Built to Last
“Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock.”— Matthew 7:24
Jesus is the master teacher. His words have always been clear, convicting, and life-giving. At the close of His Sermon on the Mount, He paints a vivid picture that leaves no room for misunderstanding. He tells the story of two builders. Both heard His words, built houses, and endured a storm. Yet the outcome could not have been more different. One house stood firm; the other collapsed.
What made the difference? The foundation.
Hearing vs. Doing
Notice carefully how Jesus begins this illustration: “Everyone who hears these words of mine and does them…” It wasn’t enough that the builders heard the words. It wasn’t even enough that they intended to follow through, or that they could quote those words back. The difference-maker was listening, followed by obedience.
Jesus was not inviting His disciples to become students who merely collected knowledge. He was calling them to be active listeners—hearing with the intent to obey. True faith always moves from hearing to doing. As scripture states: “But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves” –James 1:22.
This is where I so often stumble. I hear God’s Word on Sunday. I even take notes and underline verses. But by Tuesday, the noise of life drowns out what I heard. If I’m not careful, my good intentions remain just that—intentions. And intentions, no matter how sincere, won’t keep my house from falling when the storm comes.
Shifting Sands
The wise man builds on rock. The foolish man builds on sand. The contrast is stark. Sand looks appealing at first—smooth, pliable, and easy to work with. It promises comfort and convenience. And it can make great sandcastles. But when the tide comes in, anything built on the sand is easily wiped out.
How tempting it is for us to build our lives on sand. We lean on cultural trends, following whatever seems popular or socially acceptable. We make decisions based on expediency—choosing the quickest route rather than the right one. We rest on popular opinion, as if majority consensus carries eternal weight. We seek success, desire status, and trust in riches. Sometimes we even mistake good intentions for obedience, convincing ourselves that God surely counts our desires as enough. Other times, we let fear dictate our choices, trying to control outcomes rather than trusting the Lord.
All of these are forms of sand. They might seem stable in the moment, but when the winds blow and the floodwaters rise, they cannot hold.
The Storms Will Come
Jesus didn’t say “if the storm comes.” He said, “When.” Storms are not optional in this life. Trials, temptations, and tragedies will come knocking. Marriages will be tested. Careers will falter. Children will wander. Health will decline. Disappointments will pile up. So, the question isn’t whether the storm will arrive. The question is: will your house stand? And that answer depends entirely on your foundation.
The Solid Rock of Christ
The solid rock is Christ Himself—His person, His promises, His words. To build on the rock means to ground every part of our lives in Him. It means trusting Him as Savior, submitting to Him as Lord, and obeying His Word day by day.
Here’s the truth: a successful person without character rooted in Christ is always vulnerable to collapse. You might climb the corporate ladder, earn accolades, and gain influence. But if your life is built on sand, one storm can bring everything down in a heartbeat.
On the other hand, a life built on Christ will stand firm even when the fiercest winds blow. The storms may batter, but they cannot destroy. Why? Because the foundation is unshakable.
The Importance of Daily Habits
It’s easy to think character is forged in the middle of the storm. But more often, character is revealed there. The actual character building takes place in the quiet, everyday decisions to hear and obey God’s Word.
When you rise early to spend time in Scripture, you are laying a stone on the rock.
When you choose honesty in a small matter, you are strengthening the foundation.
When you forgive a friend, honor your spouse, serve your children, or pray for your enemy, you are building a house that will endure.
These choices may seem small, even invisible. But they add up. Over time, they form a life that is built to last.
Built to Last
So here’s the challenge: Don’t just be a hearer of the Word. Be a doer. Don’t let your faith rest on sand, no matter how smooth it looks. Instead, sink your roots deep into Christ. Build your marriage, your parenting, your work, and your very identity all on Him.
The storms will come. But if you have built your house on the Rock, your house will stand. And when it does, the watching world will see that Christ—not culture, not convenience, success, or fear—was your foundation all along.
Reflection
Questions
- What “sand” have you been tempted to build your life on—cultural approval, good intentions, fear, or something else?
- What small daily habits and routines could help you actively listen and obey God’s Word this week?
- When you have faced storms in the past, what did the aftermath reveal about your life, and how can you learn from it?
- What areas of your life are you a hearer, but not a doer? How can you adjust your actions to align with your intentions?
Prayer
Lord Jesus, You are the solid Rock. Forgive me for the times I’ve built on shifting sand—trusting in myself, in the culture, or in my own good intentions. Help me to be not just a hearer of Your Word, but a doer. Strengthen my foundation in You through daily obedience, so that when the storms of life come, my life will stand firm.
In Your name I pray, Amen.
