WEBVTT 00:00:00.320 --> 00:00:09.679 I want to start the message this morning by explaining a moment in my life where I asked a question that I did not anticipate asking just a few seconds before. 00:00:09.839 --> 00:00:11.599 I don't know if you've ever had that experience. 00:00:11.839 --> 00:00:18.000 Where something happens that you didn't see coming and it forces you to ask a question that you did not think you needed to ask. 00:00:18.320 --> 00:00:24.160 And the question I had to ask was this it was, wait, what am I standing on? 00:00:24.719 --> 00:00:25.600 I'll explain. 00:00:26.079 --> 00:00:29.839 Early in my relationship with Megan, which, if you don't know, Megan's my wife. 00:00:29.920 --> 00:00:41.840 We've been together since we were in high school, and I'm really excited because in February, I don't know what to call this, I don't know the term, but this February I will have been with Megan in an official capacity longer than I was without. 00:00:42.000 --> 00:00:47.280 So we were, I was 18 when we started dating, and this February, it will be like the, what is that? 00:00:47.359 --> 00:00:48.479 It's not the halfway point. 00:00:48.640 --> 00:00:49.359 I don't know the word. 00:00:49.520 --> 00:00:52.880 More than half, more than half of my life I've been with my wife, which is uh which is awesome. 00:00:53.039 --> 00:00:54.799 So it's all either uphill or downhill from there. 00:00:54.880 --> 00:00:57.119 I don't know which one, but there we go. 00:00:57.679 --> 00:01:01.600 And if you're in a new relationship and it's going hard, trust me, the first 15 years are the hardest. 00:01:01.679 --> 00:01:06.000 So just get through that, and everything is is better from that point on. 00:01:06.239 --> 00:01:08.079 But this was early in my relationship with Megan. 00:01:08.159 --> 00:01:13.920 We've maybe been dating for two months, and her family invited me to go on vacation with them, and I was as nervous as could be. 00:01:14.079 --> 00:01:20.879 And I've shared stories from this vacation from time to time because it was simultaneously the worst and best vacation I've ever been on. 00:01:21.040 --> 00:01:23.519 Everything that could go wrong went wrong. 00:01:23.680 --> 00:01:25.040 And I was the boyfriend. 00:01:25.120 --> 00:01:28.799 So, like, I have, I just have to be on my absolute best behavior at every moment. 00:01:28.959 --> 00:01:31.120 If I was miserable, I had to smile and be like, oh, this is great. 00:01:31.200 --> 00:01:31.840 This is awesome. 00:01:31.920 --> 00:01:34.400 Thank you so much for inviting me on this awesome vacation. 00:01:34.560 --> 00:01:36.959 Well, one of the things that went wrong was a canoe trip. 00:01:37.200 --> 00:01:39.680 Um, it was like our Gilligan's Island canoe trip. 00:01:39.760 --> 00:01:41.680 You know the song Gilligan's Island theme song? 00:01:41.760 --> 00:01:42.640 It was supposed to be what? 00:01:42.799 --> 00:01:43.519 How long? 00:01:43.840 --> 00:01:45.359 A three-hour tour, right? 00:01:45.599 --> 00:01:46.640 Ends up being a lot longer. 00:01:46.799 --> 00:01:49.439 We were supposed to go on this canoe trip that lasted maybe an hour. 00:01:49.519 --> 00:01:50.799 That's what the guide told us. 00:01:51.040 --> 00:01:58.879 About four hours later, we arrived at our destination, and it was the middle of the summer, it was incredibly hot, and we were not prepared for four hours in a canoe. 00:01:59.040 --> 00:02:07.359 No one is prepared for four hours in a canoe, especially when you're like city folk and canoeing is something that you kind of know how to do. 00:02:07.519 --> 00:02:08.159 You know what I mean? 00:02:08.240 --> 00:02:09.759 Like, raise your hand if you've been in a canoe. 00:02:09.919 --> 00:02:12.639 You have canoed, you're canoeers, right? 00:02:13.039 --> 00:02:16.639 Raise your hand if you're like, I'm good at canoeing. 00:02:17.199 --> 00:02:18.719 Way less hands. 00:02:18.960 --> 00:02:22.000 Because canoeing is like the whole time, you're like, am I gonna fall? 00:02:22.080 --> 00:02:22.639 Am I gonna fall? 00:02:22.719 --> 00:02:23.039 Don't move. 00:02:23.120 --> 00:02:24.800 Don't, don't, don't do that, don't stand up. 00:02:24.960 --> 00:02:25.759 It's terrifying. 00:02:25.919 --> 00:02:30.319 And so we're in this canoe four hours, and it was it was incredibly hot. 00:02:30.479 --> 00:02:37.120 The river was way slower than than we were told, and so like we didn't put enough sunscreen on, like, not even close. 00:02:37.520 --> 00:02:41.439 Megan's little sister, I've never seen a person sunburn this badly. 00:02:41.599 --> 00:02:44.159 Like it was it was almost like, should she go to the hospital? 00:02:44.400 --> 00:02:47.520 Because she she, I'm not even exaggerating, she looked like a strawberry. 00:02:47.599 --> 00:02:49.199 She was so so red. 00:02:49.280 --> 00:02:50.319 It was it was it was bad. 00:02:50.479 --> 00:02:55.439 And we're in this canoe for hours and hours, we're sweaty, we're hot, it's it's bad. 00:02:55.680 --> 00:03:02.159 And finally, finally, with maybe 30 minutes left, we get to this part of the water where it actually was like a river, like we were told. 00:03:02.319 --> 00:03:08.560 And and it was fairly deep, and the water was was moving you, and so you weren't having to drag your canoe every five minutes on rocks. 00:03:08.639 --> 00:03:09.360 It was it was great. 00:03:09.439 --> 00:03:15.919 And I looked at Megan and I said, Hey, let's like jump out, let's swim a little bit, because we were so hot, and she said, Yeah, let's do that. 00:03:16.000 --> 00:03:23.120 And so I reached down with my paddle and I touched what it feels like the bottom, and it was maybe like four, four and a half feet down. 00:03:23.199 --> 00:03:26.400 And I was like, Yeah, yeah, yeah, it's not too deep, let's just let's jump in, we're good. 00:03:26.560 --> 00:03:27.680 So I go first. 00:03:28.000 --> 00:03:34.639 And the second that my feet hit the ground, it did not feel like what I expected to feel. 00:03:34.879 --> 00:03:37.039 And I knew something was wrong, like right away. 00:03:37.199 --> 00:03:38.960 And that's when the thought ran through my mind. 00:03:39.199 --> 00:03:41.520 Wait, what am I standing on? 00:03:41.840 --> 00:03:48.960 Within two seconds, I was over waist deep in what I can only describe, I don't know the right word for it. 00:03:49.120 --> 00:03:52.319 Um, it was like goop and muck. 00:03:52.719 --> 00:03:53.680 It was moop. 00:03:53.759 --> 00:03:54.479 That's what it was. 00:03:54.639 --> 00:03:55.520 It was moop. 00:03:55.599 --> 00:03:57.120 I was waist deep and moop. 00:03:57.199 --> 00:03:58.319 I actually went underwater for a second. 00:03:58.400 --> 00:04:01.039 Like Megan just sees me jump in and like like that. 00:04:01.199 --> 00:04:09.120 She's like, what have I come back up and and whatever this substance was, it was like it was squishy and it was in my pants. 00:04:09.360 --> 00:04:11.120 Um that's what I remember. 00:04:11.280 --> 00:04:14.879 I remember like, it's in my it's in my pants. 00:04:15.039 --> 00:04:17.279 It was just all it like covered me. 00:04:17.519 --> 00:04:24.480 And and then all of a sudden these bubbles start to come up around me because whatever I was standing on, me going into it, had like disturbed it. 00:04:24.560 --> 00:04:34.879 And so these bubbles are coming up and they're everywhere, and Megan's looking very confused, and uh and they start to burst, and this the smell, oh my goodness, guys, I want you to understand something. 00:04:34.959 --> 00:04:36.879 I have four children, I talk about them a lot. 00:04:37.040 --> 00:04:39.680 I say that because I've smelled some things, okay? 00:04:40.240 --> 00:04:49.199 I have changed thousands of diapers, and I'm not exaggerating, 360 days a year for the last five years, a diaper, at least a diaper a day, usually four or five. 00:04:49.360 --> 00:04:54.480 So I know I know smells, and I've never smelled anything like this. 00:04:54.720 --> 00:05:00.079 This was it was the most putrid, horrifying thing, and and need I remind you, it was in my pants. 00:05:00.319 --> 00:05:03.199 Um and Megan's like, what in the world is that? 00:05:03.279 --> 00:05:05.519 And I'm like, I don't know, but I need your help to get back in the canoe. 00:05:05.600 --> 00:05:07.680 Have you ever tried to pull someone into a canoe? 00:05:08.319 --> 00:05:10.160 It's it's really hard, right? 00:05:10.319 --> 00:05:18.399 And we've only been dating for a couple of months, our relationship isn't exactly secure, and I smell like this, and it's in my pants, and and there's no shower, there's no way to get it like off of me. 00:05:18.480 --> 00:05:23.759 So I just I get in the canoe and it smells awful, and no matter what, I couldn't get that smell away. 00:05:23.839 --> 00:05:27.360 And so the whole drive back with her family, it's like, what's that smell? 00:05:27.519 --> 00:05:28.720 It's Justin's pants. 00:05:28.879 --> 00:05:30.240 They're full of moop. 00:05:30.480 --> 00:05:31.759 And it was terrible. 00:05:31.920 --> 00:05:32.959 It was terrible. 00:05:33.199 --> 00:05:39.279 But it did, that moment did force me to ask the question wait, what am I standing on? 00:05:39.680 --> 00:05:42.000 Which is a good question to ask from time to time. 00:05:42.160 --> 00:05:45.680 And that's a question that Jesus challenges us to ask today. 00:05:46.000 --> 00:05:49.439 If you're just joining us, we've been in a series for months called A King in His Kingdom. 00:05:49.519 --> 00:05:54.560 It's been awesome because ever since July, we have we've just sat at the feet of Jesus and listened to what he's had to say. 00:05:54.800 --> 00:05:58.639 There has not been a single Sunday where we have not just opened up to a teaching of Jesus. 00:05:58.720 --> 00:06:00.399 We've been exploring his teachings. 00:06:00.639 --> 00:06:06.079 And the conviction behind this is that very often as Jesus followers, and I know not all of us in the room have made that commitment. 00:06:06.240 --> 00:06:14.079 We might not call ourselves Jesus' followers, but those of us who have, very often we're more familiar with what Jesus did than we are with what he said. 00:06:14.480 --> 00:06:15.839 And that won't do. 00:06:16.079 --> 00:06:19.120 If we're gonna follow Jesus, we've got to know what he said and understand it. 00:06:19.199 --> 00:06:24.639 And so we've just been exploring the teachings of Jesus, and when you look at the teachings of Jesus, you see this theme that runs through it. 00:06:24.720 --> 00:06:26.639 It's called the kingdom of God. 00:06:26.959 --> 00:06:29.600 Jesus is always talking about the kingdom. 00:06:29.759 --> 00:06:36.480 The kingdom of heaven is like this, the kingdom of God is like this, and so we've been exploring what it means to live in the kingdom. 00:06:37.439 --> 00:06:44.079 And a few months back, we started going through this one specific teaching of Jesus, the longest, uninterrupted of teaching of Jesus we have. 00:06:44.240 --> 00:06:45.759 It's often called the Sermon on the Mount. 00:06:46.000 --> 00:06:48.399 It's Matthew chapters 5, 6, and 7. 00:06:48.720 --> 00:06:53.040 We've gone through it bit by bit, and today we find ourselves at the very end of chapter 7. 00:06:53.120 --> 00:06:55.680 So after today, we will have finished the Sermon on the Mount. 00:06:55.759 --> 00:07:00.160 And here's what Jesus says to wrap up his teaching that we've been in for so long. 00:07:00.480 --> 00:07:07.439 He says, Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock. 00:07:07.680 --> 00:07:15.120 Though the rain comes in torrents and the flood waters rise, and the winds beat against that house, it won't collapse because it is built on bedrock. 00:07:15.360 --> 00:07:18.319 But anyone who hears my teaching and doesn't obey it is foolish. 00:07:18.480 --> 00:07:25.920 Like a person who builds a house on sand, when the rains and the floods come, the winds beat against that house, it will collapse with a mighty crash. 00:07:26.240 --> 00:07:34.639 When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching, for he taught with real authority, quite unlike their teachers of religious law. 00:07:35.199 --> 00:07:38.399 Like so many things that Jesus said, this is loaded. 00:07:39.600 --> 00:07:41.040 It's loaded with audacity. 00:07:41.279 --> 00:07:43.040 I love how audacious Jesus is. 00:07:43.199 --> 00:07:45.120 Like who's who says things like that? 00:07:45.360 --> 00:07:51.759 Who says, anyone who does what I say, that person's wise, I'm the way, I'm it. 00:07:51.839 --> 00:07:52.560 You gotta do what I say. 00:07:52.639 --> 00:07:53.759 Like, who says that? 00:07:54.399 --> 00:07:56.240 That's audacity right there. 00:07:56.399 --> 00:07:57.920 To say that it's all about me. 00:07:58.000 --> 00:08:00.240 Jesus doesn't say that we need to follow a philosophy. 00:08:00.399 --> 00:08:03.360 He doesn't say that we need to prescribe to a certain way of thinking. 00:08:03.519 --> 00:08:07.439 He says, no, no, no, you need to build your life on me. 00:08:08.319 --> 00:08:10.160 It's not the only time he said that. 00:08:10.399 --> 00:08:12.399 Most of us are probably familiar with this. 00:08:12.480 --> 00:08:14.959 You've at least heard this at some point, John 14, 6. 00:08:15.120 --> 00:08:17.920 Jesus says, I am the way, the truth, and the life. 00:08:18.079 --> 00:08:19.839 No one can come to the Father except through me. 00:08:19.920 --> 00:08:21.040 That is audacious. 00:08:21.279 --> 00:08:23.439 Seriously, who says things like that? 00:08:24.079 --> 00:08:27.120 We have to remember that Jesus has real authority. 00:08:27.279 --> 00:08:32.159 It says that the people were amazed when they heard him teach because he taught with someone, like someone who had real authority. 00:08:32.320 --> 00:08:34.720 That's because he does have real authority. 00:08:35.039 --> 00:08:36.240 He is the king. 00:08:36.559 --> 00:08:41.519 When he talks and teaches about his kingdom, he's making a claim that he is the king. 00:08:42.320 --> 00:08:43.919 He makes no apologies for it. 00:08:44.080 --> 00:08:50.159 Jesus claims to be the king, to be the very one that we need to build our lives on. 00:08:50.320 --> 00:08:55.360 He says that if you do that, if you build your life on what I say, you obey me, you're wise. 00:08:55.919 --> 00:08:56.639 It's gonna work. 00:08:56.799 --> 00:08:57.840 If you don't, you're foolish. 00:08:57.919 --> 00:08:59.679 That's an audacious thing to say. 00:09:00.960 --> 00:09:03.200 The statement's also loaded with promise. 00:09:03.759 --> 00:09:07.840 There's the promise of trouble, the promise of trials. 00:09:09.039 --> 00:09:14.159 He doesn't say if the storm comes, he doesn't say if the rains come in this metaphor. 00:09:14.240 --> 00:09:14.879 He says when. 00:09:15.360 --> 00:09:16.240 It's inevitable. 00:09:16.399 --> 00:09:22.320 And I love the fact that Jesus is honest with us about the fact that following him is not a problem-free life. 00:09:23.759 --> 00:09:27.759 If you've given your life to Jesus, please understand he's never promised you that you will avoid trouble. 00:09:27.919 --> 00:09:28.879 He didn't avoid trouble. 00:09:29.279 --> 00:09:31.200 In fact, he promises the opposite. 00:09:31.519 --> 00:09:35.840 John 16, 33 begins with, I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. 00:09:36.000 --> 00:09:39.039 Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. 00:09:40.480 --> 00:09:48.399 We live in a world full of people trying to sell us something, and they usually sell us with dishonest claims or exaggerated claims. 00:09:48.559 --> 00:09:50.639 Like the fitness industry, that's the king of it. 00:09:50.720 --> 00:09:55.519 You know, where you see commercials or things on TV products that promise you results, they're really like really easy. 00:09:55.759 --> 00:09:57.279 I don't know if you've ever bought something like that. 00:09:57.360 --> 00:10:06.559 I know I've told this story before, but years ago, I bought one of those electronic belts that you wrap around your waist and it like shocks your abs, so you can sit and watch TV and get a six-pack. 00:10:06.720 --> 00:10:08.159 I bought one of those. 00:10:08.799 --> 00:10:10.799 I used it a few times. 00:10:11.679 --> 00:10:12.720 Does not work. 00:10:13.120 --> 00:10:15.440 The guy in the commercial, he looked great. 00:10:15.519 --> 00:10:16.879 And he's just sitting there watching. 00:10:17.039 --> 00:10:18.320 I was like, that's what I've been missing. 00:10:18.399 --> 00:10:21.120 How can I watch TV and get fit at the same time? 00:10:21.279 --> 00:10:22.320 That's efficiency. 00:10:22.399 --> 00:10:28.960 And so I bought one, I wrapped it around my waist, it shocked me, it hurt, it was painful, zero results to speak of. 00:10:29.039 --> 00:10:38.159 Because the reality is, if you talk to someone who's really fit, and you say, hey, I want to be like you, and they're honest with you, they're gonna tell you the truth. 00:10:38.240 --> 00:10:39.200 It's really hard. 00:10:39.360 --> 00:10:45.039 You're gonna have to be extremely disciplined, you're gonna hurt almost every single day, and strangely you'll like it. 00:10:45.120 --> 00:10:45.840 That's the funny thing. 00:10:45.919 --> 00:10:48.879 You know, like some part of you sore, but you feel like you've accomplished something. 00:10:49.120 --> 00:10:57.519 The reality is it's hard, it's difficult, and it's rare for us to find someone in this world that tells us the truth and says, no, no, this is actually really tough. 00:10:57.759 --> 00:11:03.840 It's gonna take discipline, it's gonna take sacrifice, it's gonna take hard work, and you will experience pain. 00:11:04.559 --> 00:11:06.159 It's refreshing when someone's honest. 00:11:06.320 --> 00:11:07.039 Jesus is honest. 00:11:07.200 --> 00:11:11.039 He tells us, following me is not, it's not easy, but it's good. 00:11:12.000 --> 00:11:13.759 Never trade in good for easy, by the way. 00:11:13.840 --> 00:11:14.720 They're not the same thing. 00:11:15.120 --> 00:11:26.080 And Jesus doesn't promise us easy, he promises us good, but uh, there's also the promise of victory because he says that if you build your life on him, when the rains come, you're still standing. 00:11:26.399 --> 00:11:28.720 John 16, 33 finishes. 00:11:29.440 --> 00:11:31.679 I told you all this so that you may have peace in me. 00:11:32.000 --> 00:11:36.399 Here on earth, you will have many trials and sorrows, but take heart, I have overcome the world. 00:11:36.559 --> 00:11:37.759 Jesus wins. 00:11:38.159 --> 00:11:41.679 When you follow Jesus, you're you're you're following a winner. 00:11:42.639 --> 00:11:44.639 Because Jesus defeated death. 00:11:45.519 --> 00:11:48.399 And so, yes, following Jesus is not easy. 00:11:48.480 --> 00:11:50.480 Yes, you will experience trials and troubles. 00:11:50.720 --> 00:11:55.840 The rains will come, storms will happen, but when all is said and done, you'll still be standing. 00:11:57.279 --> 00:12:03.519 Because Jesus proved that that's what happens when you live connected to him, because he has that kind of power. 00:12:05.440 --> 00:12:08.799 Jesus challenges us to ask a question what am I standing on? 00:12:10.720 --> 00:12:12.320 What's my foundation? 00:12:13.600 --> 00:12:19.120 All my hopes, all my desires, all the things that I'm looking forward to in life, what's it based on? 00:12:20.399 --> 00:12:29.679 Whether we realize it or not, we've we've built our lives on some type of foundation, and Jesus is telling us that if that foundation is not him, we're in trouble. 00:12:31.120 --> 00:12:35.360 So I think it's good for us to ask the question wait, what am I what am I standing on this morning? 00:12:35.679 --> 00:12:37.600 What am I building my life on? 00:12:38.159 --> 00:12:40.320 Because there's a lot of options. 00:12:41.279 --> 00:12:50.000 There's a lot of options out there, a lot of things that you can you can choose to build your life on, but but it's sort of build at your own peril. 00:12:51.360 --> 00:13:02.320 So this morning we're gonna explore some of those and then and then contrast and compare those to Jesus and really do some soul searching and find out what what our lives are really based on. 00:13:04.320 --> 00:13:10.559 One of the obvious ones, and I don't think we need to spend much time on this, but it's it's so easy for us as people of means. 00:13:10.720 --> 00:13:13.279 We we might not all think of ourselves in the room as people of means. 00:13:13.360 --> 00:13:15.679 You might be like, I you don't know me, I'm not a person of means. 00:13:15.759 --> 00:13:21.679 The reality is if you are an American alive today, you have more than most people in human history have ever had. 00:13:21.840 --> 00:13:22.399 You just do. 00:13:22.799 --> 00:13:26.080 Not like more people in the world today, more people in the world ever. 00:13:26.480 --> 00:13:31.840 We have the ability as Americans, most days we can wake up and go, hmm, what do I want to eat today? 00:13:32.000 --> 00:13:34.399 I'm feeling like this, and then we go and we get it. 00:13:34.559 --> 00:13:38.559 And that is literally an experience that very few people in human history have ever had. 00:13:39.360 --> 00:13:48.559 And so that the challenge for us as Americans is that we live in a wealthy society and we tend to put our trust and our faith in our wealth, in our stuff, and what we've earned. 00:13:49.440 --> 00:13:59.600 Jesus actually said that it's very challenging for rich people to enter the kingdom of heaven because we have this tendency to put our faith in the stuff that we have, but that's silly. 00:14:00.159 --> 00:14:01.519 That's silly. 00:14:02.559 --> 00:14:08.639 Because no matter how much money you have, maybe some of us in the room were like, I got quite a bit, it didn't used to be yours. 00:14:09.039 --> 00:14:11.360 At some point in time, that money belonged to someone else. 00:14:11.600 --> 00:14:15.440 And then it left that person and it went to you, which means it's unfaithful. 00:14:16.000 --> 00:14:22.960 And your money, no matter how hard you've worked to earn it, it is more than happy to leave you and go to someone else. 00:14:23.519 --> 00:14:26.879 And so, whatever you do, don't build your life on your stuff. 00:14:26.960 --> 00:14:29.279 Don't build your life on what you earn, what you make. 00:14:29.440 --> 00:14:35.440 Jesus said, Don't put your trust in things that can rust and things that mobs can come and destroy. 00:14:35.600 --> 00:14:44.639 Don't put your trust in what you have, because by the way, we live in a culture where every few years there's another candidate that has big ideas that they want to spend your money to accomplish. 00:14:44.879 --> 00:14:53.039 They're so excited about their big ideas, the politicians that we elect, they have these massive plans, and it's so exciting, they're like, hey, I've got this plan, I just need all of your money to do it. 00:14:53.279 --> 00:14:54.720 And we go, okay. 00:14:55.279 --> 00:14:57.679 We really don't have any power when they make those plans. 00:14:57.759 --> 00:15:00.559 So don't build your life on your stuff. 00:15:00.879 --> 00:15:02.799 This is not a good foundation. 00:15:03.039 --> 00:15:05.039 But there's other foundations to choose from. 00:15:05.519 --> 00:15:06.639 How about how about this one? 00:15:06.799 --> 00:15:08.639 Um, personal feelings. 00:15:09.200 --> 00:15:14.320 We live in a culture that tells us everywhere we turn to just do what feels right. 00:15:15.200 --> 00:15:17.200 You know, do do what you feel is best. 00:15:17.360 --> 00:15:20.000 Let your feelings be what guides you. 00:15:20.159 --> 00:15:22.480 Let your feelings be your foundation. 00:15:24.240 --> 00:15:26.000 Feelings are feelings are an interesting thing. 00:15:26.399 --> 00:15:27.279 They're important, by the way. 00:15:27.360 --> 00:15:28.639 I'm not demeaning feelings. 00:15:28.799 --> 00:15:31.840 Later on, it's gonna seem like I am, but trust me, I'm not. 00:15:32.159 --> 00:15:33.279 Jesus had feelings. 00:15:33.600 --> 00:15:34.879 He felt strongly, actually. 00:15:35.039 --> 00:15:36.000 Jesus wept. 00:15:36.240 --> 00:15:38.639 Multiple times in scripture, we see Jesus moved to tears. 00:15:38.799 --> 00:15:39.600 He laughed. 00:15:39.840 --> 00:15:43.200 But Jesus didn't, he didn't build his life on his feelings. 00:15:43.679 --> 00:15:45.440 And yet we're told to do that. 00:15:45.679 --> 00:15:53.440 We live in a culture that says, just go with what you feel is best, and that's that's just terrible advice because our feelings are easily manipulated. 00:15:54.080 --> 00:15:56.080 Our feelings are so easy to mess with. 00:15:56.240 --> 00:16:01.840 Like, okay, the other day um I'm watching Toy Story 2 with one of my kids. 00:16:02.000 --> 00:16:03.200 I don't know if you've seen it or not. 00:16:03.279 --> 00:16:04.720 It's a movie about toys. 00:16:04.879 --> 00:16:07.919 Um, it's been out for a while, so spoiler alert. 00:16:08.080 --> 00:16:10.639 Um I know, there's no spoilers, no, don't worry about it. 00:16:10.799 --> 00:16:16.399 But uh, but no, it's a movie about a toy cowboy and a toy spaceman and their adventures together. 00:16:16.480 --> 00:16:22.080 And I'm watching this with one of my kids, and at one point I get tears in my eyes. 00:16:22.320 --> 00:16:24.399 Like I'm actually welling up. 00:16:25.200 --> 00:16:29.440 I'm watching a movie about a toy spaceman and a toy cowboy. 00:16:29.600 --> 00:16:38.559 And I'm feeling because because the human beings that work at Pixar are emotionally manipulative, evil people. 00:16:39.279 --> 00:16:44.480 Like, I actually have a good friend from college who's an animator at Pixar. 00:16:44.639 --> 00:16:47.200 We we roomed across from each other in college, so he's he's great. 00:16:47.279 --> 00:16:48.080 I'm I'm half joking. 00:16:48.159 --> 00:16:55.039 But but honestly, if you've seen a Pixar movie, you you clearly know how easily your emotions are to be messed with, right? 00:16:55.600 --> 00:16:56.960 Have you ever seen the movie Up? 00:16:57.200 --> 00:16:58.879 Anyone ever seen the movie Up? 00:16:59.200 --> 00:17:00.399 Oh my goodness. 00:17:00.960 --> 00:17:03.840 What a what a horrible, horrible thing. 00:17:04.160 --> 00:17:10.559 That movie, like what that movie, if you've never seen Up's 10 years old, I highly recommend you to see it. 00:17:10.720 --> 00:17:12.400 Disney Plus just came out,$7 a month. 00:17:12.480 --> 00:17:13.119 You get them all. 00:17:13.279 --> 00:17:19.920 Um, and so so all the marketing for Up, it's this old man, and he's got a house and like a billion balloons. 00:17:20.079 --> 00:17:25.200 His house floats away, and he goes on adventures in his floating house, and there's a Boy Scout, and it's hilarious. 00:17:25.519 --> 00:17:27.519 And that's what the marketing material showed. 00:17:27.599 --> 00:17:32.880 That's what the trailer showed, and so you go to see the movie Up so you can laugh and have an adventure with the man with the floating house. 00:17:33.039 --> 00:17:42.720 And in the first five minutes, the first five minutes of the movie up, here's what it will tell you you are a mortal human being, you will die, you will not accomplish your dreams, and you will have regret. 00:17:43.039 --> 00:17:44.640 That's the first five minutes of up. 00:17:44.799 --> 00:17:51.279 The movie Up begins by ripping your heart out of your chest and then puts it back in. 00:17:51.680 --> 00:17:53.279 And it's a kid's movie. 00:17:53.519 --> 00:18:01.039 And parents took their children to see up, not anticipating having to explain the reality of death and suffering. 00:18:02.160 --> 00:18:04.240 But that's that's what Pixar does. 00:18:04.720 --> 00:18:07.119 They take your heart and they mess with it. 00:18:07.680 --> 00:18:12.640 Our our emotions, they're just like, they're just so easy to manipulate. 00:18:13.279 --> 00:18:16.799 So we better be really careful not to build our lives on what we feel. 00:18:17.759 --> 00:18:22.079 Our feelings are far too fickle to be the foundation for our lives. 00:18:22.319 --> 00:18:26.400 And yet we live in a culture that screams at us, just follow your heart, do what you feel is best. 00:18:26.559 --> 00:18:31.359 There's actually a scripture in Judges that talks about a time in Israel's history. 00:18:31.920 --> 00:18:40.559 And it says, in those days, Israel had no king, and all the people did whatever seemed right in their own eyes, and it was not a good time to be alive. 00:18:42.000 --> 00:18:54.799 The reality is that a culture where everyone believes they're their own God, and everyone believes that they have the ability to determine what is true and what is right and what is good on their own, it's not, it doesn't really work out. 00:18:55.440 --> 00:18:58.240 Feelings are not meant to be the foundation, they're important. 00:18:58.960 --> 00:19:00.240 Be in touch with them. 00:19:00.559 --> 00:19:06.000 Dudes, spend some time figuring out what those things are inside of you, emotions. 00:19:06.559 --> 00:19:09.680 Be in touch with them, but don't let them be your foundation. 00:19:11.279 --> 00:19:13.680 We could talk about another foundation that a lot of us buy into. 00:19:13.839 --> 00:19:16.400 It's our own thoughts, it's our own logic, our own ideas. 00:19:16.640 --> 00:19:20.720 Raise your hand if you're a logical person, if you consider yourself to be a very logical person. 00:19:21.039 --> 00:19:21.359 Okay. 00:19:21.680 --> 00:19:25.039 Raise your hand if you're an emotional person married to a logical person. 00:19:25.200 --> 00:19:27.039 Ha ha ha! Isn't that fun? 00:19:27.680 --> 00:19:28.079 Right? 00:19:28.240 --> 00:19:28.960 That's the worst. 00:19:29.039 --> 00:19:35.119 That's how Megan and I are, and I'm not saying that women are emotional and men are logical, but in our relationship, that's how that's how it's worked out. 00:19:35.279 --> 00:19:40.799 And it just, what that means is she does not make any sense to me. 00:19:41.920 --> 00:19:42.880 Most of the time. 00:19:43.039 --> 00:19:44.960 Because she just she feels things. 00:19:45.119 --> 00:19:47.359 And she feels things that I don't feel. 00:19:47.680 --> 00:19:52.079 And I heard this said years ago, and I believe it's true that most guys, we have three emotions. 00:19:52.319 --> 00:19:53.839 We're mad, we're sad, or we're glad. 00:19:53.920 --> 00:19:54.559 That's it. 00:19:54.880 --> 00:19:58.240 And if you're not, if you're not sad and you're not mad, you should be glad. 00:19:58.400 --> 00:20:06.640 And Megan has thousands of emotions, hybrid emotions, you know, emotions that have like merged with other emotions, things I've never experienced before. 00:20:06.880 --> 00:20:09.200 Like she will cry sometimes and I'll say, Are you sad? 00:20:09.440 --> 00:20:09.759 No. 00:20:10.880 --> 00:20:11.839 Why are you crying? 00:20:12.000 --> 00:20:13.440 I just feel like it. 00:20:14.000 --> 00:20:17.119 And that to me is like this one's defective. 00:20:17.200 --> 00:20:20.960 We gotta figure this like something's something's wrong. 00:20:21.200 --> 00:20:22.000 And it's so hard. 00:20:22.079 --> 00:20:31.519 Like, I have experiences, and I'm I'm sure many of us have had these, where like, because my wife is emotional and I'm logical, she will come to me with a problem that she does not want me to solve, even if I can solve it. 00:20:32.960 --> 00:20:35.039 It's not this doesn't make any sense. 00:20:35.279 --> 00:20:40.000 Like, logical people, does it make any sense for you to not solve a problem that you can solve? 00:20:40.240 --> 00:20:41.759 Does that make any sense? 00:20:42.079 --> 00:20:50.000 No! And yet she'll come to me with a problem and she'll be like, this is happening, and she'll she just and she'll tell me, I don't want you to solve it, I just want you to feel with me. 00:20:50.720 --> 00:20:51.359 You know? 00:20:52.319 --> 00:20:58.400 And it's I've tried and failed many times because I just want to solve it. 00:20:58.480 --> 00:21:08.880 You know, like when my kids have a problem that can be solved, like like let's say, let's say, this happens on a pretty regular basis, that my son Judah drops something in the floor and then he cries because he dropped it. 00:21:09.119 --> 00:21:13.839 I don't go emote with him, I don't walk up to him on the couch, I'm so sorry you dropped your toy. 00:21:14.160 --> 00:21:15.839 I feel your pain. 00:21:16.160 --> 00:21:18.960 I just beat, here's your toy, problem solved. 00:21:19.119 --> 00:21:21.119 Tears done, let's move on. 00:21:21.440 --> 00:21:22.079 Right? 00:21:22.480 --> 00:21:24.400 But that's that's how logical people think. 00:21:24.480 --> 00:21:31.920 And those of us who are logical, sometimes the problem we have is that we we start to put a way too much stock in our own logic. 00:21:32.160 --> 00:21:40.000 We start to believe that our own our own way of thinking, our ability to solve problems, that that's worth that's worth building our lives on. 00:21:40.079 --> 00:21:41.920 That it's it's capable of holding the weight of life. 00:21:42.000 --> 00:21:42.720 It's our foundation. 00:21:42.799 --> 00:21:47.359 I'll figure it out, I'll I'll think of the plan, I'll find the solution. 00:21:47.519 --> 00:21:48.079 It's logic. 00:21:48.160 --> 00:21:50.400 And here's what I want you to know God is logical. 00:21:50.799 --> 00:21:57.839 John chapter 1, verse 1 says In the beginning, the word already existed, the word was God, the word was with God. 00:21:58.160 --> 00:22:05.279 And that that word that We translate word in the Greek, the original language, it's the word logos in the Greek, which is where we get the word logic from. 00:22:05.759 --> 00:22:15.440 The Greek people understood that there was clearly order in the universe, and so there must be some mind behind everything that exists because everything is laid out so logically. 00:22:16.880 --> 00:22:25.680 And so what John, the author, is claiming is that that logic that they have they've seen, that logic that they have have discerned, it's real and it's God. 00:22:26.880 --> 00:22:28.559 He's the one that put everything in order. 00:22:29.119 --> 00:22:30.160 God is logical. 00:22:30.880 --> 00:22:32.240 And it's it's good to think. 00:22:32.400 --> 00:22:34.400 You thinkers in the room, keep thinking. 00:22:35.279 --> 00:22:36.000 Think a lot. 00:22:36.400 --> 00:22:38.559 One of my favorite characters in the Bible is Nehemiah. 00:22:38.880 --> 00:22:40.240 I love Nehemiah because he's a thinker. 00:22:40.400 --> 00:22:42.880 There's many times in the story of Nehemiah where it just says he thinks about things. 00:22:43.039 --> 00:22:44.240 Nehemiah 5, 6. 00:22:44.559 --> 00:22:46.960 It says, when I heard their complaints, I was very angry. 00:22:47.039 --> 00:22:49.839 After thinking it over, I spoke out against these nobles and officials. 00:22:50.400 --> 00:22:50.960 I love that. 00:22:51.119 --> 00:22:52.880 Nehemiah just I thought about it. 00:22:53.279 --> 00:22:56.319 A lot of people need to think before they speak. 00:22:56.880 --> 00:22:57.920 And that's what he tells us. 00:22:58.079 --> 00:22:59.519 Before I spoke, I thought. 00:23:00.559 --> 00:23:01.920 So thinking is good. 00:23:03.200 --> 00:23:09.839 But here's the thing: if your thoughts, your ideas, your plans, if those are your foundations, good luck. 00:23:10.960 --> 00:23:14.400 Because how many times have you thought you were right, but it turns out you weren't? 00:23:15.759 --> 00:23:16.640 Like honestly. 00:23:17.519 --> 00:23:19.759 How many times have you thought you had the right job? 00:23:19.920 --> 00:23:21.119 This is it, this is the job. 00:23:21.599 --> 00:23:26.480 This is the one that's I'm so excited to do this because this is this is the one that it's all gonna work out. 00:23:26.640 --> 00:23:27.279 I know it. 00:23:27.519 --> 00:23:32.000 I thought about it, and then nope, you thought wrong. 00:23:33.359 --> 00:23:34.799 What about the right person? 00:23:35.599 --> 00:23:43.039 I know I'm hitting hard, but like, how many times have we been in relationships like this is the one I know this is the right person for me? 00:23:43.119 --> 00:23:44.240 This person, it just works. 00:23:44.319 --> 00:23:49.279 We click, it's great, we're gonna be together forever, and wrong person. 00:23:51.759 --> 00:23:57.200 Our thoughts, well intended as they may be, they're they're often they're they're wrong. 00:23:58.640 --> 00:24:00.160 Sometimes we just don't think right. 00:24:01.839 --> 00:24:04.240 So our thoughts, they they can't be our foundation. 00:24:06.720 --> 00:24:07.839 What about what about this one? 00:24:08.000 --> 00:24:09.680 The the values of the world we live in. 00:24:10.000 --> 00:24:12.480 That's what a lot of people like to base their their lives on. 00:24:12.559 --> 00:24:15.599 Like what does a culture think and feel and believe right now? 00:24:15.680 --> 00:24:17.279 And I'm gonna build my life off of that. 00:24:17.359 --> 00:24:19.920 And and and I think this is especially true when we're younger. 00:24:20.160 --> 00:24:24.720 Those of us in the room who are who are younger in life, it's very easy for us just to be a reflection of the culture we're part of. 00:24:24.960 --> 00:24:27.119 So we value whatever our culture values at the time. 00:24:27.200 --> 00:24:28.319 But here's the problem with that. 00:24:31.200 --> 00:24:34.160 You you could you could be the wokest of the woke. 00:24:35.279 --> 00:24:40.799 You could be the person who right now your opinions are in line with everything that culture says is true. 00:24:40.960 --> 00:24:48.640 You can post about it on social media and everyone goes yes, and whatever you're posting about today that everyone's saying yes to might be the very thing that 20 years from now gets you banned from whatever. 00:24:49.359 --> 00:24:51.599 Because culture changes fast. 00:24:52.720 --> 00:24:56.400 There are things that are celebrated today that 10 years ago were offensive. 00:24:57.359 --> 00:25:01.279 There are things that that 50 years ago were celebrated, and today those things are offensive. 00:25:02.960 --> 00:25:04.400 And you just you never know what's gonna happen. 00:25:04.480 --> 00:25:05.519 You never know how things are gonna change. 00:25:05.599 --> 00:25:12.640 Jesus said that anyone who builds their lives on anything but him, it's like building your life on sand, something that just changes with the weather. 00:25:13.519 --> 00:25:14.960 Rain's calm and everything's different. 00:25:15.119 --> 00:25:16.559 Well, that's that's culture for you. 00:25:17.119 --> 00:25:21.119 Building your life on what what our culture says is true is basically like going like this. 00:25:22.480 --> 00:25:22.880 Yeah. 00:25:24.079 --> 00:25:27.359 It's like it's it's it's something that changes as often as the wind. 00:25:27.680 --> 00:25:33.920