Sermon “Use Your Head” by Pastor Nathan Johnson, June 8, 2025
In life, we’re all builders. Whether we’re aware of it or not, each day we lay another brick in the structure of our lives. Some of us are building careers, others are establishing businesses, and many are constructing families. But the most crucial project we’re all engaged in is building our lives.
The foundation we choose for this lifelong project is paramount. It’s not enough to simply live by default, allowing life to happen to us. We must be intentional, thoughtful, and wise in our choices. As we navigate through life’s journey, it’s essential to pause and consider: What foundation are we building upon?
There’s a powerful parable that illustrates this concept beautifully. It speaks of two builders, each constructing a house. One builder chooses to build on solid rock, while the other opts for sand. Both houses face the same storm – rain falls, floods rise, and winds blow. The house built on rock stands firm, while the one on sand collapses.
This story isn’t just about construction techniques; it’s a metaphor for life. The rock represents a solid foundation – truth, wisdom, and enduring principles. The sand symbolizes shifting opinions, temporary pleasures, and unstable ideologies.
The wise builder in the story doesn’t just hear good advice; they act on it. They apply wisdom to their life, making deliberate choices to stand on truth. This isn’t always easy or convenient. Sometimes, it means going against the crowd or choosing the harder path. But the wise builder understands that short-term comfort often leads to long-term instability.
On the other hand, the foolish builder hears the same wisdom but chooses not to apply it. Their choices are often based on conditions, circumstances, or convenience. They might follow wisdom when it aligns with their desires or when others are watching, but they lack the commitment to stand firm when challenges arise.
It’s crucial to understand that both houses in the story face storms. Building on a solid foundation doesn’t exempt us from life’s challenges. Rain will fall, floods will rise, and winds will blow in every life. We live in a storm-prone world, and no one is immune to difficulties.
These storms come in various forms – delays in our plans, disappointments in our expectations, disasters that shake our world, sickness that threatens our health, and ultimately, the reality of death. The difference lies not in avoiding storms but in how we weather them.
A life built on a solid foundation may still feel the impact of these storms, but it won’t be destroyed by them. It’s not about escaping hardship; it’s about having the strength to endure and overcome. As one old song puts it, “The rain came down and the floods came up, but the wise man’s house stood firm.”
So, what does it mean to build on a solid foundation in practical terms? It means grounding our lives in enduring truths rather than fleeting trends. It involves making decisions based on character and integrity, not just convenience or popularity. It requires us to think beyond the immediate and consider the long-term consequences of our choices.
In a world saturated with information and conflicting voices, discerning truth can be challenging. Social media and popular opinion often drown out wisdom. We’re bombarded with messages that promise quick fixes and easy paths to success. But true wisdom often runs counter to these popular narratives.
Building on a solid foundation means looking beyond the surface. It involves digging deeper, removing the loose soil of superficial thinking, and anchoring our lives to bedrock principles. This process isn’t always comfortable. It might mean questioning long-held beliefs, challenging societal norms, or stepping away from the crowd.
One powerful illustration of this principle comes from the life of Jesus. He was a man who lived with unwavering integrity, even when it led him to face opposition and ultimately, death. His life exemplified what it means to stand firm on truth, regardless of the cost.
Jesus taught profound wisdom, performed miracles, and showed compassion to all. Yet, he was betrayed by a close friend, arrested unjustly, and crucified. In his darkest hour, when it seemed like evil had triumphed, Jesus demonstrated the ultimate power of a life built on truth. Three days after his death, he rose again, conquering death itself and proving that a life anchored in truth cannot be ultimately defeated.
This story reminds us that building on a solid foundation doesn’t guarantee an easy life, but it does ensure a meaningful and ultimately victorious one. It’s about having hope that transcends circumstances and peace that surpasses understanding.
As we reflect on our own lives, it’s worth asking: What are we building on? Are our choices based on enduring principles or shifting sands? Are we making decisions that will stand the test of time and trials, or are we swayed by every new trend and opinion?
Remember, we don’t have the luxury of unlimited time to make these choices. The time we have is now. We can’t claim “not yet” because we’re not guaranteed a tomorrow. This urgency doesn’t mean we should act rashly, but it does mean we should act intentionally.
Building a life on a solid foundation isn’t about perfection. It’s not about never making mistakes or never facing doubts. It’s about consistently choosing to align our lives with truth, even when it’s difficult. It’s about getting up when we fall and continuing to build wisely.
In conclusion, let’s challenge ourselves to be wise builders. Let’s choose carefully what we build our lives upon. In a world of shifting sands, let’s anchor ourselves to the bedrock of enduring truth. When the storms of life come—and they will come—may we find ourselves standing firm, not because we’ve avoided challenges, but because we’ve built our lives on a foundation that can withstand them.