September 22nd, 2026
by Eddie Exline
by Eddie Exline
Every building needs a strong, solid foundation; otherwise, it will eventually become unstable and perhaps even collapse. Our lives are the same way. Jesus spoke about this in Matthew 7:24-27 when He said:
"“Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. 26 And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. 27 And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.”
These words of Jesus come at the very end of the famous Sermon on the Mount, which begins earlier in Matthew chapter 5. Jesus said that if they heard the words and did them, they would be wise, like building their house on a rock. If they did not do what He'd taught, ultimately the storms of life would bring great destruction into their lives.
Jesus' words are just as true today as when He spoke them to the crowds and disciples 2,000 years ago. The apostle Paul, when he was concluding his letter in 2 Corinthians, wrote in 2 Corinthians 13:5 "Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you fail to meet the test!"
Just as Jesus concludes the Sermon on the Mount with an admonition to DO His words, Paul closes his letter by exhorting the Corinthians to examine and test themselves. Were they truly following Jesus? Were they relying on His grace, seeking His forgiveness and to grow in their relationship with Christ? Did they really and truly believe? Not just parts of the Scriptures, but all of them? Was compromise with the world's ways in their lives?
These are all questions we have to ask ourselves, and not just once, but on an ongoing basis. Do we truly love Him? Do we seek Him earnestly? Do we want His will in our lives, or do we relegate Him just to Sunday morning and the rest of the week we get to do as we please? I think one of the ways we can test ourselves is to look at Galatians 5:22-23 "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law." If you are increasing in these fruits of the spirit, even if very slowly and many mistakes along the way, then you are headed in the right direction. It's not a race. God's grace is on you, and He will complete the good work that He has started in you. However, if the works of the flesh, which Paul lists in Galatians 5 right before the fruits of the spirit, are not decreasing, then know that your foundation is wrong, and there is always a price to pay sooner or later for that.
Life can be very fearful and filled with stress. There is a great deal of turmoil and uncertainty in the world around us, and it can be quite unsettling. But hold onto Him, seek Him, Jesus and His words are the foundation that cannot be shaken. He does not disappoint.
Take time to examine yourself, your thoughts, motives, words, and actions. If you fall short somewhere, and we all do, ask for forgiveness, ask Him to help you, do what you need to do to move forward in Him. When you take just one step in His direction, He'll move so much closer to you. He'll bring you through the hardest struggles. In an uncertain world, where everything shifts and shakes, Jesus is that solid foundation that is unmovable. We can build our lives on Him and His truth, and we can be certain of His love and a glorious future despite a shifting, uncertain world around us.
"“Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. 26 And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. 27 And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.”
These words of Jesus come at the very end of the famous Sermon on the Mount, which begins earlier in Matthew chapter 5. Jesus said that if they heard the words and did them, they would be wise, like building their house on a rock. If they did not do what He'd taught, ultimately the storms of life would bring great destruction into their lives.
Jesus' words are just as true today as when He spoke them to the crowds and disciples 2,000 years ago. The apostle Paul, when he was concluding his letter in 2 Corinthians, wrote in 2 Corinthians 13:5 "Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you fail to meet the test!"
Just as Jesus concludes the Sermon on the Mount with an admonition to DO His words, Paul closes his letter by exhorting the Corinthians to examine and test themselves. Were they truly following Jesus? Were they relying on His grace, seeking His forgiveness and to grow in their relationship with Christ? Did they really and truly believe? Not just parts of the Scriptures, but all of them? Was compromise with the world's ways in their lives?
These are all questions we have to ask ourselves, and not just once, but on an ongoing basis. Do we truly love Him? Do we seek Him earnestly? Do we want His will in our lives, or do we relegate Him just to Sunday morning and the rest of the week we get to do as we please? I think one of the ways we can test ourselves is to look at Galatians 5:22-23 "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law." If you are increasing in these fruits of the spirit, even if very slowly and many mistakes along the way, then you are headed in the right direction. It's not a race. God's grace is on you, and He will complete the good work that He has started in you. However, if the works of the flesh, which Paul lists in Galatians 5 right before the fruits of the spirit, are not decreasing, then know that your foundation is wrong, and there is always a price to pay sooner or later for that.
Life can be very fearful and filled with stress. There is a great deal of turmoil and uncertainty in the world around us, and it can be quite unsettling. But hold onto Him, seek Him, Jesus and His words are the foundation that cannot be shaken. He does not disappoint.
Take time to examine yourself, your thoughts, motives, words, and actions. If you fall short somewhere, and we all do, ask for forgiveness, ask Him to help you, do what you need to do to move forward in Him. When you take just one step in His direction, He'll move so much closer to you. He'll bring you through the hardest struggles. In an uncertain world, where everything shifts and shakes, Jesus is that solid foundation that is unmovable. We can build our lives on Him and His truth, and we can be certain of His love and a glorious future despite a shifting, uncertain world around us.
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