September 22, 2002
And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, And do not the things which I say? 47Whosoever cometh to me, and heareth my sayings, and doeth them, I will show you to whom he is like: 48He is like a man which built an house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock. 49But he that heareth, and doeth not, is like a man that without a foundation built an house upon the earth; against which the stream did beat vehemently, and immediately it fell; and the ruin of that house was great. Luke 6.46-49 (KJV)
Winchester Cathedral was dedicated in 1093 AD¡KEurope¡¦s oldest gothic church; [it is] a magnificent and massive architectural creation¡K. Winchester Cathedral is indeed a sight to behold.
In 1905, however, some serious signs of structural weakness appeared in the cathedral ¡V ominous cracks began to develop. Some architectural experts suggested buttresses to prop up the walls, or tie-rods to hold them together. Finally, an expert maintained that the foundation should be probed and so deep shafts were dug to the foundation. There they discovered that the great cathedral had been constructed on a bog. The original builders had laid tree trunks flat on the soft watery soil, and on that had reared their building. The miracle was that the building had stood as long as it had.
In 1906, W.G. Walker in a deep-sea diving suit began working in water thick and brown digging down through eight feet of peat. He picked the peat out in sections and replaced it with concrete. It took him five and a half years to restore the cathedral¡¦s rotting foundation.(1)
It is far easier (in the long-run), less expensive, and smarter to build on a solid foundation. That is true for buildings of rock, wood and stone; it is true for the buildings of our lives. That is not happening in America today.
John Leo, columnist for U.S. News & World Report referred to a recent Zogby International poll of college seniors: Almost all of the 401 randomly selected students around the country ¡V 97 percent ¡V said their college studies had prepared them to behave ethically in their future work lives. So far, so good. But 73 percent of the students said that when their professors taught about ethical issues, the usual message was that uniform standards of right and wrong don¡¦t exist (¡§what is right and wrong depends on differences in individual values and cultural diversity¡¨). It¡¦s not news that today¡¦s campuses are drenched in moral relativism. (2)
Moral relativism is the opposite of strong moral foundations in life. Leo, in that same article, pointed to a college class where a professor reported that between 10 and 20% of his students could not bring themselves to condemn the Nazi extermination of Jews¡Ksince no culture can be judged from the outside and no individual can challenge the moral worldview of another¡K.To claim knowledge as universal truth is impossible. There is no truth, just narratives and stories that ¡¥work¡¦ for particular communities¡K.Since ¡¥truth¡¦ is an act of community empowerment, truth is whatever the tribe or the individual says it is. This is why debate and argument have disappeared from the modern campus ¡V to criticize anyone¡¦s ideas is a personal assault, like attacking someone for liking chocolate ice cream¡K. If all beliefs are equally valid, there is nothing to debate¡K.The nation is currently outraged about the moral shenanigans of the tycoon class, but it¡¦s hard to see how things will improve if we teach the next generation that standards don¡¦t exist and moral debate is a personal violation and a sham.(3)
Although I don¡¦t really know John Leo¡¦s politics or theological-philosophical worldview, I stand next to him, arm-in-arm on that one.
However, to lay it all on the college students and professors of so-called liberal colleges is to miss what¡¦s happening in America by a long shot. In a recent commentary Chuck Colson opined on the decision of a New Jersey Superior Court judge¡¦s ruling. Judge Bruce Gaeta didn’t see a problem with the tryst between a forty-something middle-school teacher and her thirteen-year-old student. Gaeta dismissed the relationship as a way for the boy ¡¥to satisfy his sexual needs.¡¦
At sentencing Gaeta said, ¡¥I really don’t see the harm that was done here, and certainly society doesn’t need to be worried.¡¦ Instead of the plea bargain of three years in prison -- down from a possible twenty -- the woman received only five years probation. (4)
Ladies and gentlemen, this is a Superior Court Judge! This is an elected official, charged with restraining evil in our society. He sees no evil in this? Probably hears and speaks no evil either!
One thing is for certain¡Kthe crumbling foundation syndrome is not only in our colleges and courts¡Kit is in our churches as well. A minister parked his car in a no-parking zone in a large city because he was short of time and couldn’t find a space with a meter. So he put a note under the windshield wiper that read: "I have circled the block 10 times. If I don’t park here, I’ll miss my appointment. FORGIVE US OUR TRESPASSES."
When he returned he found a citation from a police officer along with this note. "I’ve circled this block for 10 years. If I don’t give you a ticket, I’ll lose my job. LEAD US NOT INTO TEMPTATION."
This morning I would like for us to focus on the ROCK-SOLID advice we find in Scripture about building firm foundations for life.
CONSIDER THE PURPOSE OF A FIRM FOUNDATION
A foundation determines if, and how well a house will stand. The purpose is to support and stabilize the building for as long as the building is needed. That includes the worst circumstances. When Carrie and Shannon first married, they moved to Thomasville. They moved into a house not far from the church. Before closing on the house the building inspector found that the foundation had been corrupted over the years. The walls were leaning in, and (in his words) ¡§in five years at the outside, this house will cave-in on itself.¡¨ To fix the foundation required repairs that amounted to around half the cost of the house and land together. Foundations are important!
The foundation of our life¡¦s building is just as important. The foundational beliefs and values upon which we build our lives determine what kind of life we will have, and how we will respond in the storms of life. In our text Jesus did not say if the storm comes; he said when the storm came. I have seen the worst kinds of storms as a pastor and volunteer chaplain.
Often the hospital calls (always in the middle of the night), and someone has died. Grief is always present, but you can tell the difference almost immediately between those who have built their lives upon the Rock of ages, and those who have merely trusted in their own strength and cleverness to see them through.
I have sat across from a couple married for a decade that waited until the silence in their marriage was deafening¡Kand then they came for ¡§counsel¡¨. What they really came for was one final anemic attempt to fix the brokenness the storm always brings when the foundation was flawed from the beginning.
I have watched the hope go out of a youngster¡¦s eyes when his parent belittled him in front of others.
I have seen the broken spirit of a father whose son chooses the far country over the joy and wisdom of his father¡¦s house.
Friend, you do not build for only sunny skies and easy times. Firm foundations are the most important part of a building.
CONSIDER THE PRICE OF A FIRM FOUNDATION
What are the costs associated with building a firm foundation? Bonanno Pisano was an architect. In AD 1173 he started the project of building a bell tower. The project lasted far longer than Pisano. They finished it in 1350, and the 185¡¦ structure still stands today ¡V just not quite perpendicular to the ground. Named for Pisano, the Leaning Tower of Pisa lists 18 feet to one side.
There has been extensive repair work to the foundation in the last decade. The cost was incredible. How much consideration was given to the original foundation is guesswork ¡V however the consequences to NOT repairing that which holds it up would have been in human lives. How much more disastrous are the results from building our lives on defective foundations!
Considering the price of a firm foundation is Biblical:
28For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it? Luke 14:28 (KJV)
The price of a firm foundation is high.
Foundations are dug below the surface. That requires work and time.
Foundations that are firm use strong materials.
Good foundations are not meant to blend in with the environment or save spotted owls¡Kthey are meant to support a building. When you build a firm foundation you move everything out of the way and intend for it to stay that way.
You can build a sand castle easily and quickly, but it won¡¦t even withstand a normal tide swing, much less a hurricane. The price of a firm foundation is costly, time-consuming and hard work.
It is also priceless on a stormy night! There is a stormy night coming in our spiritual forecast. Our text has Jesus saying the storm will beat vehemently against the house, and the fall of the house will be great for those without a firm foundation. He is without doubt indicating the fall of the great judgment day for those who have never given their lives to Jesus.
CONSIDER THE PURCHASE OF A FIRM FOUNDATION
How do you purchase a firm foundation for your life? Let me suggest two important considerations for building your life on a firm foundation:
BUILD THE FOUNDATION FIRST
Foundations are not built when the rains are falling. If you are going to build a firm life foundation, you must start when the sun is shining; don¡¦t wait until storm clouds gather.
Spiritually-speaking, this means you must be born again. Salvation by accepting Jesus¡¦ sacrifice on the cross, and giving yourself to Him is the foundational step in Christianity.
Except you are born again you cannot ever see the kingdom of God.
No one enters heaven on his own merit.
Jesus died for you, and that is the first block of a firm foundation ¡V you need HIM for the cornerstone.
In our text, Jesus said it this way: whoever comes to me is like a man building on a firm foundation.
BE OBEDIENT TO THE MASTER BUILDER¡¦S PLAN
The Word of God is God¡¦s master plan for our lives, and especially the foundation; it is wisdom and strength to us.
Many people today seem to think it is optional to accept Christ, and then live as if we are smarter than God. Oh, we would never admit that out loud¡Kbut we live that way. We live as professing Christians and practicing atheists.
Rather, build with precious materials, not wood, hay and stubble. Jesus said in our text, it is the one who hears me AND does what I say who is building on solid rock!
Don¡¦t change with your actions what your mouth utters in your confession. Our church covenant, taken from the pages of the Bible indicates that the Holy Scriptures are our final authority for all matters. I have known many people who indicate they know a lot of what the Bible says; it would be much better for them to live each day what the Bible says! When you do, your life is blessed!
Build the foundation first by asking Jesus Christ to save you and receive you as His own. Be obedient by learning God¡¦s Word and obeying what you learn. This is building a firm foundation.
It all centers around one word Jesus used in our text:
Why do you call me LORD, and don¡¦t do what I say?
It¡¦s a good question. The word is KURIOSƒn (kur-i-os¡¦). It means supreme authority.
Here is the end of the matter¡KThe storms of life are not the major consideration ¡V they only test and reveal to us the worth of our foundation. When Jesus is truly kurios, Lord, supreme authority, the foundation will be strong enough for any storm.
How is your foundation? Is it solid, firm? Or is it renovation time?
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FOOTNOTES
(1) Is Your Life Built To Last? by Philip Gunther quoting Martin, Hugh. The Parables Of The Gospels, SermonCentral.com
(2) On Society by John Leo, U.S. News & World Report, July 22, 2002
(3) Ibid.
(4) Breakpoint with Charles Colson, Commentary #020917, September 17, 2002
