Who build our lives?

An elderly carpenter was ready to retire. He told his employer-contractor of his plans to leave the house-building business to live a more leisurely life with his wife and enjoy his extended family. He would miss the paycheck each week, but he wanted to retire. They could get by. The contractor was sorry to see his good worker go & asked if he could build just one more house as a personal favor. The carpenter said yes, but over time it was easy to see that his heart was not in his work. He resorted to shoddy workmanship and used inferior materials. It was an unfortunate way to end a dedicated career. When the carpenter finished his work, his employer came to inspect the house. Then he handed the front-door key to the carpenter and said, "This is your house... my gift to you." The carpenter was shocked! What a shame! If he had only known he was building his own house, he would have done it all so differently. (Read the facts about the Leaning Tower of Pisa below)

Matthew 7:24 Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: 7:25 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. 7:26 And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: 7:27 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.

So it is with us. We build our lives, a day at a time, often putting less than our best into the building. Then, with a shock, we realize we have to live in the house we have built. If we could do it over, we would do it much differently. But, you cannot go back. You are the carpenter, and every day you hammer a nail, place a board, or erect a wall. Someone once said, "Life is a do-it-yourself project." Your attitude, and the choices you make today, help build the "house" you will live in tomorrow. Therefore, Build wisely!

On August 9, 1173 AD, construction began on a freestanding bell tower that would stand adjacent to a cathedral in the town of Pisa, Italy. The tower would eventually reach the height of 186 feet. It masterfully blended the Gothic and Romanesque architecture signifying its centuries of construction. However, it was not the height, nor the architecture of this freestanding bell tower that would make it famous. After a mere 5 years of construction and three completed floors, construction halted because the foundation of the bell tower started to sink. The 3 meter foundation was not stable enough to support the weight of the tower and it started to lean at a nearly 4 degree slant, to the extent that the top of the tower leans over its base by 17ft! It is that 4 degree slant that made this tower famous - The Leaning Tower of Pisa! Ask any builder and they will tell you that having the proper foundation is essential for any building project. Jesus used a parable to teach this important truth. As you build your spiritual houses, make sure your foundation is stable.

Why is a foundation essential to every building project? Because the foundation is what holds everything up, it’s what holds everything together. No matter what quality of materials you use; no matter how carefully you join the frame together; no matter how skilled your craftsmen may be – if the foundation isn’t solid and stable, your “house” will lack integrity. Over time, cracks will develop in the walls. The windows will stick. The roof will leak. And sooner or later, the storms of life will bring it crashing down, and everything you’ve worked so hard to build will be lost. When you build your spiritual house, the foundation must be solid. And there can be only one foundation for our lives. Paul wrote to the Corinthians, “For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ” (1Cor. 3:11).

Even though our homes could be bigger and better - and our lives of righteousness are far from where they could be, we still have the assurance of salvation through faith in Christ. And so we sing, “on Christ the solid rock I stand, all other ground is sinking sand.”