Built on a Rock

Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock." - Matthew 7:24

The Christian life is hard work. Christianity involves systematically striving to implement the truths of God's Word into your life. Spiritual depth and maturity do not come without consistent effort.

Jesus had just concluded the Sermon on the Mount, which are some of the most profound truths ever spoken. The Son of God had clearly explained the kind of life that is pleasing to the Father. Yet Jesus knew, even as He was concluding His sermon, that some of His listeners would leave and never apply a word they had heard. Sound familiar, so all of you pastors out there keep this in mind, that even Jesus knew some of them were not going to listen!

Jesus said that a man who takes the words of God and builds them into his life is like a wise man who builds his house on a rock. Rocks are hard to build on. It takes far more effort to attach a foundation to a rock. It takes planning and preparation, it takes careful and slow work to make sure there are no gaps in the connection. To be solid it must be completely connected as if it was one. But, a house built on sand provides instant comfort, lay on a beach sometime and tell me that isn't comfortable, but building on a rock is tedious. Building on sand leaves the builder in a vulnerable position, while the one building on rock is secure.

How can you tell what kind of foundation your life has been built on? I ask you to watch to see what happens when a storm comes in. A life built on the Word of God will survive and thrive during a storm, but a life not built on the Word of God will fall and be sweep away into the tide of life.

What is your foundation resting on? Think about a time in your life, when the storms of life were great. Where did you go for help? Was it God's Word or was it something else?

So to build that foundation on rock here are some other questions for you. Have you been in God's Word and built that foundation? Are you reading his word daily? Are you taking the time to memorize his Words to us? Are you speaking his Word to others in his name? Read it, memorize it, and speak it, do all three.

Take sometime to evaluate the ground that you have built your spiritual home, and tell someone your answer.