SEVEN FOOLS P2

Matthew 7:26 KJV 1900

And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand:

SEVEN FOOLS

FOUNDATION

The great architect Frank Lloyd Wright was given the challenge of building the Imperial Hotel in Tokyo, one of the most earthquake-prone cities in the world. Wright's investigation showed that a solid foundation could be "floated" on a sixty-foot layer of soft mud underlying the hotel, which would provide a shock-absorbing but solid support for the immense building. Shortly after the hotel was completed it withstood the worst earthquake in fifty-two years, while lesser buildings fell in ruins around it.

The Leaning Tower of Pisa in Italy is going to fall. Scientists travel yearly to measure the building's slow descent. They report that the 179-foot tower moves about one-twentieth of an inch a year, and is now 17 feet out of plumb. They further estimate that by the year 2007 the 810-year old tower will have leaned too far and will collapse onto the nearby ristorante, where scientists now gather to discuss their findings. Quite significantly, the word "pisa" means "marshy land," which gives some clue as to why the tower began to lean even before it was completed. Also--its foundation is only 10 feet deep!

The Fool Who Builds Upon the Sand

The first consideration in any building, is a firm foundation

An architect explained to us, once, the care that prevailed as to the foundations of the great sky scrapers that abound in New York city. He went into some details as to their constructions, and we were amazed as we beheld the solidity of base that marked man's genius in making secure what he builded thereupon. Yet, too often the very men who go down and down for solid rock, and who build with utmost caution the concrete foundation work of earthly buildings, are building their hopes of Heaven on the shifting sands.

Some of the "sandy foundations upon which men build their hope of eternal life

Some build upon their own righteousness

They think that human goodness can be achieved and that, when achieved, it will suffice all demands for an entrance into life eternal.

Titus 3:5 KJV 1900

Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;

The Word of God, however, says, "Not by works of righteousness which we have done."

How can our righteousness save, when our righteousness is no more than filthy rags?

Some build upon some great and noble deed

They make a beneficent and bountiful gift to some worthy cause, and think they have thereby bought their way to Heaven's bliss.

They do some humanitarian work, they build an orphanage, or a college, or a city hospital, and think themselves entitled, thereby, to a full salvation.

They go to the front in time of war and pay the "supreme sacrifice" for their fatherland, and therefore suppose atonement has been made for their sins.

1 Corinthians 3:11 KJV 1900

For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.

But all of these are building on the sands. For, "other foundation can no man lay, than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ."

Some build upon church-membership and upon church ordinances.

But no man can safely build upon the church, for the church is no more than a superstructure, and is, itself, a building and not a foundation for the building.

The church is an assembly of the saved, and not an assembly of the unsaved. The unsaved, by practicing those things which belong to the saved, cannot thereby become saved. We need to get back to the impregnable rock of the Scriptures, and remember Christ is the Word.

"My hope is built on nothing less, Than Jesus' Blood and righteousness, I dare not trust the sweetest frame, But wholly lean on Jesus' name. On Christ the solid rock, I stand, All other ground is sinking sand."

Let us note the end of the one who builds upon the sand

"The rain descended, and the floods came and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it."

God will sweep away every refuge of lies. Every false hope, every false trust will prove futile in the day of His judgments.

Only those who have builded upon Christ will stand.

The others will go down in the storm. Imagine the cyclone of God's wrath as it breaks against a world of sin; imagine the great white throne and Him Who sits upon it: He will judge righteously.

In that day there will be but one hope and that is Jesus Christ.

The Fool Who Lays Up Treasures for Himself

Luke 12:20 KJV 1900

But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?

"But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast acquired?" ().

We have before us a most common fool. All around us there are those who are doing just what this fool did. Let us notice the marks of his folly.

He had a wrong conception of life

His idea of living was "Eat, drink and be merry."

Ecclesiastes concludes that this is all there is for a man in this life. And, since Ecclesiastes is viewing the man under the sun, who has no Christ and knows nothing of another and a better world; of course, Ecclesiastes is right. The man of the world can find nothing better than to eat and to drink and to be merry; than to anoint his body with oil; than to live happily with the wife of his youth; than to enjoy good in his labor.

What else has he? That alone is his portion. And yet, to such an one, God says: "Thou fool." We need to see that the world is "vanity," a mere glittering soap bubble. We need to count all these earthly things as refuse.

We need to "lay up treasures in Heaven." We need to look "at the things which are above." We need to "love not the world."

He lived altogether for himself

It was all "I," and "my." He said "I have much goods," "What shall I do?" "I have no room," "my fruits," "my barn," "my goods," "my soul."

This man could never get beyond the personal pronoun of his own things. God said he was a fool; God said: "So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God."

And are there not many such people? "They look every one on their own things." They luxuriate and live wantonly, "pride compasseth them about as a chain," "their eyes stand out with fatness: they have more than heart could wish."

He received his just condemnation

"This night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be which thou hast acquired?"

Before one judges the lot of the wicked, the wicked who appear so prosperous, and who live for themselves, he should consider their latter end.

Surely God didst set them in slippery places: he catchedst them down to destruction. "How are they brought into desolation as in a moment, they are utterly consumed with terrors." Men of the world, ye who are rich toward yourselves and poor toward God, beware! Soon, full soon, you will hear His voice: "Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee."