Real Talk with Roderick
How Is Your Foundation? (Matthew 21:42)
My grandparents built a humble home on the east side of San Antonio. Although it was very unremarkable I thought it was grand. One day as I was standing on the porch of their home looking at the brick columns I noticed somthing. I remarked to my grandfather that "Most of the bricks have some sort of rough place and extra concrete on them." It was then that he told me that the house was made of used or leftover bricks. They were not good enough for the former building. But they had made a great home for us.
As Jesus nears the end of His earthly ministry it becomes painfully obvious that the rulers do not regard Him as someone with whom ministry can be built. There is terrible irony in the fact that Jesus was rejected by His own people. However, He was and is in fact the foundation of living. Apart from Him we can do nothing!
Jesus said to them, “Have you never read in the Scriptures: ‘The stone which the builders rejected Has become the chief cornerstone. This was the Lord’s doing, And it is marvelous in our eyes’? (Matthew 21:42)
How is your foundation? That is, what are you building your life on? A great job? A good marriage? Romance? Promoting the success of children? Civic duty or the promotion of your nation? Ministry? None of these things are bad investments of time. But they cannot be the basis for life. If the answer is not Jesus the answer is wrong. (Ministry and Jesus are not the same thing. The former is a calling but cannot save or give lasting peace. The latter calls, saves, and gives everlasting life.) You are in fact building on sand and the results will be tragic.
24 “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.” (Matthew 7:24-27)
Stop building on a bad foundation. Start today building on a good foundation: Jesus Christ. It will mean the transfer of trust and hope from something that looks promising to Someone that is proven.
In His grip by His grace,
Roderick L. Barnes, Sr.
Pastor of Unusually Great People
Three Rivers Community Church