THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT - Matthew 7:24-27

As kids we used to sing: "the wise man built his house upon the rock...and the rains came tumbling down and the house on the rock stood firm. The foolish man built his house upon the sand... the rains came down, but the house on the sand crashed."

Jesus concludes the Sermon on the Mount with this vivid architectural illustration. The two builders had similarities: they both build a house; they both finish it; and they both faced storms and floods. The one difference, however, was the foundation on which they build. The one who built on a rock stood firm; the one who built on sand "fell with a great crash" (v.27). The one, followed directions, the other, followed his own intuition. "everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock" (v.24). Then He warns: "everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built on sand" (v.26).

The foundation is the most important part in the building process! Using a similar metaphor in Luke 6:48 Jesus adds that this man, "dug down deep and laid the foundation on rock." The Pharisees were building a religious system that outwardly looked good but there was no true foundation. Man made religion is basically the same! Paul warns in I Corinthians 3:11, "for no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ." Later, he makes it clear that this foundation is built on the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ
(I Corinthians 15:3-4). The foolish builder has no foundation, no direction and no hope because he is building on a utilitarian philosophy. The broad road is wide and many follow it because it is the easiest and most convenient way to go. Unfortunately, it leads to destruction and hell.

What is the foundation upon which you are building? If you are building on the"shifting sand" of good deeds, charity, communion, baptism, church membership, you are heading in the wrong direction. Christ is the only answer for "He is way, the truth and the life" (John 14:6). He calls for repentance (a turning from our sin & its curse) to the Savior Who alone can redeem us and assure us of eternal life (John 1:12). Are you sure that heaven is your future? You can be if you open your heart and invited Jesus Christ to be your Savior and Lord. The choice is yours! It will determine your destiny.