Matt. 7:21-29       “Building According To Code”

     Throughout the long day Jesus had been preaching to a huge crowd of people.  And the Scripture tell us that the people were “astounded at his teaching.”  However, Jesus warned them that that wasn’t enough.  It’s never enough simply to listen to the words of Jesus, even though we may listen with approval.  If the words of Jesus are going to have any kind of impact on our lives, then we must not only hear them but we’ve got to act on them as well.  We’ve got to incorporate them into our day-to-day living. 

     To drive this point home Jesus told the compelling story of two builders who each built a home.  Now standing inside each of these homes, going from room to room, one could hardly tell any difference between the two.  Even from the outside one might say these homes were practically indistinguishable from one another.  However, there was one critical difference.  One was built upon the rock and the other upon sand.

     The people listening to Jesus that day understood very well the significance of building upon rock verses sand.  But very few people in ancient Palestine wanted to live in the rocks.  It meant grading the side of a slope and hauling up materials.  Living in the hills made for more difficult travel.  Water had to be hauled up and winter winds were colder.  Most people followed the path of least resistance and built along the riverbeds, where the scenery was more pleasant, the water more conveniently located, and the house was sheltered from the cold winds of winter.  And though flooding was a danger, most of the year the streams simply trickled down the hillsides into the nearby river.

     But when the floodwaters came, and no one ever knew for sure when the floods would come, the resulting flashflood would destroy everything in its path.  Entire towns would be washed away.  House after house would be gone and great would be the fall.

     That’s the image pictured here in Matthew 7.  Jesus paints a picture for the people that not only sounds believable, but he talks about a situation that was very real in the life of the people.  And so this morning I’d like to share some points that we may conclude from this parable of the wise and foolish builders.

     First, this parable suggests that we’re all involved in building, and that the house that we build is built according to a code.  The question is what code are you going to use to build your home?  There are all kinds of codes.

     Do you think Mt. Healthy and Hamilton County have building code regulations that we have to follow in order to construct our new addition and to make sure it’s safe for occupancy?  You bet they do.  Building codes are necessary but they’re often a complex and confusing body of regulations.  To make matters even more complicated, there’s no common language, no uniform building code in the United States that acts as a common guide.  That’s to say, what’s permissible in Mt. Healthy may very well not be allowed where I live in Marysville and vice versa.

     In our church community, however, we do have a common language, a uniform building code and that’s God’s Word.  Moses told the people to put God’s Word in their hearts and souls, that they should bind them on their hands and fix them on their foreheads.  They should teach God’s Word to their children, talk about them when at home and away.  They were to write them on the doorposts of their homes.  In other words, wherever they were the people should see and be reminded of God’s Word. 

     We’re all in the process of building homes.  And it makes a tremendous difference what kind of building code we’re using.  Are you building according to the timeless teachings of Jesus or are you building on the shifting sands of society?  Jesus said the wise person is the one who anchors his or her life upon the Word of God. 

     The second point we can conclude from today’s parable is that everyone must occupy the house they build.  The story is told of a certain rich man who wanted to help certain poor carpenter who had a large family.  The rich man sent for the carpenter and placed in his hands the blueprint for a nice home.  He ordered that the house be beautifully made and sturdy, and that the best materials be used, regardless of the price.  He further explained that he was going on an extended trip and wanted the house completed when he returned.

     Seeing his chance to make a huge profit, the carpenter skimped on materials, hired inexperienced workers at low wages, and covered mistakes with paint.  When the rich man returned the carpenter handed him the keys to the house and told him that his instructions had been carried out to the letter.  Good, replied the rich man as he returned the keys to him.  For the house that you’ve been building is for you and your family to live in.  And in the years that followed, oh how the builder often regretted that he had cheated himself.

     You and I are building houses with either good or shoddy material.  We’re building according to code or we are cutting corners.  Jesus warned us to build our houses wisely, because the keys are going to be handed to us and we’re going to have to live with what we’ve created.  Therefore, we need to be careful how we build.

     Third, today’s parable suggests the real test in life comes when the storms are upon us.  Why is a code important?  Because one day the storms will come and our lives will be tested.   

     It’s interesting that Jesus made it clear that the storms came to both houses.  Neither was spared.  Here’s a truth that can’t be repeated often enough, because there are so many who still cling to the mistaken notion that religion represents a kind of divine insurance policy against trouble.  Yet, the storm in Jesus’ parable was no discriminator.

     But, of course, I don’t have to convince most of you of the reality of what Jesus is saying, because you’ve been there.  You know what it’s like to have one of life’s storms smash against you.  Whether it’s sickness, or the death of a loved one, or a family problem, or a marital relationship, or troubles at work, or financial problems – most of us have been there.  You know how frightening and shattering the storms can be.

     In 1992, Hurricane Andrew destroyed thousands of homes in South Florida.  Yet in an area where the wreckage looked like a war zone, one house remained standing, still firmly anchored to its foundation.

     When a reporter asked the homeowner why his house hadn’t been blown away, he replied, “I built this house myself.  I also built it according to the Florida state building code.  When the code called for 2” x 6” roof trusses, I used 2” x 6” roof trusses.  I was told that a house built according to code could withstand a hurricane – and it did.”

     How has your house weathered the storms?  Every house is tested.  The difference isn’t in the weather; rather, it’s in the foundation upon which the house is anchored.  Many who are in the midst of crisis run back to the church and attempt to get religion, but it’s not that easy.  It’s a foolish person who thinks they can begin constructing a proper foundation when they’re in the midst of the storm and the floodwaters.  When life’s storms are rushing upon us, it’s too late then.  The time to build is in the time of calm, during ordinary day-to-day living.

     It’s my hope this morning that all of you who are in the process of constructing your eternal house would build according to the code found in God’s Word, and that you would build on the only one true foundation – Jesus Christ our Lord.

                                                AMEN