Homes and buildings can be exquisite works of art. We are usually enamored by an extraordinary home built by a great home builder like a Frank Lloyd Wright whose artistic beauty in fantastic locations will entrance us. Little thought is given to the design below the surface. But as I discussed with a Resolute Cohort today, the foundation is the essence of the building that supports the beauty of this design.

In Dubai stands the tallest building known to man that is also a magnificent work of art – The Burj Khalifa. While spectators focus most attention on its height, perhaps more important is what lies buried beneath the building. Its foundation extends 164 feet under the surface, poured with 58,900 cubic yards of concrete, weighing over 120,000 tons. It took a year just to build the foundation!

This is how it is with great lives and great men. Great men, Jesus said, build their lives on “rock” not on “sand.”

24 “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. 26 But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. 27 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.” 

Matthew 7:24-27