Lockdown Building Instructions

Jesus walks up a mountain with thousands following, like a teacher of prominence in his day, he sat down to speak as though he is taking his throne and begins to talk to the crowd.  The sermon on the mount probably consisted of what Jesus taught widely over his three years of ministry. The Kingdom of God was being proclaimed and a new king had arrived, God’s Kingdom was going to be very different. 
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When Matthew writes, he starts with the beatitudes and like climbing a mountain follows the route markers up to the top. You are salt, you are light, what the law really speaks to, giving to the poor, fasting, true wealth and treasure, the cure for anxiety, judgement of others, prayer, the wide and narrow gates and distinguishing the fruit in believers’ lives.
There are different markers on the way up pointing out the path the king was laying out. At the summit and conclusion of the sermon on the mount we see Jesus issuing a challenge to all the people crowded around to listen.
Jesus, the king talks about what foundation we build our lives upon.
‘Everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them, may be compared to a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the wind blew and slammed against that house; and yet it did not fall, for it had been founded on the rock. Everyone who hears these words of Mine and does not act on them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. The rain fell and, and the floods came, and the wind blew and slammed against that house, and it fell – and great was its fall. – Matthew 7:24-27 NASB
We live in an age that the media has dubbed the ‘post truth’ age. Whether it is news/politics or whether it is online content, we are now bombarded with information from a lot of competing sources. How do we know and distinguish what is right and true to build our lives on?
We all know that a computer will only put out what it has been programmed to do. The same applies to us we will only put out what we program ourselves with input.
What are we programming ourselves on? Are we certain the influences we are ascribing to are rock steady or shifting sand? Jesus taught us that sometimes it’s not until the storm comes that we find out if our foundation we are basing our decisions and future on are sure or shifting sands.
Jesus gave us the clearest indication in this parable of what we can be certain to build our lives upon. His words and teachings will never fail to lead us to build strong foundations that cannot be eroded by the storms of life.
I know personally that when the chips are down how much erodes away as chaff and that what you cling to is the life-giving words only Jesus gives.
Wisdom and truth in situations can be sought from God. He still speaks to us today. Sometimes we need to come to Him, not to affirm our assumptions or preconceived ideas but with an open heart and mind to hear from Him, His wisdom which He freely gives to all those who ask. 

​Dave Maharey