"Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. 26And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. 27And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it." (Matthew 7.24-27 ESV)
Built on the Rock (v. 24-25)
For a life to be built on the Rock, Christ’s Words are the Key (see v. 24). The person who hears the Word Jesus spoke and does what He taught builds his life on the Rock- Christ. He is a person who is wise, likened in this passage to a person who builds a house on a strong foundation so that it will stand in adverse conditions. Or, more specifically, like a house build on a rock (solid foundation).
Weathering the storm (v. 25) is made possible through the strength drawn from a life in Christ. When the storm comes and beats on the house, it remains standing. There is a strength that the firmness of the foundation lends to the house built thereupon. Jesus says that the house stands on the strong foundation.
Obviously, Christ is the strong foundation and trusting in Him is standing on the Rock. Therefore, trusting in Him gets us through the storms. The storms are not strong enough to tear down the shelter or refuge we find in Jesus.
Built on the Sand (v. 26-27)
For a life to be built on the sand, Christ’s words are simply ignored (v. 26). The person who hears and ignores the Word of Christ is unwise or “foolish.” The structure he spends his life building is like unto a house on a shifting foundation: it will not stand for the duration. It is clearly reflected in the well-known song lyrics: “On Christ the solid Rock I stand, all other ground is sinking sand.”
When our lives are not built on the Word of Christ, we are overwhelmed by the storm (v. 27). We are guaranteed that storms will come. Accordingly, when they do come, a life that has chosen to ignore Christ is like the house that is destroyed. It is illustrated in Psalm 127.1 (ESV) “Unless the LORD builds the house, those who build it labor in vain. Unless the LORD watches over the city, the watchman stays awake in vain.”
Built on Christ (Conclusion)
Christ is the Rock- He is the cornerstone. He is the One who gives strength to the structure. Being the point of strength in the structure Jesus is the inspiration for the following Scripture: Ephesians 2.19-21 (ESV) “So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, 21 in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord.”
Jesus is the solid rock foundation that will weather the worst of life’s storms. There is a promise that things will not always be easy, but He will see us through. In fact, in Hebrews 13.5 (ESV) the writer says, “he has said, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you.’”
The Way to Salvation
Salvation comes only through Jesus Christ (John 14.6/Acts 4.12)
Recognize ourselves sinful (Romans 3.23 “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God”);
Recognize that Jesus is the Son of God who died a death penalty on our behalf, paying the wages for our sins giving us eternal life (Romans 6.23 “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”);
Recognize that we are to call on Jesus for salvation and commit our lives to Him (Romans 10.13, Philippians 3.14, “For 'everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.'” and “I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”)
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