What Is Your Foundation?

September 30, 2007

Introduction

As little children, many of us sang, “The wise man built his house upon the rock.” Most of us know where that statement comes from, but let’s re-read the text this morning:

(Mat 7:24-27 NKJV) "Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: {25} "and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock. {26} "But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: {27} "and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall."

Yesterday, I looked at a portion of a Day of Discovery program that I had recorded. It showed Japan after the atomic bomb was dropped. There were interviews of some who had lived in Japan at the time, and the spoke of how they felt. They held up the newspapers with the huge head lines: “Japan Surrenders!” The people spoke of how devastating that was. They had been taught to give their lives, if need be, to defend Japan, and now it is all over. A man, who had flow missions to bomb Japan, came back to Japan to preach Christ, and the people loved him and turned to the Lord. Here was a foundation for their lives when their future had seemingly been destroyed.

So today, “What is your Foundation?” Does it matter? The foundation of a house is so important, but the foundation of your life is more important. “What is your foundation?”

Body

I. Paul said that Jesus Christ is our foundation.

(1 Cor 3:11 NKJV) For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.

A. Are we building our lives on the foundation of Jesus Christ?

B. Jesus said the stone upon which we are to build is to build upon his teaching.

(Mat 7:24-25 NKJV) "Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: {25} "and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock.

What are the choices?

1. The words of Christ.

2. The traditions of men.

(Mat 15:9 NKJV) "And in vain they worship Me, Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.'""

3. I choose the words of Christ

II. How about Christ’s words from the cross?

Let’s begin with forgiveness.

(Luke 23:33-34 NKJV) "And when they had come to the place called Calvary, there they crucified Him, and the criminals, one on the right hand and the other on the left. {34} Then Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do." And they divided His garments and cast lots."

1. If we are looking for core beliefs, we must emphasize forgiveness.

2. If Jesus could forgive those who crucified Him, then we must be willing to forgive.

3. It was forgiveness on the part of many that allowed the people of Japan to move on after the atomic bomb.

4. Clearly Jesus taught that unless we forgive we will not be forgiven.

(Mat 6:14-15 NKJV) ""For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. {15} "But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses."

Jesus honored His mother. He took care of her.

(John 19:26-27 NKJV) "When Jesus therefore saw His mother, and the disciple whom He loved standing by, He said to His mother, "Woman, behold your son!" {27} Then He said to the disciple, "Behold your mother!" And from that hour that disciple took her to his own home."

1. Taking care of others has to be a core belief.

2. Jesus came down hard on the Pharisees for not caring for their parents.

(Mat 15:3-6 NKJV) "He answered and said to them, "Why do you also transgress the commandment of God because of your tradition? {4} "For God commanded, saying, 'Honor your father and your mother'; and, 'He who curses father or mother, let him be put to death.' {5} "But you say, 'Whoever says to his father or mother, "Whatever profit you might have received from me is a gift to God"; {6} 'then he need not honor his father or mother.' Thus you have made the commandment of God of no effect by your tradition."

He took our place on the cross.

(Mark 15:34 NKJV) "And at the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, "Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?" which is translated, "My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?""

1. He is our Savior!

2. He took our place and paid the price of our sins.

3. He is our only hope.

(Acts 4:12 NKJV) ""Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.""

He committed Himself to God.

(Luke 23:46 NKJV) "And when Jesus had cried out with a loud voice, He said, "Father, 'into Your hands I commit My spirit.' " Having said this, He breathed His last."

1. Our lives and our eternity are in God’s hands.

2. He is the great judge of all the earth, and has committed that judgment to His Son.

(John 5:22 NKJV) ""For the Father judges no one, but has committed all judgment to the Son,"

He said, “It is finished.”

(John 19:30 NKJV) "So when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, "It is finished!" And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit."

1. Jesus had finished the work that He came to do.

2. He purchased our salvation with His own life.

3. Some day our life will be finished one way or other.

Conclusion

What is the foundation for your life?

Does your foundation include Jesus words from the cross?

The necessity of forgiveness. We must forgive.
The necessity caring for our parents and others too.
To appreciate the fact that He took our place on Calvary—He purchased our salvation with His life.
We, like Jesus, will commit our spirits back to God.
One day our life on earth will be finished as His was.

Is your life right with God?

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