Character Building - Your Foundation

Your decisions define your character, whether they are good or bad decisions they determine who you are and what you become in the future. Each choice made directs your path either away from God or towards him. For example, Matthew 7:24-27 tells of the wise and foolish men whose choices made a big difference in their lives: 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: 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. 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: 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. The places where these men built their houses – the foundations they chose preceded the success or failure of their structure. Likewise, the foundation you choose – the decisions you make precede the building of your spiritual character. Not everyone, however, builds their character on a solid foundation (like the fool.) Your decisions come directly from your heart, so your decisions tell the true state of your heart. Mark 7:20-23, And he said, That which cometh out of the man, that defileth the man. For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness: All these evil things come from within, and defile the man. There isn't a person that cannot apply at least one of these evil things – these sins, to themselves. We will always take after the sin-nature of our hearts without God’s help and guidance. Jeremiah 17:9, The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? Hebrews 3:12-13, Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God. But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. Whatever we look at, listen to, etc. will influence our heart’s spiritual condition. We need to encourage each other to follow Christ and change our hearts to be like his. God is the Master Builder and his Son is our blue-print; our character should be patterned after him. To start our life's project, we need to begin building on Jesus Christ for he IS the Rock – that solid foundation. Any other foundation is sand, it will not stand...it will not last through the storm. Luke 6:48-49, He is like a man which built an house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock. But he that heareth, and doeth not, is like a man that without a foundation built an house upon the earth; against which the stream did beat vehemently, and immediately it fell; and the ruin of that house was great. Where are you building, on the Rock or on the sand? Psalm 18:2, The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower. Psalm 62:6, He only is my rock and my salvation: he is my defence; I shall not be moved. Psalm 31:3, For thou art my rock and my fortress; therefore for thy name's sake lead me, and guide me.

The Solid Rock

My hope is built on nothing less

Than Jesus’ blood and righteousness;

I dare not trust the sweetest frame,

But wholly lean on Jesus’ name.

On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand

All other ground is sinking sand,

All other ground is sinking sand.