Reading from the Holy Gospel—Matthew 7:24-29
24"Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock.
25The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock.
26But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand.
27The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash." 28When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching, 29because he taught as one who had authority, and not as their teachers of the law.
Does anyone know what this is?
I know one person here this morning that does. Jim Lindgren, as a contractor, I bet you know what it is.
In the world of construction it is called a ‘Red Tag’.
If this would be placed on your building project what would it mean?
You stop all work, right?
As I read this scripture I thought about housing construction today and the fact that there are uniform building codes. Houses must be built to code or they will be ‘red tagged’ with one of these.
The staff at Carmel City Hall must have thought that it was a little strange that I went in and asked if I could have a ‘red tag’. I had never seen one before.
Jim probably hopes he never sees one in the future!
This message is a simple one, “Houses must be built to code and so must our lives.”
What is the uniform building code for our lives?
Who issues ‘red tags’ for us if we do not build our lives according to code?
These are some of the questions that I have asked as I worked on this message.
On more than one occasion Jesus used the example of constructing a building to make a serious point.
1. Wise people build their lives on a solid foundation. Every architect knows that. However, it happens from time to time that the principle of a solid foundation is ignored . . . with disastrous consequences.
Joe Emerson in his book, I Wanted the Elevator, But I Got the Shaft, tells about a skyscraper called the Columbus Building that was erected in 1893 in Chicago.
When the Columbus Building was erected it soared above the city, but slowly it began to sink into the sand upon which it was constructed. When it was shored up on one side, it would sink on the other. Finally it had to be torn down. It was impossible to find any way to save it from the shifting sands so it was destroyed in 1959.
Fortunately, by the time the next skyscraper, the Prudential Building, was erected geologists knew what it took to build a skyscraper in Chicago. Pilings were driven 108 feet into the ground. It is still standing today.
One of the self-evident truths of life is: it’s important to build on a solid foundation.
I lived in San Francisco in 1967 when the Bank of America Building was being constructed. I will never forget listening to the pile drivers working day after day driving pilings to bed rock.
I understand that there was little damage here in Carmel in 1989 when the Loma Prieta Earthquake struck because this city is built on rock in comparison to Santa Cruz which is not.
It is significant that Jesus ended the Sermon on the Mount with this parable.
Jesus told the compelling story of two builders who each built a home. Standing inside these homes, going from room to room, there was little to no difference between them. Even from the outside one might say they were virtually indistinguishable from one another but for the foundations, one built upon the rock and the other upon sand.
When Jesus spoke about houses and foundations he knew what he was talking about. He was a stonemason by trade. The Hebrew word for carpenter is the same word for stone mason. Very likely as a young person Jesus was a mason rather than a carpenter. The people understood well the significance of building upon rock verses sand. The sermon comes from the life of these people gathered around Jesus on that day. Jesus was talking about a situation that was very real in the life of the people. Jesus knew that people of all times are involved in building lives.
2. What code are you going to use to build your home? There are all kinds of codes. You ask someone in the construction or architectural business and they will tell you that building codes are complex and sometimes confusing.
In life we have a uniform building code. If you are going to build a home, Jesus said, you must build upon something solid. There are no words more solid on which to base your life than these words from the Sermon on the Mount. The Sermon has been called the
Christian Magna Charta,
the Christian Manifesto,
the Design for Life,
and the Rules for Christian Living.
It contains the
Beatitudes,
the Lord's Prayer,
and the Golden Rule.
It deals with murder, adultery, divorce, oaths, revenge, and worry.
It gives instructions on prayer, giving to the poor, fasting, judging others, and saving money. Just listen to this list of phrases from the Sermon on the Mount that have echoed through the ages: Blessed are the poor in Spirit You Are the Salt of the earth You are the light of the world Let your "Yes" be "Yes" and your "No" be "No" If someone strikes you on the right cheek turn to him the other also Love your enemies Where your treasure is there your heart will be also Seek first the kingdom of God Do not worry about tomorrow Do not judge, or you too will be judged Do not throw your pearls before swine Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find... Do to others what you would have them do to you Enter the narrow gate. Is it any wonder that when Jesus finished saying these things that, "the crowds were amazed at his teaching." So, it is no coincidence when Jesus ends his teaching by saying there were those who were wise and they built their house upon the rocks and there were those who were foolish for they built their house upon the sands.
We ourselves determine what kind of persons we become. You and I both are building our homes. In the final analysis we ourselves determine what kind of person we become. Everyday of our life, either consciously or unconsciously, we are involved in building.
Who is the wise person? He is the one who anchors his life upon the word of God 3. Everyone must occupy the house they build.
Some property can be rented or leased, but not our souls. In the end there is absolutely one person that we must live with: ourselves. A certain rich man wanted to help someone. He saw the squalor in which a certain poor carpenter lived with his large family. The rich man sent for the carpenter and placed in his hands the blueprint for a nice home.
He ordered that the house be made beautifully and sturdy, and that the best materials be used, regardless of the price. He further explained that he was going on an extended trip and wanted the house completed when he returned. Seeing the chance to make a huge profit, the carpenter skimped on materials, hired inexperienced workers at low wages, and covered mistakes with paint. When the rich man returned the carpenter handed him the keys to the house and told him that his instructions had been carried out to the letter.
Good, replied the rich man as he returned the keys to him. For the house that you have been building is yours. You and your family are to live in it. In the years that followed the builder often regretted that he had cheated himself. You and I are building houses with either good or shoddy material. We are building according to code or we are cutting corners. Jesus warned us to build our houses wisely, because the keys are going to be handed to us and we are going to have to live with what we have created.
4. The real test in life comes when the storms are upon us.
Why is a code important?
One day the storms will come and our lives will be tested. The question is how we hold up during the storms of life. Interestingly, Jesus made it clear that the storms came to both houses. Neither was sparred. The storm hit them both.
We know what it is like to have one of life's storms smash against you and leave you breathless.
Whether it is sickness,
or the loss of a loved one,
or a family problem,
or a marital relationship,
or troubles at work,
or financial problems—
most of us have been there.
We know how frightening and shattering the storms can be. Jesus warned not to build your house for fair weather only. You will not be spared, for no one in life, good or bad, is spared. The storm came and it beat against both houses. In 1992, Hurricane Andrew destroyed thousands of homes in South Florida. Yet in an area where the wreckage looked like a war zone, one house remained standing, still firmly anchored to its foundation. When a reporter asked the homeowner why his house had not been blown away, he replied, "I built this house myself. I also built it according to the Florida state building code. When the code called for 2" x 6" roof trusses, I used 2" x 6" roof trusses. I was told that a house built according to code could withstand a hurricane-- and it did." How has your house weathered the storms?
Every house is tested. The difference is not in the weather; it is in the foundation upon which the house is anchored. It is a foolish person who thinks they can begin constructing a proper foundation when they are in the midst of the storm and the floodwaters. When life is rushing upon us; it is then too late. It is my hope this morning that all of us will build according to the code found in the Sermon on the Mount, and that we will build on the only one true foundation--Jesus Christ.
