Building On The Rock
A desperate need of man in any age, at any time, is for stability; to find someone upon whom he can build his file and be firmly established. The search for stability is as old as man. This definite and immediate need has often led men down many roads seeking the solution. In their desperate plight men have often built on that which only appears to be solid and fit as a foundation. Such a tremendous need would help to explain the unrelenting faith which men have placed in religions — even false ones.
When one comes in contact with a person who has built his life upon the sand of error, but who believes he has built the firm foundation of truth one faces a most important problem. The Christian does not carelessly tear down the undergirding to even a false faith. He destroys for the purpose of rebuilding. The greatest good is done when a person can be persuaded to replace his insecure foundation with the stable footing of truth. While this is no easy task it is imminently worthwhile.
To build upon rock is suggestive of stability and strength. More than once the New Testament scriptures affirm that Jesus Christ is the rock and sure foundation upon which men may confidently establish their lives. By the power of the Father Peter confessed Jesus to be the Christ, God's son. This truth of the person of Christ is the rock for men's souls. Paul affirms the stability of the foundation to Timothy: "Howbeit the foundation of God standeth sure." (2 Tim. 2:19) The tense of the verb "standeth" indicates the foundation has stood in the past and as a result still stands firm. And, that it will always stand.
How Does One Go About Building Upon A Person?
Whatever the one serving as a foundation is, the one building upon endeavors to become. Whatever that one stands for one seeks to be identified with. Whatever that one teaches one consents to and confesses. Christ, the Rock, is the only begotten son of God. (John 1:14) We become the sons of God by believing the faith of Jesus Christ. (Gal. 3:26) Christ is the Way, the Truth, the Life. (John 14:6) We seek to be identified with Him by walking in His way, believing and propagating His truth. (1 Thess. 2:13) And, by holding forth His word of life. (Phil. 2:16) Christ's teaching is "healthy" doctrine. Therefore, we should "consent to" It. (1 Tim. 6:3)
In Matt. 7:15-26 and Luke 6:46-49 Christ identified himself as the true prophet of God. One who comes to Him, hears and does His words is like unto a wise man who, building a house, digged deeply and built his house upon the solid foundation of rock. All of the trials and temptations of life cannot shake the house for it is founded upon the rock.
To build upon the rock one must go down deep. One must go deeper than human preference; deeper than prevailing customs; deeper than considered opinion. One must go down to the solid rock of truth.
Utmost care should be taken to avoid the disaster of building upon the false prophet, whose appearance is most deceiving. To build upon the false prophet is to build upon sand. It is worth noting here that the responsibility of discriminating belongs to the one seeking to build. This necessarily implies these things: (a) there is a standard — set by God — for determining the true prophet from the false prophet. (b) This standard is discernable and applicable. It is possible for the builder to recognize the distinction by applying the standard. (c) The responsibility for "coming, hearing and doing" belong with the builder.
There are at least three clear differences between the true and false prophet. We must keep in mind that a prophet is a spokesman for God. His work is essentially that of revealing the word of God. He exercises influence through the word he speaks and teaches. The "fruit" of the prophet, therefore, is the word he teaches and its results in the lives of his disciples.
1. As to source the true prophet's message always points up; the false prophet's message always points down. God is the author of the former's message; man is responsible for the latter's message. Ezekiel charged false prophets in his day with "following their own spirit." They claimed "Jehovah saith, but Jehovah hath not sent them." (13:2-7) The Sadducees, false teachers among the Jews, owed their error to their own misunderstanding of Scripture. Jesus said, "Ye do err, not knowing the Scriptures." (Matt. 22:29)
Any teaching which rests upon the creeds, practices and traditions of men points down — toward men. The appealing to conscience, feelings or church practice looks in the wrong direction for its source and authority. It exposes the teacher and teaching as being false.
Christ called attention to the direction true teaching points when he asked, "the baptism of John, whence was it? from heaven or from men." (Matt. 21:25) His teaching pointed in the right direction for he affirmed: "For I spake not from myself; but the Father that sent me, he hath given me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak." (John 12:48) In John 7:16, 17, Christ affirmed two things about his teaching: first, that it was from God; and second, that such would be obvious to all whose wills were heaven-ward.
2. The true prophet's teaching is not susceptible to improvement and revision. The false prophet must necessarily vary, revise and seek to improve his teaching. The true prophet does not evolve his message and then tentatively expose it to a few for sort of a "test run." The attitude of men toward it never makes it necessary for him to call it in for revision and correction. But the attitude of men toward the false message always calls for revision and variation. The false prophet must be continually adapting and correcting his doctrine.
3. To build upon the true prophet's message is to be certain of ultimate good and security. To build upon the false prophet's message is to be certain of ultimate failure and punishment. Those who build upon the rock by hearing and doing the will of God declared through Christ may be assured of entrance into the kingdom of heaven. Those who build upon the sand by hearing and doing the words of the false prophet may be certain their ominous sentence will be, "I never knew you, depart from me, ye that work iniquity."
As free men we have the equally wonderful privilege and dreadful duty of seeking the foundation upon which our very lives will rest. This freedom is not given us by constitutional enactment nor by human payment. It is ours because we are creatures, children of the creator. Our maker and helper in so many matters has offered us help even in this. He reveals himself as the true, tried and tested foundation.
But many counterfeits abound. And we must decide between the true and the false. For the sake of our souls we must heed the obvious signs of truth. We must build upon Christ, the Rock.
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