The Rain Descended

Jesus tells us about two kinds of people in Matthew 7:24-29. They have different foundations, and their foundations determine the outcome of their lives.

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Matthew 7:24-29

Sometimes the world is rather black and white
Not always, but often
And in the case of today’s text, we have two kinds of people
They represent two kinds of people in the world
Jesus calls them “a wise man” and “a foolish man”
They are called this based on the choices they make
Both are given the same instructions from Christ
One believes and does what Jesus says, the other does not
All who have heard Jesus’ words can be put in one of these two categories
The obedient and the disobedient
And this passage of scripture tells us about the results

We hear what happened when “The Rain Descended”
As we spend some time in Matthew 7:24-29 today

We’re in a very well-known passage of scripture today
It is essentially about our foundation of life
Is our life built upon something strong and durable?
Or something that is unsteady and easily undermined?

There are songs about this passage
The foundation materials mentioned may have become a bit cliché
But the issues the passage brings up are actually quite serious
When difficulties and hardships come, will our lives crumble or will we stand strong?

The issues at hand here are not theoretical
People build their lives upon something
We all do
And that which we build upon will either hold up or it won’t

Let’s get into the passage…

Matthew 7:24

24 Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:

The person that hears Jesus’ sayings…which sayings?
We have to believe He is speaking comprehensively
He is certainly not just talking about a few words or phrases
He’s talking about His entire message
The message that some of those present heard in person
And certainly the message of Him that is recorded for us in scripture

But it’s not just enough to hear them
We must do them
Embrace them, believe them, make them our foundation for life
Because if we do, we will be compared to a wise man
He is wise because He built his house upon rock

The wise man’s foundation is right
Just as the obedient man’s foundation is right
Both are solid and secure and unshakeable

The first thing we have to believe about Jesus is that He is the Savior
The way the truth and the life – and that no man can come to the Father but by Him
Because He died in our place and for our sin, was buried, and rose again the third day
And then we must believe all that He taught and lived out in the world
He must be our example and His words must be our guide

When this is the case, we are on rock-solid ground
We are prepared for whatever life may bring
And it brings many thing…

Matthew 7:25

25 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.

The wise man is not spared from rains and flood
He still experiences the blowing of the wind
But his house does not fall

Through His relationship with Christ
And His obedience to Christ’s words
He has prepared himself to endure
Not because he is, in and of himself, any stronger or better than the foolish man
But he has a better foundation
The right foundation
A foundation of solid rock

The house may be weather-beaten when the storm has ended
A few of the windows may have blown in
The yard may be a mess
But the house still stands

Christ is our strength
And the instruction that He gives in His word is sufficient to live in this world
And to have victory
And to have peace

No doubt, things of immense difficulty will come
But those with the right foundation need not fear

There is another foundation
Jesus describes that in our next verse…

Matthew 7:26

26 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:

Some will hear and do not what Jesus says
They will reject it
They will reject Him
Perhaps they will think they have a better way
Perhaps they will her someone else and build their lives on what that someone else says
Or perhaps they will simply be careless, never giving their foundation a second thought

They are like a foolish man
Who also builds a house
But builds it on a foundation that is not suitable
That won’t stand in trouble

Whatever this foolish man is building upon won’t seem like sand when he surveys it
It will look just fine to him at that time
He’ll make his calculations
And everything will add up
Until the rains come

And maybe this foolish man didn’t expect the rain
Even if he did, maybe he didn’t expect the flood
And perhaps he didn’t foresee winds that were quite this severe

Whatever the case, the foundation is not right
And the foolish man’s life is not ready for the storm…

Matthew 7:27

27 And 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.

For the man who rejects Christ
The man who hears the message of the gospel, but does not embrace it
Destruction is his only end

Because the rains and floods and winds of the world keep coming
And only those with the right foundation will stand

Jesus describes this as quite a black and white issue
Accept Him and build upon the foundation of His word – this is wise
Reject Him and build upon some other foundation (any other foundation) – this is foolish
Your life will stand or will fall
Your life will be a success or a failure
You will have eternal life or eternal death
Based upon your foundation

Is He your foundation?
Is His word the basis for your life choices?
Are you His disciple?

Because the rains and floods and winds are coming
They may already be here
Don’t get your calculations wrong
Trust what Jesus says here

Listen to what the people around said on this day…

Matthew 7:28-29

28 And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at his doctrine:

29 For he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.

He was speaking from authority
Because He is the King of kings and the Lord of lords
Above all
The Savior of the world
And He pleads with us to be wise, not foolish
To trust Him, to follow Him

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