The Two Foundations. Two Outcomes.

Matthew 7:24-29

There are Two Types of People. One is Wise and One is Foolish. There are Two Houses. And Only One will be left Standing in the End.

(Story) As children, We use to build sticks forts in the woods, that would never last very long, after time and a few storms come along. Back then and now, we can build some very descent sandcastles on the beach… But when the tide comes in… disaster comes every time.

We have all seen the difference between mobile homes and steel structures after big storms…

Keep these images as we hear and obey God’s Word today.

Therefore...

Remember the rule: If there is a “therefore”… You have to find out what the “therefore” is there for...

In light of what has been said earlier… Therefore...

What has been said?

We have this whole sermon, and it is coming to a close here...

What was just stated was that there is a Narrow way that leads to life and there are few who find it, and that there is a Broad way that leads to destruction… and many enter through it...

There will be good trees and bad trees… and you will know them by their fruit. You will know the difference between false Christians/false teacher/preachers… by their lifestyles, by what their lives produce… by how they act.

Not everyone who says “Lord, Lord… will enter the Kingdom of Heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven… Those may enter...

There are many professions of faith without possessions of faith. How will you know the real from the fake…? They will do what Christ commands...

And on that day of judgment… Jesus will say, “I never knew you. Depart from Me, You who practice lawlessness/sin.”

They do not practice God’s Word...

So, we are following this, flowing from this into verses 24-29.

We see two builders in this world, in this life. One is wise and one is foolish. These descriptions point to the spiritual and moral state of the person. We are not talking about intellect or I.Q.

We are comparing two people who use what has been given to them differently.

Both men have been given something. They use what has been given to them to build their houses.

Now: From the outside, just looking at the houses, they look the same. They look good. Maybe one looks better than the other. The studs and framework are on 16 in centers, they have two stories, big columns, and wonderful trim work.

One may look like a mansion and one may look like the normal/regular 2000 sq. foot house… They both may be mansions or 2000 sq. foot structures…

They look like fine houses...

The world says they both look like fines homes, that one looks more secure on the outside; I believe that this one will last longer, and I would prefer this one over that one, based on the outside…

And they will say this ...until when?

Until the storm comes. Then it will be revealed what it was made of, and what kind of builder built it

What does the storm represent? A time of testing… A time of trials and tribulations… And or a time of judgement.

So, spiritually speaking: Jesus is laying it out like this - These two men have heard Jesus’s words. Both of them hear the same message, the same teachings… And then they respond differently.

There will be two types of people in this world. Two types of builders.

Both builders are building with no intentions of the house falling. Both have confidence that the houses will stand…

But one’s confidence is in the Lord and the other man’s is in himself, or in this world’s wisdom...

They are both going to be hit by the same storms of life. They are living in the same area. It doesn’t matter that they are rich or poor, black, white, Hispanic, upper class, middle class, or lower… They have the same teachings, there are no special advantages...

There are Two different Builders and Two different Outcomes.

Jesus is speaking to the people and is saying: The house represents your True religious life.

What does it look like? What will it look like? What do you want it to look like?

Are you building your life on the Rock, or are you building your life on the Sand?

There are Two Types of People. One is Wise and One is Foolish. There are Two Houses. And Only One will be left Standing in the End.

Dear folks… Lets talk...

Is your life built on your own righteousness, your own works, your own performances? Is your life, your standing before God based on your own goodness, your church attendance, your power, positions or title…

Listen: You are building your life on sinking sand that will leave your lives in ruin...

Are you building your lives, your family on the Word of God, or are you building it on money and prestige? Are you building your family on status, having the right look… Is everything about houses, cars, property, schools, and vacation spots…? Is everything about looking right, without being right with God? Is your focus, “looking good,” rather than being holy?

You are building your lives, your families on sand.

Are you, are we building our churches on worldly models, vain traditions, personal likes and dislikes. Is it built on the pastor, on the choir, on the Lambs, on the Branches, or the Carters...

Some individuals, families, and churches look like million dollar mansions on the outside, but they are built on top of the sand next to a steep cliff.

And the storms are coming...

These individuals, families, and churches do not build on the Word of God. They do not seek Christ as a family. They do not want to live for Him, give their lives for Him. They may read the Bible sometimes, and they may go to church on Sundays...

But they only read it… They only hear it… and they never do it… They never live it out… These folks are building on the sand...

You are forever hearing, but you are never doing it. You open your Bibles, listen to sermons and lessons… And you never do what you hear...

This is Your Religion, and it is Dead, Empty, and Foolish.

You may be building your lives on Charles Darwin, Karl Marx, Oprah, Hollywood, and your favorite singers...

You are or may be committed to the teachings of this world and to the vain philosophies of this age…

All of it is sinking sand, and it will not hold you and keep you standing for all eternity.

Have you ever stopped and considered how all of the teachings of this world have changed over time...

What is acceptable today was not acceptable 30 years ago. The ideas of gender, marriage, social norms, how people talk to one another… A few years ago, you will get scolded for not saying “sir, or mam...” and today you will get scolded for saying “sir and mam...”

The standards of dress has changed. The standards of teaching, and sources for education has changed, history books are changing.

The Democratic of today is not the Democratic Party of 30 years ago. The Republican Party is not the same party of 30 years ago...

This world is wired to change… to shift...

And all throughout time, the world changes, teachings change, philosophy changes...

That is the world in which we live in. Everything moves. Everything changes. Everything shifts...

So: How can we build safe and secure lives? How can there be any security for us? How can we build our lives here… If everything moves?

By Going to the Bed-Rock of Life!

There is only One Who does not change. There is only One Absolute Who never changes...

And HE is God. He is the Absolute. He is the Bedrock. His Word is the Bedrock for life and living… On this Bed… you can rest. On this Bed you can have peace.

And if you want any stability for life, for living, for your family… If you want to be secure, assured and confident, and persevere until the end...

There is only One Way, One Truth, and One Life to Turn to.

There are Two Types of People. One is Wise and One is Foolish. There are Two Houses. And Only One will be left Standing in the End.

Jesus is the Final Authority. He is the Builder of Life and Living

-Psalm 127:1 - Unless the Lord builds the house, the builders labor in vain. Proverbs 24:3-4 - By wisdom a house is built...

The Fool says in his heart, “There is no God; My way is best and I will go my own way… I will eat, drink and be merry, fill up my barns with money...”

And you fool, your life will come to an end today. The storm is coming today. There will be no one to hold you. there will be no one and nothing to keep you going… And in the end, there is no one to save you… You are foolish!

“Hey, don’t call me a fool; don’t call me foolish!”

This is what the Bible says...

But the Wise man says, “ There is a God, there is a Master, and I am not Him, so I will go to the Source of my life and hear and do what He tells me to do...”

The Source of life knows life, gives life, he alone can guide and direct life, fill life, and sustain life...

This makes sense… that I would trust, follow and obey Him...

The fear/the knowledge of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. And the Obedience to His Truth will build a Life that will last forever.

The wise will say, “You are God, God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit… You are My Rock and my Refuge; You are the Rock of Ages… And my life belongs to You… Now speak into my life and I will do what you say… I will build my life on You!”

This is faith in motion. This is building on the solid rock. This is a life of obedience. This is wisdom lived out.

Jesus has just preached this sermon, and He is coming to a close… Now in light of what the audience just heard… they are called to obey and build...

To summarize “the life” of the wise builder throughout the sermon:

It will be a life that has a scriptural view of itself, as described in the Beatitudes.

It will be a life that has a scriptural view of the world, and will agree to be light and salt in the world, but will not conform itself to it...

It will be a life that has a divine view of Scripture, and you will never attempt to alter it or hold man’s teachings above it.

It will be a life concerned with internal righteousness rather than external expressions or religion.

It will be a life of godly attitudes: You will have godly desires and motives; you will see and deal with money, with people, and possessions the way Christ commands you to.

It will be a life of genuineness rather than a life of hypocrisy. You will have integrity and consistency.

It will be a life that clings to God’s righteousness, and not to self-righteousness.

When Satan comes, bringing accusations…We obey the Word and the Promises of God, and We will continue to stand firm.

When laughter and ridicule enters in, the Word of the Lord will keep us courageous...

When pain and death comes, we will see life through God’s eyes, rest in God’s care, be comforted with His words… and we will persevere.

When the earth moves and all is shaken. When the nations are moved and the seas are violent...

When all is broken part and is carried off into the sea...

We will be standing firm. We will stand until the end. We will endure and we will not fall...

Because we have build our lives on the Person and Word of God…

His Word will prevail.

His Wise People, the Wise Builders, will prevail and persevere..

The Wise will be Good Trees. The Wise will walk on the Narrow Road. The Wise will practice the Word, not sin. The Wise will flourish and will be very fruitful.

There are Two Types of People. One is Wise and One is Foolish. There are Two Houses. And Only One will be left Standing in the End.

And Jesus says, “Blessed are you if you hear these words of mine and practice them...”

Jesus says, “That those who do the will of God are His true family members… That obedience is thicker than blood...”

How have you been building your lives?

Have we been hearers only… and not doers?

Is it time to start making some changes today?

Is this our prayer?

Here I am, here we are Lord, I want to be wise. Not in my eyes, but in yours. I want to build a life that will last, that will endure. I want to build my life, family, my church,

… I want it to last. I want to go through the trials and pains of life… and still be left standing. I want to go through death… And still be living with you...

Here I am… I am here… And I commit my life to do your will, to obey your Word… today.

Pray and Close.