As One with Authority (1): The Foundation of Authority -- January 17, 2010

"Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash."

When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching, because he taught as one who had authority, and not as their teachers of the law.

(Matthew 7:24-29)

In Cuba, baseball is king -- except when Fidel Castro, Cuba's former dictator, would come up to bat. A few years ago during an exhibition game against Venezuela, Castro actually grabbed a bat and made his way to the plate. Not to be outdone, the president of Venezuela, Hugo Chavez, went to the pitcher's mound! The first pitch didn't even reach the plate, so Castro kept the bat on his shoulder. The next pitch was actually over the plate, and Castro swung and missed. A couple of more balls and an attempted bunt later, the two heads of state were locked in a full count. Castro watched the 3-2 pitch go straight through the strike zone as the umpire called him out.

But Castro said, "No, that was a ball." What's the ump supposed to do? Castro took first base. No one argued. Chavez said nothing. The opposing team said nothing. The umpire said nothing. Later, Castro joked, "Today just wasn't Chavez's day." (1001 Illustrations that Connect, Larson and Ten Elshof eds., pg.429, 430)

That's authority. But it's not true authority. It's an abuse of real authority. Jesus' authority is of a totally different kind. His is one that is real and true.

As we begin our series on Jesus' authority, Jesus wraps up His sermon on the with a story. It's a simple story about a two home-builders. One built their house on a rock, the other built their house on the sand. It's a simple story. But there were a number of similarities between the two builders that are somewhat surprising.

Similarity #1: Both men heard the word of Jesus. They both heard the Word! Some people site the old adage when it comes to going to church, and hearing the word. You know, that one about "80 or 90% of life is just showing up". We may feel all religious or accomplished for just showing up in church because so many people don't even bother to do that. But "just showing up" is great for motivational speeches -- but both builders showed up! They both heard the Word of Jesus! But only one's work survived.

Similarity #2: Both were building their lives on something. Neither of these guys were just hanging out, surfing the 'net and watching Oprah all day! They were both hard at work! They were busy!! They both built houses!!! I can barely put a hockey net together, no less build an entire house, but that's what these guys did! They weren't goof-offs!

But that isn't the point. Sheer productivity, sheer activity, sheer accomplishment isn't the point. You and I will never come across a tomb stone that reads, "If only he spent more time at the office"! It's not the point.

The point is: What's the foundation ... what's the foundation you and I are building our lives upon? I have talked with many, many people who don't know Jesus, and they are full of the accomplishments, the accolades, and the busy-ness of their lives. And many of those people are frankly, far more talented, far more accomplished than I will ever be. But I often wonder if their foundation is secure. Are they building their lives on Self, or are they building their lives on something, and more specifically, Someone who will last?

Third and last similarity: For both builders, the storms came. Part of the brilliant poetic nature of Jesus' story is that He uses the exact same words to describe the fate of both builders. For both builders, "the rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house". FOR BOTH THE STORMS CAME!

My friends, it's not a question of if, it is a question of when. Could be anything. Could be a storm of accident. Could be a storm of disease. Could be a storm of divorce. Could be a storm of doubt. Could be a storm of depression. Could be a storm of loss. Could be a storm of temptation. Could be a storm of suffering for the faith and standing up for what's right. I know I could be blamed for being too negative, but sooner or later, for each one of us -- believer or nonbeliever, it doesn't matter, the storm's coming.

The only question is, Will we have a foundation that can enable us withstand the storm? The question is, How's the foundation? So three similarities: Both heard the Word, both were busy building, both had storms.

But there are four big differences between the two as well: One difference is that one builder is described by Jesus as a wise person, and the other is described as a foolish person. My friends, we're not just talking about intellectual ability, we're talking about life wisdom that endures of the long haul. You don't need a PhD to be wise. In fact, truth be told, I've known many people who possessed PhDs who weren't wise at all! Conversely, I've known many who are wise beyond any kind of formal education -- they're wise in the ways of the Lord. Chuck Swindoll once said that "Wisdom is the God-given ability to see life with rare objectivity and to handle life with rare stability." (C. Swindoll, Tale of the Tardy Ox Cart, pg.613) So that's the first big difference: one was wise, the other was foolish.

The next difference is that the wise builder built his house on the rock, while the foolish builder built his house on the sand. The wise builder's foundation was firm, strong and enduring, while the foolish builder's foundation was shifting, weak, and temporary. (*** illustration/quotation about stability or a firm foundation?)

The third difference is the tragic result: The wise builder's house stood firm in the midst of the storm, but the foolish builder's house fell with a great crash. "(A)nd great was the fall of it" (KJV); "it fell with a great crash" (NIV); "it collapsed like a house of cards" (The Message).

But the key difference? The key difference is that crucial fourth difference between these two builders: One heard the Word of Jesus, and then put it into practice. The other heard the Word of Jesus, but did not put it into practice. Whereas in the previous passage, vs.21-23, Jesus makes a distinction between "saying" and "doing", here the Lord makes the distinction between "hearing" and "doing" (Stott).

It's not just enough to hear the Word, we gotta put it into practice! The wise builder builds to withstand anything. Those who pretend to have faith, those who merely have an intellectual agreement to the faith, those who just content themselves to just have a "little bit of Jesus" here and there -- they're the ones who build their lives on the sand; they build their lives on a foundation that'll eventually give up and give out.

It's interesting that when Jesus preaches His sermon in Luke's gospel, He talks about this issue of depth. In Luke 6:48 Jesus talks about a man who "dug down deep and laid the foundation on the rock" (emphasis mine). In Luke 6:47 Jesus speaks in personal terms of coming to personal faith in Him -- He talks about the person "who comes to me and hears my voice" (emphasis mine). Ultimately, it's Jesus Himself who is that Rock, that solid foundation on which to build our lives, on Whom we can base our faith and trust and obedience. But it needs to be a living faith, a real faith that is lived out.

It's a faith that comes to Him daily in prayer. It's a faith that's strong and brave enough to share in small groups with close Christian friends. It's a faith that is compassionate enough to share winsomely with our non-Christian friends. It is a faith that is cherished enough that it is shared lovingly with our children. But it needs to be a faith that is lived out.

Wilbur Nelson once put it like this: "When I see the magnificent Golden Gate Bridge, I remember that an engineer must take into account three loads, or stresses, while designing bridges. These are: the dead load, the live load, and the wind load.

"The dead load is the weight of the bridge itself. The live load is the weight of the daily traffic that bridge must carry. The wind load is the pressure of the storms that beat on the bridge. The designer plans for bracings that will enable the bridge to bear all these loads."

Nelson goes on to say, "In our lives, too, we need bracings which make it possible to carry the dead load of self, the live load of daily living, and the wind load of emergencies. When we place our trust in Christ, He gives us the strength we need to withstand these various stresses. He thus gives our lives usefulness, stability, and durability." (quoted in Swindoll, pg.579)

It is so easy and tempting to build our lives on things other than a radical, all-out obedience to Jesus, but there's only one way to be ready for a storm. And we can trust Him. Please be careful to note Matthew 7:28 and 29. It says there that the people were amazed because Jesus taught as one who had authority. He speaks with authority -- the kind of authority that has the ability to do something, the kind of authority that has the innate right of power, the kind of authority that is strong enough to save and to help and to protect. Matthew says that the people were surprised by His authority, they were "astonished" (KJV); they were "amazed" (NIV); they were "astounded" (NEB). I love the way The Message translation put it. It says, "it was apparent he was living everything he was saying" (The Message). Wow. Wouldn't that be awesome if that could be said of us -- that it was apparent we as individuals were living everything we were saying? It was that kind of authority. In the gospels the crowds recognized that authority even if they didn't totally always understand it. But His is an authority you can trust.

One great preacher put it like this: He does not have to call for help, and you can't confuse Him. He doesn't need you and He doesn't need me. He stands alone in the solitude of Himself. He's august and He's unique. He's unparalleled; He's unprecedented: He's supreme and pre-eminent. ... He's the superlative of everything good that you can call Him. I'm trying to tell you -- you can trust Him!

He can satisfy all your needs and He can do it simultaneously. He supplies strength for the weak. He's available for the tempted and tried; He sympathizes and He sees. He guards and He guides. He heals the sick. He cleansed the lepers. He forgives the sinners. He discharges the debtors. He delivers the captives. He defends the feeble. He blesses the young. He regards the aged; He rewards the diligent. He beautifies the meek. I'm trying to tell you -- you can trust Him!

... He's the Master of the mighty. He's the Captain of the conquerors. He's the Head of the heroes. He's the Leader of the legislators. He's the Overseer of the overcomers. He's the Governor of the governors. He's the Prince of princes. He's the King of kings. He's the Lord of lords. You can trust Him! ... His yoke is easy, His burden is light. I wish I could describe Him to you! He is indescribable because He's incomprehensible. He's irresistible and He's invincible. You can't get Him off your hands. You can't get Him out of your mind. You can't outlive Him and you can't live without Him. ... Death couldn't handle Him. And thank God the grave couldn't hold Him. There was nobody before Him. There will be nobody after Him. He had no predecessor, You can't impeach Him, and He's not going to resign. YOU CAN TRUST HIM! (quoted in E. Lutzer, Ten Lies about God, pg.192-194)

Yes. Yes, you and I can trust Him. Somebody once said, Sometimes God calms the storm -- and sometimes he lets the storm rage and calms his child. The question is, Will we, through faith, sit at His feet, like a little child, ready to listen, ready to act, eyes wide open, mouth slung open, mind churning, living, accepting, believing? Will we build our lives upon the Rock?