by The Rev. Charles Henrickson
Real estate agents will tell you there are three things that determine the value of a house: 1) location; 2) location; and 3) location. That old line may be somewhat exaggerated, but the point is clear enough: Location is extremely important in determining value. Where a house is located can make a huge difference in its value.
Now if that saying about “location, location, location” is true of the physical houses we build, how much more important is it when we talk about the spiritual “house” that everyone builds for him or herself. Where you build makes a huge difference, the difference between life and death. The location that will mean life for you is the rock-solid foundation of Jesus’ words. Any other place you choose to build–all other ground is sinking sand.
Our text is from the Holy Gospel for today, Jesus’ parable of “The Wise and Foolish Builders”: “Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 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. 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. 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.”
The wise man built his house on the rock. The foolish man built his house on the sand. The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew, and in the end there was only one house that was still standing, the house built on the rock.
Now notice several things in this story. Both men build a house. It’s not that one man builds and the other man doesn’t. Both build. No difference there. And there is no difference indicated in the type of structure or the outward appearance of the two houses. Both may have looked just the same, just as fine, on the outside. Nor is there any difference in the types of adversities that come against the two houses. The same rain, the same floods, and the same winds beat against both. No, the only difference mentioned is that the wise man built on rock and the foolish man built on sand. Location, location, location made all the difference.
What then does this parable mean? It is assumed from the outset that everyone is going to build a house. And it’s true. Everyone does build his house, the house of his life, upon something. The question, though, is this: What are you building it on? On rock or on sand?
Whatever you build your life on is really your god. Luther explains this in the Large Catechism, under the First Commandment: “What is it to have a god? Or, what is one’s god? Answer: To whatever we look for any good thing and for refuge in every need, that is what is meant by ‘god.’ To have a god is nothing else than to trust and believe in him from the heart. . . . If your faith and confidence are of the right kind, then your God is the true God. If, on the other hand, your trust is false, if it is misdirected, then you do not have the true God. . . . To whatever you give your heart and entrust your being, that, I say, is really your God.”
So everyone has a “god” of some sort. Everyone “builds a house,” to return to the imagery of our story. Whether or not it is the true God, whether you are building your house on the firm foundation—that is the question, that’s what makes the difference between standing and falling.
The houses that people build may not be all that different in their outward appearance. The life of the hypocrite and the life of the true Christian may look fairly similar in some respects. That’s the point of a hypocrite, after all–he looks like the real deal. The Pharisees’ whole aim in life was to look good before men. So they worked at it. They made a good show. Their house looked good from the outside. But appearances can be deceiving. Imagine a magnificent, multimillion-dollar house overlooking the ocean on Malibu beach. You wouldn’t know by looking at it that ultimately it’s going to be worthless. You won’t know that until the waves come and wash it away, and it crashes and crumbles like a house of cards.
Looking good on the outside is not all there is. Once I read an article about the many houses built by the famous architect Frank Lloyd Wright. Gorgeous, beautiful houses. Striking in their appearance, way ahead of their time. But what doesn’t get noticed, until you look at them more closely, is what bad shape they’re in. They looked good for a while, for a number of years even. But over the passing decades, they haven’t stood up very well. Roofs are leaking. Gaps have developed in the walls and windows, large enough for mice to run in. The Frank Lloyd Wright houses now take more money to maintain every year than they took to build in the first place. The house may look good on the outside, but will it hold up over time?
That leads us back to our parable and to the afflictions that come against the houses that the two men built. And those afflictions are no different. The same rain, floods, and winds hit both houses. They test severely the roof, foundation, and walls of each house. And it’s not a question of “if”; it’s a question of “when.” It’s only a matter of time before the storms of life hit each one of us. Everyone suffers afflictions–financial setbacks, bad health, personal tragedies of all sorts. Sometimes all it takes is one of these to expose our faulty foundation, and the person recognizes this and repents and “re-locates” to Christ, the only solid rock. But some people manage to escape most of the afflictions of this life. They think they are immune to the rain, floods, and winds, and so grow smug and self-secure. What they don’t realize is that there is one affliction no one will escape, and that is death. And after death comes the judgment. How will they be able to stand on the Day of Judgment, when they stand before almighty God? How about you? What have you been building on? What is the foundation for your house? Will it stand the test?
Now there are plenty of spiritual real estate agents in this world who will tell you where to build your house. They’re busy trying to sell you one of their building sites. But the problem is, they’re located in the sand. The sand is easy to build on, you know. It’s lower down than the rock, it’s easy to get to, and lots of other people are building there. What are some of these sand-sites? Let’s call them by name. There’s Pleasure Valley: Life is a beach; fun is the name of the game. There’s Greenback Acres: Money is the root of all happiness; more and more stuff is the goal. Another sand-site is Good Works Courts: If I think of myself as basically a good person, and I do works that look good and that people praise and that make me feel good about myself, then God must be pleased with me. And then there’s Church Estates, a deceptively sandy site, because the person living there builds near the rock, but not quite on it. He goes to church, perhaps out of some sense of duty, but he doesn’t actually build his life on Christ and the gospel.
So where are you going to build? On the sand or on the rock? What is it to build on the rock? It’s not just that you come to church and let the sound waves hit your ears. Notice what Jesus says about each of the builders. He starts out in each case by saying, “everyone who hears these words of mine” (Matthew 7:24 ESV.) Both the wise man and the foolish man hear the words of Jesus. But for the foolish man, that’s as far as it goes: In one ear and out the other. No connection to heart and life. “Everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them. . . .” (Matthew 7:26 ESV.) The words of Jesus do not become the foundation for that man’s life. However, the sensible thing, the wise thing, is to do something with the words of Jesus: Believe them, trust in them, build your life on them, these life-giving words of Jesus.
“These words of mine,” Jesus says. Who it is that is saying them–namely, Jesus–that’s what makes them life-giving words and the only firm foundation for your life. Listen to his words: “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied” (Matthew 5:6 ESV.) And so we realize we have no righteousness of our own to count on, but we rely instead on Christ to give us what we need. These too are the words of Jesus: “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28 ESV.) Jesus gives us rest from the load of the law, for he took our guilt on himself and bore our punishment by his death on the cross. These are his words also: “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die; yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die” John 11:25-26 ESV.) “These words of mine,” Jesus says. “The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life” (John 6:63 ESV.) The words of Jesus are words to build on. And they are words for you. Listen to his words to you today: “This is my body, this is my blood, given and shed for you for the forgiveness of sins.”
Once when a lot of people were turning away from Jesus and no longer walking with him, Jesus asked the Twelve if they wanted to leave also. But Peter said to him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life” (John 6:68 ESV.) And so the question remains: To whom shall we go? Well, the answer is, we go to the same Lord Jesus. And going to Jesus always means going to his church. For it is here in the church that we hear the living voice of the gospel. Here in his church our Lord Jesus speaks to us through the preaching and the teaching and in the sacraments. The church is where you will hear these words of Jesus to build your life on.
Not too far from here, in southern Illinois, right along the Mississippi River, there is a little town by the name of Valmeyer. In 1993, when the floods hit, the town of Valmeyer was wiped out, literally. When the floodwaters receded, the citizens of Valmeyer decided they needed to do something bold. So they moved the town. That’s right, they relocated the entire town onto higher ground. By 1996 they had finished the rebuilding project, and they rededicated the town. Now it is sometimes called “New Valmeyer.”
Friends, God has relocated us from the sinking sand of our foolish, flood-prone lives, and he has moved us up onto higher ground. Now we have a firm foundation, and that foundation is Christ. The solid rock on which we stand is Christ himself. His words–“these words of mine,” Jesus says–these are words to build your life on. Building on the words of Jesus is the only safe place to build. It’s the only place that will stand the test, now and at the Last Day. When the rain falls and the floods come and the winds blow, your house–the house built on the rock–will stand. It’s all about . . . location, location, location.
The Rev. Charles Henrickson is pastor of St. Matthew Lutheran Church in Bonne Terre, Missouri. Pastor Henrickson has led breakaway sessions at the HT conferences in Colorado Springs (2006) and Asheville
(2007).
Perhaps the best movie to grace the screen this summer (so far) is Marvel’s latest comic big-screen movie, the one about the man of steel. No, I’m not talking about Superman (that’s the other comic company, DC), I’m talking about Ironman. In this almost Pauline epic, Tony Stark (played by Robert Downey Jr.) is the CEO of the world’s largest weapon’s company. This doomsday mastermind is charming, good looking, extremely wealthy and he’s got all the right moves. After a trip to the middle East and a Damascus-like experience this man with all the right moves and a godless core finds himself as a superhero saving the world from what was once defined who he was.
While still captured by Islamic terrorists Stark is ordered to build a doomsday missile, instead Stark secretly constructs a mechanized suit that allows him to break free from the terrorist camp and eventually get back home. With his own little Road to Damascus, Stark seems a little more genuine and is now concerned with the effects his Pharisaical corporation is having on the world. Turning over a new leaf, Stark wishes to devote his energies to peace. Next thing you know Stark’s clunky steel contraption is a sharp looking and extremely powerful suit with a cool paint job that empowers Stark to save the world as Ironman.
Sin and death are the world we are born into, it’s all we know as little pagans. Left to our own vices we’re no better than Obadiah, who ultimately caused his own death by virtue of his sin. To save the day amidst what the world would want is peace, the Pax Domini that the Lord can only give. He gives it to us in Holy Baptism where peace is sprinkled upon our foreheads and salvation sealed upon our hearts. He continues to give it to us in Holy Absolution and the Lord’s Supper. Our own Ironman delivers Himself to us for our sake, saving us from sin.
In the name of Jesus. Amen.
God’s grace. That’s what keeps everything from falling down around us – even the stars. His kindness and loving mercy for us in Christ. 
“Ignorant.” “Pathetic.” “Self-absorbed.” A New Albany, Indiana Kindergarten teacher has made national news with such nasty names for one of her students. After telling his parents for some time that his teacher was mean to him, Gabriel Ross’ family recorded the hateful remarks that he was receiving. The teacher has been suspended, however the teachers’ union is challenging that decision. In the end, there is no justification for such berating of a 5-year-old, and turning classmates against him, as has been recorded.
“Self-absorbed.” There is no beating around the bush. Every human being has moments when it is quite clear he or she is self-absorbed. Sin, death, and the devil all prompt each of us to make choices in our thoughts, words, and actions that are “best for me.” No longer do we think in terms of community or serving others. We have been fully immersed in a “self-serve” society.
Precisely because you and I are ignorant, pathetic, and self-absorbed, our dear Lord Jesus has come to suffer all for us. He received the harsh punishment of a world that knew Him not – ignorant of the Son of God!
Did he get depressed, lying in the dirt? As people passed him by on the road, hurrying to meetings, walking or running for exercise, heading for the store to purchase a present, carrying a bag or basket to market to pick up food for the evening meal, did he get depressed? Perhaps a few people tossed a small coin to Lazarus, but doubtless more passed by with nothing. With guilt some would look away from him; but children drew a little closer to their mother’s skirts when they saw his hideous body, covered with sores, and the more callous adults would stare with revulsion and condescension. Did this make Lazarus sad?
No one, that is, except the only One that matters. For God still cares. We could go further: God still loves. Even when a man is in the dirt. Especially when he is in the dark dungeon of despair, when he is suffering, hurting, sad, lonely, angry, confused, disconsolate. God loves that man. That man is us – collectively, as the human race, but also individually. You may be hurt by the sins you have committed, or the sins committed against you. Sometimes those two go together – we sin against those who have sinned against us, and the cycle continues, making enemies. Or you may be hurt by the burdens others place on you, the losses you have known leading to guilt, loneliness, and emptiness. Nameless fears trouble you, a dark road lies before you, and there seems no end in sight. In all of that, God is still love. God is love, meaning that will not change through good times and bad, through seasons of elation and depression, sickness and health; when your faith is strong, and when you are clinging to the last, nearly-broken thread, still God is love, still He loves you.
God gives times of gladness when it is good for you; and the times of sadness are for your benefit, too. Why? How? Because in those times especially, the LORD is purifying you from everything that does not cling to Him alone. But He never stops loving you. His love in this life is not chiefly shown in giving you a table full of rich foods, a body free from disease, a mind free from troubles. His love is demonstrated in that while we were yet sinners, He gave His Son Jesus for us; His love for you is shown in giving His Son a body made weak like yours. Do you have enemies, people turned against you? So did our Lord – it was His own familiar friend who betrayed Him. Do you have fears and anxieties? Our Lord sweat drops of blood before His arrest. Have your hopes grown dim, and do you feel all alone? Our Lord was left alone, crying out to the Father, “Why have You forsaken Me?” Nothing has come upon you that He has not known; nothing has burdened you that He has not likewise borne.
Now then: has God made you rich in this world’s things? Then do not withhold them from those in need. For “this commandment we have from Him: whoever loves God must also love his brother.” Has God given you money? Give it to the poor. Has God given you time? Give it to those who need comfort, or a friend. Has God given you talents and skills? Give to those who need help. “He who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen.” None of this is done to be saved, for indeed, by no deeds of ours can we gain salvation. But by our deeds we can begin to show to others the love that God has for us all.
Twenty years in the making, with who knows how many scripts rejected and with more publicity and hype than anything else this summer, the fourth installment of Indiana Jones has to be a must see movie, right? Try again…
Indiana Jones threw the Jews a bone and then the Christians too, so it only seems natural that the fourth movie would also throw some other religion a bone and give them center stage. Who, though, would have guessed the atheists would have taken the day? [spoilers to follow]
The movie stunk, what else can be said? When Indy was Indy you could enjoy the film, but eventually you realized that not enough stunt devils, fill-ins and CGI could make Harrison Ford 20 years younger. Throw in some cheesy dialogue, Steven Spielberg, George Lucas and you’ve got a bad fourth episode to an awesome saga.
The problem with being a junkie is that you want to quit, but you can’t. American Idol in a lot of ways has gotten predictable, clichéd, and boring. It’s still the number one show, but a lot of people don’t watch anymore – especially in the younger demographic. I always think I’ll quit watching, and then end up watching anyway.
All the secular journalists complained, but the group song for the results show was “Shout to the Lord”. A lot of the singers chose songs that name-checked God this season, and Dolly Parton sang “Jesus and Gravity”, but I would LOVE to know how it came to be that the Idol finalists sang a song about Jesus.
Moment 7 (Hall of Fame week):
David vs. David:
Yes, American Idol, Season 7 was full of surprising moments. In the Divine Service we have recently been hearing about the greatest surprising moments: God-in-the-flesh dying for us, and the tomb vacated by our Risen Savior. Surprising moments continued for Mary Magdalene, the Emmaus disciples, and others seeing the Resurrected Lord. Now the amazing ascension and the miracle of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost are joyous surprises ringing in our ears.
