We’ve all witnessed image after image from the devastation of Hurricane Helene in Western North Carolina and in other areas. It almost seems unreal, doesn’t it? No doubt, you’ve been in awe as you watched videos showing the power of the flood waters sweeping away cars, houses, bridges and even entire towns. These images came to my mind this week as we studied Matthew 7:24-27 in the Sermon on the Mount. When the storms of life beat against your house, will it stand or will it be swept away? It all depends on your foundation.

At the end of Jesus’ famous sermon on a mountaintop, he extends a call to come to him. A call to take the narrow path, the way of suffering. He is inviting his hearers to put their feet into action, to walk in the path few find and recognize that he is the gate. He is the only way to gain entrance as a citizen of heaven. Jesus warns of dangers without (false guides) and dangers within (false saviors). He closes out his sermon with a parable of two builders, two houses, two foundations and an unrelenting storm.

“Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And 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. And 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. And 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

There are similarities and differences present in this parable. Both builders heard Jesus’ words. Both builders construct a house on a foundation. Both houses experience the exact same intensity of storm. The differences are one builder heard Jesus’ words and acted on them, he was labeled a wise man. The other builder heard Jesus’ words but did not act on them, he was called a foolish man. The wise man built his house on bedrock, a solid and sure foundation. The foolish man built his house on shifting sand.

Then, the storm comes. The rain smacked against the windows, the floods rose, the winds blew and beat against the houses. The parting clouds reveal the outcome. The house on the sand fell and it was a great fall, but the house on the rock remained standing. The ESV says the reason it remained standing (although, I’m sure battered) was because it was founded on the rock.

In those days, the foundation was almost as important, if not more important than the quality of the construction of the house. Great care was taken to ensure the foundation was solid bedrock. They had to dig down deep (Luke 6:48) to find bedrock before they could confidently build into that foundation. Otherwise, there would be no hope for that house when the storms hit.

This parable is a call to build our lives on Christ, the only sure and solid foundation. We must dig down deep into him and the truth of his word as the foundation for our lives if we are to withstand the storms of life. When financial struggles, sickness, persecution, job loss, ruptured relationships, or any other difficulties beat against your soul, even if all is lost, even if our house is battered and beaten, we have Christ as a sure foundation for our souls. What does your foundation look like? What are you building your life on? Dig down deep into Christ and his words. Layer by layer let them form the firm foundation you need to endure the storms of life.

Christ is my firm foundationThe rock on which I standWhen everything around me is shakenI've never been more gladThat I put my faith it Jesus'Cause He's never let me downHe's faithful through generationsSo why would He fail now?He won't

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