Built to Last
Matthew 7:25
“And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and yet it did not fall, for it had been founded on the rock.”
On October 10, 2018, a category 4 hurricane named Michael made landfall near Mexico Beach Florida. Hurricane Michael was the third most intense Atlantic hurricane to make landfall in the United States. The storm would last a total of 6 days, as it would finally dissipate on October 16. But the damage from the effects of the storm could be felt days after. By October 18th, just 3 days ago, at least 50 deaths had been attributed to the storm.
Insurance losses due to Michael in the US is estimated to be between $8-11 billion. Losses to agriculture and timber alone exceeded $5.3 billion. The storm caused extensive flooding in Central America. The hurricane winds left over 200,000 people without power as it passed through. With catastrophic damage reported due to the extreme winds and storm surge, hurricane Michael left numerous homes flattened over a wide area of the Florida panhandle.
In seeing the damage on TV, it was quite a shock to see entire neighborhoods wiped out – houses and property having been washed away by the storm. But then every now and then, you notice other homes, some only slightly damaged. They may have a few widow’s blown out or doors missing, they had just been through the same storm, but they are still standing in the aftermath of the same storm.
What makes the difference between one home left standing and another home left fractured and falling into the ocean? Is it the quality of the building materials? I would say no because some of the homes destroyed were multi-million-dollar homes – only the best materials were used.
But I submit to you today that the difference between the two was what they were built upon.
In our text, Jesus uses this same analogy to bring out his final point in His conclusion to the Sermon on the Mount. It does not matter if you are talking about the foundation of a physical building or the foundation upon which you have built your life, the principle is the same. The material upon which you lay your foundation will determine the strength of the structure that is built upon it.
Let’s read the text:
“Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine, and acts upon them, may be compared to a wise man, who built his house upon the rock. 25 “And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and burst against that house; and [yet] it did not fall, for it had been founded upon the rock.”
Jesus tells this parable that compares and contrasts two builders: one wise and one foolish. He emphasizes how critical it is to have a strong foundation. The use of a building metaphor should not surprise us; because Jesus was a carpenter. He had built the furniture that people put into their homes and He had probably built some of the homes as well. Jesus knew the difference between a solid house and a sloppy one. But this is not a parable just for architects, carpenters, and contractors. It is a parable for you and me. Building a house is simply an analogy for building a life. The point is this: The only way you can be “built to last” in life and as a church is to make sure you are building on the right foundation. (I just preached my whole sermon right there)
Within this analogy there are two things that are the same and two things that are different. Both houses are similar in construction and both houses must withstand storms. But each house has a different material upon which its foundation is laid, and as a result each house has a different final outcome. One house is built to last by a wise man upon a rock and it stands. The other is built by a foolish man upon the sand and it collapses.
So tonight, let’s take a closer look and examine the two structures, because if we’re going to be built to last, then we need to know what that looks like.
The Difference Between Both Houses
The first thing I notice is although both houses look similar on the outside, a house built to last is different on the inside.
Nothing in the text suggest that both houses were different in appearance. If you take the previous verses 15-20 into account, Jesus seems to suggest that the outward structures looked very similar. In those earlier verses, He warns us about false prophets – wolves in sheep’s clothing. According to Jesus, wolves are not distinguished by their outward appearance, you can’t tell a wolf is a wolf just by looking at them. The only way to tell the difference is by the type of fruit they produce.
You must pay attention to the way they live. Do they live in humility and faithfulness?
You must pay attention to what they say. Do they speak words of righteousness, based on God’s Word? Or is it man-centered?
And then we must pay attention to how they respond to the Word. Are they growing in Jesus? Or are they just being entertained, coming and going when they please, and eventually falling away?
My brother/sister, a church built to last will not just have the appearance of a church, but there will be a production of good fruit. It’s not what’s on the outside that makes the difference – it’s what on the inside. Eventually, what’s on the inside will have to show on the outside. (ex. Expecting mothers)
A Strong Foundation
The second thing I noticed about being built to last is that you need a strong foundation.
Jesus says, “The only way to build a strong foundation is by obeying His words.” He begins His parable in 7:24 with the word “Therefore,” which takes us back to the entire Sermon on the Mount. In light of His teachings, Jesus says, “Everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them, may be compared to a wise man who built his house on the rock.”
The key to a strong foundation is in Jesus' saying, "these words of mine!" Throughout the New Testament, the final, ultimate and exclusive authority in true religion is the Word spoken by Christ. In Matthew 28:20, Jesus commanded the church to teach "Whatsoever I have commanded you."
Jesus said in Matthew 4:4, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every Word that proceeds from the mouth of the Lord.”
Jesus said in Matthew 24:35, “Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.”
Yes, Jesus desires that you to hear His Words, but He doesn’t stop there. He goes on to say that you must act upon His words. If you are going to be built to last, you must actually DO what Jesus wants you to do. Hearing His Words is not enough. ONLY as you obey His Words are you building your life on His Words. James 1:22 says to “Be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.”
When you are seeking to obey Jesus’ teaching, when you have made a commitment to obey His words, He says you are a wise person building on the right foundation. Everything around you may not be perfect, but because you have built a strong foundation, you still find yourself standing strong.
Standing Through Storms
Finally, we see why it’s so critical to build on the strong foundation. Because being “built to last,” means we must be able to stand through the storm.
Jesus says, “And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and yet it did not fall, for it had been founded on the rock.”
Watch this - Rains, and floods, and winds, suggest oppositions from above, beneath, and all around. However, the stability of the wise man's house was due to the fact that it was built, not upon "a rock," but upon "THE rock"!
Jesus doesn’t pull any punches. Just look at how the word “and” is used in 7:25. Jesus does not say “if the rain falls” or “if the floods come” or “if the winds blow.” He says, “And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house”. Jesus tells you straight-up that storms will come!
And if you’ve walked with Christ for any length of time, you’ve found that people who hear and do what Jesus says have the very same crises in their lives that people have who don’t do His what He says. That’s because obedience to Christ don’t mean you won’t get rained on. Anyone who tells you that the Christian life is all sunny days has lied to you. The storms of life are what test us. It is the storms that reveal the strength of your foundation.
Only the life founded upon and guided by the principles of Christ shall be able to stand through the storm. His teaching is the rock; all else is shifting sand.
And so, the person who builds on The Rock is a person that expect storms to come.
How many of you know that storms will come? There is no stopping them. Sometimes storms come with warning and at other times they come suddenly without warning, but rest assured, storms will come. And when the storm does come, it will test what is hidden on the inside.
Jesus says here of both houses, “the rain descended, and the floods (rivers) came, and the winds blew, and burst against that house”
Watch this – Just because you are obedient to Jesus’ Words does not guarantee protection from the trouble; but obedience to His Word is protection in the troubles.
If and when you operate under God’s Word, you are under His covenant covering. Look at it like this. When it’s raining, you will most likely reach for your umbrella, open it up, and put it over your head before going outside. Now the umbrella does not stop it from raining, but it does stop the rain from reaching you. Although it does not change what is happening around you, it does change what happens to you. Likewise, when you are under God’s covenant covering, the circumstances, trials, and challenges of life may not change, because the Bible says it rains on the just and the unjust, but God will cover you in such a way that they do not pour down on you as they would without His covering!
James 1:2 describes it this way when he says, “To consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials…“knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance.””
The trials of life are nothing unusual, but if we let endurance have its perfect result, we will be made mature and complete, lacking nothing (James 1:2-4). And so, it’s not that we find joy in the storm, but that we will find joy over the product the storm produces which is maturity.
That’s why David could say “Yea though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil…” He understood that there was going to be some tough days, but he didn’t fear because the Lord was with him. Yes, you may lose some widows and the house of your life may be shaken, but because you were built to last, it will not collapse and be swept away. .
Can I call 1 witness? Come here Paul!
Paul said in 2 Cor 4:8-10, “We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; 9 persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed. 10 always carrying in the body the dying of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body.”
Let me say it like this: I may not have good days all the time, but I know that serving the Lord will pay off, after while. (can I get a witness!)
My brother/sister, storms will come and go. I heard someone say, “You are either in a storm, coming out of a storm, or entering into a Storm.” But, if you’ve built your life on the foundation of Christ, you have nothing to fear. Because a good storm will only demonstrate the stability of your foundation.
And let me give you a little good news on the way to my seat. There’s a praise for the one who is built to last. The only way we can say we are built to last, is because we have found rest in the finished work of Jesus Christ.
Because of Jesus’ victory at Calvary – because you are in Him, and He is in you, that means you are built to last. You can give God praise – Why? Praise Him because you don’t ever have to worry about the storms of life ever being stronger than The Rock that’s holding you down.
Is there anybody here, glad that The Rock is holding you down?!
You can stand the test of time, because The Rock has already stood the test of time.
You can make it through your test and trials, because The Rock has already passed the test – and He already overcame every trial.
You can hold on in the middle of your storms, because Jesus Christ – The Rock – knows how to make the storms of life obey His will.
So don’t give up, when the rains begin to fall.
Don’t give up, when the enemy comes in like a flood.
Don’t give up, in the storms of life, because The Rock that’s holding you down, is stronger than the storm.
(Somebody shout “He’s holding me down!”)
How do I know?
Because God hath charged Jesus Christ, as your Mediator, to see to the keeping of the bodies and souls of all true believers. For Jesus said (Matt 6:38-39), “I have come down from heaven not to do My will but to do the will of Him who sent Me. And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that I shall not lose none of those He has given Me, but in the last day, I will raise them up.”
(Good evening Church)
You want to know why you can say you’re built to last?
It’s not because you look good.
It’s not because you bought the first brick of the church.
It’s not because you go to church every Sunday.
It’s not because you’ve done everything right.
But it’s because He who began a good work in you, will perfect it (complete it, finish it, keep it) until the day of Christ Jesus!
The hymn writer Edward Mote said, “My hope is built on nothing less, than Jesus blood and righteousness, I shall not trust the sweetest frame, but wholly lean on Jesus Name, On Christ the solid Rock I stand, all other ground is sinking sand!”
