Real Foundation

A thought came to me the other day. I thought about all that I had read and been taught over the years concerning Jesus’ teaching at the end of Matthew 7, the conclusion to the Sermon on the Mount.

“Anyone who hears and obeys these teachings of mine is like a wise person who built a house on solid rock. Rain poured down, rivers flooded, and winds beat against that house. But it did not fall, because it was built on solid rock. Anyone who hears my teachings and doesn't obey them is like a foolish person who built a house on sand. The rain poured down, the rivers flooded, and the winds blew and beat against that house. Finally, it fell with a crash.” Matthew 7:24-28

You probably are very familiar with this story. At some point in the Christian journey, we are all challenged to build our lives on the firm foundation of Jesus Christ. The Bible teaches that Jesus is the Cornerstone (Matthew 24:32), the one true foundation (I Corinthians 3:11). “The wise man built his house upon the rock” – the Sunday School song echoes in our head.

But if I were to ask you to close your eyes, to clear your thoughts and then create a mental image based on a given word, what vision comes to mind with the word “foundation”? My mental image is that of a construction site with either a concrete slab or gray concrete blocks stacked and mortared in precise rows.

All in all, a solid foundation, quite in line with local building codes. But a concrete foundation is not the same as a foundation of solid, bedrock. And there is where my heart realized the problem. Concrete is not rock. Concrete is strong and very flexible in its uses. In fact, more concrete is used than any other man-made material on the planet. But therein lies the problem: concrete, regardless of its strength, is man-made. In fact, the irony is that concrete is a mixture of crushed rock and sand, a mixture that might give you some strength for a while. But ask anyone who has ever poured concrete and they will be quick to tell you that you MUST reinforce the concrete or it will not stand up to the weathering and deterioration caused by wear-and tear. But even then, the steel rebar used to reinforce is fallible, subject to rust.

You just can’t mix sand and rock and expect the same strength or dependability as solid, natural rock. For many years, I tried to mix the “sand” of my own idols, agendas, and motives in with good intentions to include enough “rock” so as to add strength, all the while desiring to pour the substance into my forms. It did not work. And the truth is, this is a hard proposition. I want to bring sand to the construction site and every time, it undermines the building process. Then a storm comes and I am reminded in a dramatic way…sometimes a devastating way…I need the solid rock. So may we all learn.

Oh, and by the way, verse 29 of Matthew 7 says that the people were astonished at the teaching of Jesus because He taught as one who had authority. So the next time you spend time with our Teacher, look to be astonished!