The Storm VS The Foundation

Happy Sunday. These are the words of Jesus from Matthew 7: 24- 27: "Everyone then who hears these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on Rock. The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on rock. And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not act on them will be like a foolish man who built his house on Sand. The rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was its fall."

This is the last teaching that Jesus gave at his Sermon on the Mount. He lets those gathered that day 2,000 years ago know that there's an eternal choice that needs to be made, and these words of Jesus are just as relevant today. In fact, I use these words at just about every funeral I preach. I did two this week. People need to hear this.

In this final story, Jesus tells us that there are two Builders, two houses, two foundations, and two totally opposite results. It's interesting that both of these Builders heard the teachings of Jesus. One group acts on them, and one group, well, did not. So sadly, our churches are filled with both groups. Some here and do and change, and some here and do nothing.

One thing is certain: a storm is coming. Now, our lives can be filled with storms. It may be an illness or a tough situation. It may be a bad relationship or a difficult choice. We all have storms.

But here Jesus is talking about the big storm, the day of the Lord, Judgment day. It is coming, and some are genuinely motivated to be ready, and others are oddly indifferent. One thing I have noticed: people that are prepared for the big storm do very well in the little ones. If my Foundation is built correctly, built on the words of Jesus and my love of God and my obedience to his teaching, I'll be very different from this world.

I will not panic. I will not worry. I will not curse the small storms. I'll stand firm. On the other hand, I have seen people fall apart because their Foundation couldn't even make it through a small storm.

Jesus says that one of the builders is wise and the other is foolish. Those terms, wise and foolish, in scripture are all about one's relationship to God. In Proverbs 9:10 we find these words: "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom." In Psalm 14:1 we are told, "Fools say in their hearts, 'There is no God.' They are corrupt, they do abominable deeds, and there's no one who does good." We're told this about the wise in the following verse there: "The Lord looks down from heaven on humankind to see if there are any who are wise, who seek after God."

Sadly, in our society there's a thought that everybody makes it to heaven, so it really doesn't matter if you're wise or you're foolish. Now, that's not what Jesus taught. He said that there are two gates that lead to two paths. I'm always interested to see news after the death of a famous person. Regardless of their faith, many people will say that the Departed is resting in peace, or they, they have their wings, or that they are fishing, or going on whatever they doing, whatever they enjoyed in the this world, in the afterlife.

And Jesus said of the unbelievers, the foolish, "The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was its fall." Today I am so thankful for my Foundation. I'm thankful that I have had tour guides and Builders along the way to help me.

It's been over 40 years ago. I was in St Dominic Hospital in Jackson, Mississippi, visiting my father. He was in the intensive care after another heart attack. Now, in those days they kept really strict visiting hours. I was there in my allowed time slot, sitting with Dad, and I'll never forget this.

He looked at me and he said, "I'm ready to go home." He wasn't talking about the house on commer Street in acan. He was talking about his permanent home in glory. I was sad and I was proud. Sad he was leaving, but proud of his example. I was proud of his foundation.

The storm of impending death was really no big deal at all to him. "The rain fell, the floods came, the winds and beat on that house, but it did not fall. It had been founded on Rock."

Pray with me. Lord, thank you that those watching, I pray that all those watching or listening today have made the right choice and have built their house on a firm foundation. Thank you for what you offer us. As we see so many in this world fall apart, you have offered us a firm foundation. Thank you for the the privilege of following you, and thank you for the benefits that are many. No matter what happens, we are secure in our faith, and we are thankful for that teaching that you give us. In Jesus' name, amen.

God bless. Have a great day.