When you see a tall building and go to the roof top or the highest floor you see the marvellous view of the surrounding and you feel like you’re in the sky, what a great feeling. But often we tend to forget the foundation that was laid by the engineers for the building, that’s the result of us standing there and marvelling the view. The foundation is so strong / so deep that it’s has made the building stand tall withering all the winds / rains / the weight that it carries around etc.
In the same way, in Christian life, Faith in Christ is the pillar of our Christian life. God taught me on this when I mediated Matt 7 24:-27
' “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.” ' Matthew 7:24-27
Here Jesus talks with analogy of a man who builds the house, at the outset we read this as a story of a man built on rock and sand, but when you meditate this word, it has many lessons we can learn from this small story that Jesus talks about. Lessons from this analogy is
THE SIMILARITIES
Jesus picturized, there are two men and both are engaged in the same activity. They are both building houses. We are told of no difference between the houses that they are building. For all we know, the houses may have looked exactly alike.
When you think of these similarities between those who are truly Christians “One who is rooted in Christ” and “one who are Christians for name sake” only. Apply this to our life today, it’s sometimes hard to tell the difference. They both go to church. They both hear the same sermons or attend the same Bible classes. Often, they both study and read the Bible on their own. They bow their heads at the same prayers. Often, they even say prayers in much the same way. They talk the same kind of talk. Both the houses look the same from outside.
THE DIFFERENCE
The difference is not readily seen. But it is there; and it is profound!
In the case of Jesus' analogy, the difference is found in what the houses are resting on. That's not something that you can necessarily see just by looking at the house on a superficial level. By all outward appearances, the houses may look the same; but that's because you can't see the foundation of a house just by looking. And as it turns out, one man's house - the wise man's - was founded on solid rock, while the other man's house - the foolish man's - was founded on sand.
When you think of this why would someone build a house that’s not so strong, maybe they are so foolish to ignore the need for a good foundation when building a house. When you think deep there can be several reasons for this
o One reason might be because they were only concerned to get a house up for appearances-sake (only for worldly view of Christian). I suspect that this might be why many merely "professing" Christians have built their lives without the foundation of obedience to Jesus' word.
o They don't realize that a true Christian faith is something that shows its benefits over the long-haul.
o They don’t realize It involves a daily walk with Jesus in which He - in His time and in His way - deals with the problems
o Many don't want to wait for such a foundation to be laid; because real Christian faith requires learning to "wait" on the Lord as we do what He says.
o Laying a good foundation involves removing rocks, dirt and levelling out land. It involves a lot of careful planning and dirty work. Many don't want to lay the foundation of a real Christian life because it requires too much effort and demands to much of a cost to do so.
o Another important reason is they want to have the teachings of Jesus without Jesus. They want to be in control of their own "Christian" lives; and do not wish to relinquish complete control of their lives to Jesus.
THE RESULTS
The result of the foundation comes when we face trials.
God permits the trials of life to come into the believer's life to prove the genuineness of the foundation. Peter says that we are to greatly rejoice in our hope in Christ
'In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. ' 1 Peter 1:6-7
The world looks on and sees the difference. And we can look and see the difference too. The results are truly dramatic. When the trials of rain, flood waters and wind strike against the house that is built on sand, the house falls.
Your foundation will be tested in three ways:
1. It will be tested in the time of trial
2. It will be tested on the day of judgment
3. It can be tested right now by your own self-examination. Bible calls us to test our self’s. Paul says'Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you—unless, of course, you fail the test? ' 2 Corinthians 13:5
How can you self-examine and strengthen the foundation in Christ? Ask these questions to your self
o "What is my foundation? Upon what is my life built? Is my trust in the cross of Jesus Christ? Is that my vital trust right now and in an ongoing way?
o When I pick up my Bible and read what it says to do, do I faithfully do it? Perhaps I fail at times; but then, do I get right back up and go forward again in obedience - with trust in His forgiveness and help?
o Do trials cause me to fall apart; or do I find myself increasingly standing strong in them through the strength Christ supplies? Do I find myself increasingly turning away from lesser things, and turning to Him instead?"
Call for Action
There are two simple things for us to strength our roots / foundations to be strong, it’s a simple call Jesus describes
' “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. ' Matthew 7:24
Words of Mine
Jesus says, “everyone who hears these words of mine” We should notice how this shows the vital relationship of Jesus with his words. for us the words of Jesus is the Bible. Jesus is stressing the relation these words have to Himself. He cannot be separated from them.
Puts to practice
We should notice how these words are written " Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine." and “ puts them into practice is like a wise man”. Note the word “and” this means both the parts (listening & obeying) are must.
You must obey it and apply it to your life. The truth presented to us in God's word is not meant to simply "read". It must be "put into practice" and "acted upon". The apostle John said, " 'If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth. ' 1 John 1:6
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