The Only Sure Foundation
BY KENT SPARKS
Matthew 7:24-27 I THINK IT'S fairly safe to say that most people are looking for something upon which to build their life but in the wrong places. This is true with Christians as well as non-Christians.
Predominant to a great many, for example, is job security and career development. Men and women alike give themselves nowadays to intense labors at work, putting themselves under all kinds of stresses. Yet, many have found in the recent recession that what they have relied on was not stable at all. They got laid off.
Others seek to find security in money, thinking that having a large accumulation of money will enable them to do whatever they want. It's a fool's game. Remember the man who built bigger barns to store his grain and goods? God said to him, "You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you."
Then there are those who look to family relationships. No one can be more reliable than one's own family members, they reason. A strong family is a wonderful thing, but it's far from a sure foundation to stand on. Just talk to the parents who can't control their children and you'll know what I mean.
Religion. Still others rely on religion. They invest themselves in all the ceremonies, the rituals, the do's and don'ts of a religious system, believing that they are thereby building their life on a firm foundation. Not so, if we define religion as a man-made means to reach God. Salvation is found only in Christianity, which is a loving relationship that originates from God.
These are just four of the more common places in which people have misplaced their trusts. The less common include psychology, education, self-improvement, and others. None of them has the answer either.
The fact is, there's only one sure foundation upon which to build our lives. Jesus gives it to us in Matthew 7:24,25:
Every one then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house upon the rock, and the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat upon that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock.Yes, the only firm foundation on which to build a successful life is God's Word, as it is properly understood and diligently applied. And I'd like to share with you five truths about this firm foundation.I. The authority of God's Word
In II Timothy 3:16, we read, "All scripture is inspired by God" God is declaring there that everything that falls into the category "scripture" must necessarily be inspired of God. In other words, if it's not inspired of God, it's not scripture; if it is inspired of God, it is scripture.What does the word "inspired" mean? Like a painter inspired to paint a beautiful painting? No. The word literally means to be "breathed out"the breath of God. The point is, every scripture is breathed out to us from the very soul of God.
In Genesis 1, God breathed out the words of creation and the universe took form. Well, the scripture comes from the same powerful breath of God. It carries the full authority of God Himself. That means people can argue and disagree, or even become disenchanted with what it is, but God's Word remains the only thing that's true and right. It is the fact of the case.
II. The adequacy of God's Word
Verse 16 of II Timothy 3 continues, "and profitable for teaching, for reproof (that means telling someone he's wrong), for correction (by putting him right), for training in righteousness (discipling)."What for? "That the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work" (v. 17). In the original language, the word "adequate" refers to a soldier being fully outfitted. Some translators therefore translate the phrase "thoroughly furnished for every good work".
The point is, God's Word is adequate; it is the complete outfit for the believer. Equipped with God's Word, the believer has all that he needs to do every "good" work. Note that God does not outfit us to do any bad works.
Unequipped. Why, then, are so many Christians looking in other places for security? Answer: They have not been properly equipped with God's Word.
Most of these Christians simply haven't taken the time to mine the riches that are in the Word of God. Others think they know the Word, but their knowledge is too shallow to uncover the resources hidden therein, let alone apply them practically in their own life.
In his letter to the Ephesians, Paul talks about the unsearchable riches that belong to Christians because they're in Christ. And he prays that God may so enlighten the eyes of their hearts that they may comprehend all of the glorious riches that God has for them.
Yes, everything that you need to be an effective Christian is in God's Word. Outside of God's Wordand the presence of the indwelling Spirit of Christ to lead youyou need nothing.
III. The power of God's Word
In Isaiah chapter 55, God talks about the power of His Word in accomplishing what He intends it to accomplish. He first points out in verses 8 and 9 that His thoughts are far higher than our human thoughts, and then declares in verses 10 and 11:As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.Just as the rain that God sends down never fails to water the earth and make it productive, the divine thoughts that God has sent down to us by way of the Bible will accomplish the tasks for which God sent it. And one of those tasks is to completely equip the believer so that he may do every good work God wants for him to do.
Others think they know the Word, but their knowledge is too shallow to uncover the re Is that a blessing or what? The power of God's Word is such that as we read and apply it, we become completely equipped to be the person God wants us to be. Isn't that awesome?
IV. The completeness of God's Word
In Psalm 19, God gives us a great description of this awesome nature and working of His Word. He starts by saying in verse 7, "The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul."The word "law" there is the Hebrew word torah, which is better translated "instruction". The word "perfect" means to be complete or mature. And the word "reviving" could also be translated "regenerating".
Because God's Word is the complete and comprehensive instruction, this verse is saying, when it is embraced by the soul of a believer, it radically transforms the essential nature of that believer.
You see, if you are a true child of God indwelt by the Holy Spirit, you can't open up God's Word with a sincere desire to seek the truth and apply it to your life without it transforming your soul, regenerating your heart, and making you a different person.
Trustworthy. Psalm 19:7 continues: "The testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple."
The point is, God's Word is trustworthy, and as such, it gives us insight for wise living.
We live in a world where we are bombarded with all kinds of conflicting opinions. When we have to make a decision, we just don't know what to do. But because the scripture is complete, it has the answer to every
problem we face. And once we apply God's Word to the situation, we'll begin to see things more clearly.Now, verse 8: "The precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes."
The principles that you find in God's Word are always correct. When they're applied, joy comes into your life. Not joy because you'll get the outcome that you predetermined must come out, but because you have a game plan that is in harmony with the truth of almighty God.
Moreover, because God's Word is pure, it gives us direction in the midst of moral confusion and ignorance. It gives us light in a world of spiritual darkness, showing us what's right and what's wrong for us to do.
Eternal. Verse 9: "The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever. The judgments of the Lord are true, they are righteous altogether."
"The fear of the Lord" is used here in the sense of obedience. The point is, the Word of God, as the guide we follow for flawless reverence and worship, is eternal. It never becomes obsolete no matter how the world changes. And the judgments of Godthat is, His declaration of what is right and wrongare always correct. They are righteous altogether.
Psalm 19 concludes its remark about God's Word in verses 10 and 11:God's Word is invaluable. It brings us security and warns us against disobedience. It also brings us profit, rewarding us for diligent application. So, we ought to seek it even more than we seek fine gold. And because it's sweeter than honey to our soul, we ought to hunger for it.More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey, and the drippings of the honeycomb. Moreover by them thy servant is warned; in keeping them there is great reward.
II Peter 1:16-19, a passage that underscores the reliability of God's Word, is often misun V. The reliability of God's Word
II Peter 1:16-19, a passage that underscores the reliability of God's Word, is often misunderstood as to what God is really saying. It begins:For we (John, James and Peter, that is) did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty.In other words, we didn't get together and make up this deal that we call the gospel. It's truewe've seen it with our own eyes.Next, we read in verses 17 and 18:
For when he received honor and glory from God the Father and the voice was borne to him by the Majestic Glory, "This is my beloved Son, with whom I'm well pleased," we heard this voice borne from heaven, for we were with him on the holy mountain.Peter is saying, we were there the day that Jesus put on His heavenly majesty on the Mount of Transfiguration and we heard the very voice of God out of heaven saying, "This is my beloved Son, with whom I'm well pleased."More certain. Before I go on with verse 19, which is the clincher, let me first point out that in some translations, it begins something like this: "And we have the prophetic word made more sure." Actually, the word "made" was added by the translators, and that addition takes us off the track.
A more accurate translation is this: "And we have the more sure prophetic word, to which you do well to pay attention."
Peter is saying: while we saw Jesus in His glory and we heard God declaring out of heaven that Jesus is His beloved Son, you've got something even more reliable than that. You have the Word of God's prophecy. And so, you do well to pay attention and make application to your life.
Why? Because no prophecy of scripture came from a human's own origination; rather, men were moved by the Spirit of God as God spoke through them (v. 21).
The Christian Response
In light of all that about God's Word, what should our response be? First, we need to study the Bible. God says in II Timothy 2:15, "Study to show yourself approved unto God as a workman that doesn't need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth."We need to rightly divide God's Word, the word of truth, so that we can accurately determine what it means.
Once we understand the principle set forth by God in His Word, we need to store it in our hearts. Psalm 119:11 says, "Thy word have I hid in my heart that I might not sin against thee." We need to have a treasure chest of God's promises and commands buried inside us so that whenever we need clear direction from God, we can find guidance from the appropriate scripture.
Finally, we need to apply it. This goes back to what Jesus says in Matthew 7: Every one who hears these words of mine and acts upon them is a wise man (v. 24), whereas every one who hears these words of mine and does not act upon them is a foolish man (v. 26).
There's your contrast. Don't be a fool. Start building your life on a sound foundation. Study God's Word to learn what it means, memorize it so you have it at your fingertips, and then apply it diligently so that it changes your life, making you the man God wants you to be. o
Rev. Kent Sparks is pastor of Beach Cities Community Church, 20422 Beach Blvd., Huntington Beach, CA 92648.