It will if it is built on Jesus Christ. But sadly, that’s not the case for everybody who “attends” Church. And that’s where the problem lies.
So, let’s think about this for a moment. Why do people come to Church?
I was thinking about this on Friday as I was putting this message together. It’s been my experience in the various congregations that I’ve served,
to witness people who were extremely active for a period of time.
They were involved in all the programs. They served on all the boards.
They attended all the services. But then something happened …
& they disappeared. What’s going on? How does somebody go from being totally committed, to not even darkening the door? How does someone go from being at every activity, to not going to anything? What’s the story behind these attendees who suddenly slink out of view?
Part of the answer lies in what their foundation was.
You see, not everyone who attends worship services at a Church understands why they’re supposed to be there.
This is so important. If Jesus were speaking to you right now,
this is one of those statements that He’d preface with … “I am telling you the truth.” “I want us to hear this.” “Verily, verily, I say unto you.” There’s a huge, huge difference between “attending church” & “going to worship.” Let me repeat that. There’s a huge difference between attending church & going to worship. And I want to talk for a moment about the difference.
And it all has to do with our foundation & how firm it is.
Jesus uses a dramatic parable to make a point that illustrates this.
He spoke of 2 men who built houses. From a distance, they looked alike. But, in reality, there were 2 major differences …
the 1st coming at the beginning of construction … the 2nd, at the end.
The 1st difference came when builder “A” decided to save money
& time & do away with the proper foundation. Thus, his house was built on sand. The 2nd, however, built his home upon a solid foundation.
Now remember that most foundations, when they are finished,
are immediately buried by the main structure, so when the houses are completed, it’s almost impossible to tell the difference between them.
But that’s when the 2nd difference emerges. It came when the houses faced a test of adversity. A storm. When it came, along with winds & floods, the house owned by builder “B” stood firm. There was no problem.
It remained intact & steady. And you know what happened to builder “A”.
His house was only a memory. It totally collapsed.
The key to Jesus’ parable, of course, is the foundation. If it’s missing or inadequate, the finest of super structures will ultimately collapse. That’s what happened with builder “A’s” house … & that’s what happens to Church attendees who have not built their faith upon Jesus Christ.
- So, what is their foundation?
- What is your foundation?
- What is my foundation?
I think most people who go to worship services can be identified in one of 3 groups. The 1st 2, I’m afraid, have “sandy” foundations.
These people are the ones who simply “attend church.”
Let’s call the 1st group … spectators. These people are here … faithfully. They watch what’s going on. They sing the songs. Pray the prayers.
Listen to the sermon. Drop some money in the offering basket.
And then they leave. But for all intents & purposes …
they’re simply playing church. They’re just spectating, & it's all surface. And at one time or another, I suspect all of us have been there.
We all know the story of the “3 Little Pigs.” The 1st pig decided to build his house of straw. Those who are “playing church” for the most part have built “straw houses” with no foundation whatsoever. It’s simply an attitude of doing the basic minimum. But they don’t want to commit themselves to the time & effort it’ll take to truly “secure” their faith.
But one of these days, along will come Satan, that old wolf,
& he’ll huff & puff & blow down their house & devour them. (1 Peter 5:8)
Now do you remember what the 2nd little pig built his house out of? … (sticks)
His house appears to be sound; it is a “secure looking” structure …
but it has no foundation either. This reminds me of the person who realizes that there must be a little more to Christianity than just coming on Sunday.
So, they want to study, they want to learn. They read their Bibles.
They listen to BRIDGE FM, or K-LOVE, or Moody radio. And they might even be in a Bible Study. (And certainly, all those things are terrific.
And come to think of it, we all should be doing those things.)
But the problem comes when we ask … why are they doing it?
If our “foundation” is only knowledge, then it too is simply sand.
And I certainly don’t want to sound like I’m anti-intellectual or anti-theological because both of those things are important. But I worry about people who have a kind of “look how much I know” attitude … because that leads to pride. And the result of all this is that the individual becomes immune to the personal relationships that God wants us to experience.
And one of these days, when they’re not expecting it, along will come Satan,
that old wolf & he’ll huff & puff & huff & puff & blow down their house of sticks & devour them.
Now the 3rd little pig decided that he’d build his house out of … (bricks)
He put a solid foundation down. His house cost more & it took time to build. This is the person who’s built their faith upon Jesus Christ.
Jesus is their rock foundation.
Now when Scripture refers to a “rock” as a foundation, it doesn’t mean a stone or even a boulder, but an area rock, a large expanse of bedrock.
It is solid, stable, & unmovable. God’s Spirit touches those who live on this level at their innermost being. These are individuals who are not practicing religion; they’re involved in a relationship. You see, this is the true foundation. Religion can’t hold us, but the relationship can.
Think about that for a moment. During our time together,
be it 1 year, 2 years, 3 years, or 4 years, you & I have built a relationship. It’s wonderful. It’s genuine. We care deeply for each other.
We, who are in this 3rd group, also have a relationship with Jesus Christ that’s every bit as real & wonderful & genuine as what we have with each other.
As a result, we enjoy spending time with Him, on a daily basis.
We don’t just think about God on Sunday mornings when we come to Bear Creek. We have a 24/7 relationship. We’re committed & live a life of obedience. Our attitudes, relationships, & values are brought into every daily experience, as we become aware of how God wants us to act in our lives. (Colossians 3:17)
The “spectator” & “knowledge” groups have a subtle way of neutralizing the effort of a Christian’s life. They’re just fluff. There’s no meat to them. No substance. They know the right vocabulary. They follow the proper procedures.
They do enough on the surface to get by. But it’s just on the surface.
The Apostle Paul taught that believers should be doing the things that we do, “to prepare all God’s people for the work of Christian service,
in order to build up the body of Christ.” (Ephesians 4:12)
We’re to work. Unfortunately, those in the 1st 2 groups never really get involved. The 1st group lets everybody else do the work. And the 2nd spends all their time getting ready … but never gets into the game.
Bud Wilkinson, the famous OK football coach, once said,
“A professional football game is a happening where 50,000 spectators, desperately needing exercise, sit in the stands watching 22 men on the field, desperately needing rest.”
And do you know what? That’s a description of most congregations.
There are many people who sit in Church Sunday after Sunday, & take in sermon after sermon, & walk out feeling good. But that’s as far as it goes.
And one of the things I love about all of you is your willingness to be Bear Creek Church. As I look around at all of you, my heart is full.
We don’t “play church” here. We have a relationship with each other & we have a relationship with Jesus. God desires these relationships.
Watchman Nee, who initiated many of the local churches in China,
& for the last 20 years of his life was imprisoned for his faith,
tells the story of a new believer who came to see him all upset.
“No matter how hard I try, I simply cannot seem to be faithful to my Lord. I think I’m losing my salvation.”
Nee responded, “Do you see this dog here? He’s my dog. He is housebroken;
he never makes a mess; he’s obedient; he’s a pure delight to me.
Out in the kitchen I have a son, a baby son. He makes a mess,
he throws his food, he dirties his clothes; he’s a total mess.
But who is going to inherit my kingdom? Not my dog; my son is my heir.
You are Jesus Christ’s heir because it’s for you that He died.” (Romans 8:17)
We need a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.
And that’s the right foundation, & the only one that will withstand the storms of life. Jesus Christ is the only firm foundation of our faith.
Good feelings & warm experiences simply won’t last.
I suspect that each of us could come up with some contemporary examples of this but let me give you a Scriptural illustration.
The Hebrews were traveling for 40 years to get to the Promised Land.
(Joshua 5:4-6) And when they finally arrived there, they discovered that the Jordan River was between them & their final destination. There were no bridges … how could they get across? Well,God stopped the water so the people could walk across on dry land. (Joshua 4:22)
Just imagine what that would be like. (walk up & down the aisle) These people witnessed God working powerfully, & as a result, were ready for anything … wouldn’t we be? And after they got across Joshua took 12 stones out of the river, 1 for each of the 12 tribes, & set them on the ground as a reminder of what Almighty God had done in their presence. (Joshua 4:20) They named the place, “Gilgal.” And it became a kind of “holy ground” for them. It’s where they had experienced, in a very personal way, God working in their lives.
Passover was celebrated there. (Joshua 5:10) Circumcision was performed there. (Joshua 5:2) Now there are a # of theological reasons for circumcision.
But very simply, it’s a symbol of identity & integrity. It set the Israelites apart as unique people, & it caused them to get right with God.
And over & over again, in the coming years,
God would bring His people back to “Gilgal.”
He wouldn’t let them get too far away, or move too fast,
or travel in their own direction. It became a kind of checkpoint for them.
Maybe we need that kind of “checkpoint” today, where we can reconnect with our own spiritual identity & integrity. Maybe we need to have our own “Gilgal.” But the problem is … God makes demands of us when we go there. And we don’t like that. It’s much easier just to “play church.”
Well, actually, we do have our own Gilgal. Israel went to a geographical Gilgal … but ours is Calvary. Ours is not rocks but the cross.
We, who are followers of Jesus, need always to come back to the cross.
Bear Creek Church is a non-denominational Church.
We’re a Protestant congregation. And Protestants have always proclaimed the once & for all work of Christ. Jesus has done everything necessary for our salvation. (John 19:28) As a result, we don’t spend a lot of time thinking about how the cross touches our lives each day. And that’s where we can get into trouble. We need to be constantly/continually redirected.
We need to daily be filled with The Holy Spirit.
How many of you have had something to eat today? Why? … (our body needs fuel/nourishment each day) So does our Spirit. I don’t want to embarrass anyone here, but I wonder how many hands would be raised if I asked, “how many of you asked God to fill you with The Holy Spirit today?” It’s essential to recognize our need for spiritual nourishment. And when we do that, we can enter each new day with identity & integrity. We know who we are … “one in union with Christ Jesus.” (Galatians 3:28) And we recognize that we have sinful tendencies, which must be dealt with on a daily basis.
So, this Gilgal/Calvary experience generates repentance.
We’re convicted by The Holy Spirit & Scripture to get into a right relationship with God. A Gilgal/Calvary experience stimulates right actions.
It gives us identity & integrity. It transforms our values & attitudes.
We’re directed toward things that please God, (Colossians 1:10)
rather than self-centered activities. It produces healthy relationships.
There’s a bonding with other followers of Jesus.
And we want to be taught the purposes of God.
So we go to the Scriptures, not with the intent of simply achieving knowledge, but rather for direction in what God wants us to do. (2 Timothy 3:16-17) When it comes to our spirituality, our relationship with God, we should never be content or satisfied. It’s a kind of “I want more.”
Kathy is my wife. We were in love when we got married. But over the years we’ve grown closer, because we wanted more out of our relationship.
And so it is with Jesus.
Then finally, there’s worship. Because of our forgiven sins, we’re thankful,
& we praise our God; we respond appreciatively for what He has done for us.
Okay, back to the foundation, if we haven’t already, each one of us is going to face some massive crisis sometime in our lives. If our “Christianity” is built on “playing church” or knowledge … it will fall, because that’s sand.
It must be built on the right foundation.
A solid foundation & that’s the cross of Jesus Christ.
On 17 October 1989 a massive earthquake struck the San Francisco area & the people there gave a great deal of thought to the foundation they were built on. Buildings built on solid ground sustained much less damage than those built on “filled in” areas. The south pier of the Golden Gate Bridge sits directly on top of the San Andreas Fault! Yet it was undamaged in that quake because the weight of the bridge rests on the 2 towers deeply embedded into the rock beneath the Bay. But that wasn’t the case for the double-decker freeway in Oakland. It was built on land that had been filled in. But it all looked the same until the time of testing!
If we build our faith on sand, when the time of testing comes, it’ll fall,
“& what a terrible fall it will be!” It’s in those moments,
curing the “storms of life” that show the genuineness of our faith. (1 Peter 1:7)
So, Jesus’ parable/sermon is demanding more than simply adding an “amen” to it.
He’s expecting action, He’s expecting trust, He’s expecting faith. (James 1:22)
I want to close by reading words written by the Apostle Paul to the Church in Corinth … & to Bear Creek Church.
“You are also God’s building. Using the gift that God gave me, I did the work of an expert builder & laid the foundation, & someone else is building on it. But each of you must be careful how you build. For God has already placed Jesus Christ as the one & only foundation, no other foundation can be laid. Some will use gold or silver or precious stones in building on the foundation; others will use wood or grass or straw. And the quality of each person’s work will be seen when the Day of Christ exposes it. For on that Day fire will reveal everyone’s work; the fire will test it & show its real quality. If what was built on the foundation survives the fire, the builder will receive a reward. But if your work is burnt up, then you will lose it; but you yourself will be saved, as if you had escaped through the fire.” (1 Corinthians 3:9-15)
Jesus teaches that there are 2 kinds of people …
wise & foolish. The wise person has built his/her foundation on Jesus Christ & listens to His words & obeys them. Okay, my friends, let’s do it!
MARANA THA
