The Fortress Home.
There are here two great periods set before us: one, when the builders are occupied in working, themselves and their work being all in all; the other, when they and their work together are being tested by forces from without, and no additions can be made of importance. It is too late then. You cannot build in a storm.
I. All doing of right and duty in a Christian land is hearing Christ's words and doing them. Christ's words have touched everything we do with holy power. Every one of you is playing the part of one or other of the two builders mentioned. You are building your character by thoughts, words, and actions, daily; and the true building is to be a fortress against coming storms. The storm will not come yet, but it shall come in time. But mark this: how strong, how earnest, how uninviting the beginning is! Digging deep, and building underground. What forethought, what labour, what collecting of materials, and for a long time nothing to show for it; nothing above ground, no beauty. Whilst the building without foundations begins at once to make a show, to give shelter, to excite admiration, to please the eye, and to answer every purpose of summer enjoyment.
II. When the flood does come, and beats upon the principles and character formed in earlier years of toil, one feels the rocks, and wonders how all good work has been secretly framed so as to save at last in the hour of need. Nothing honestly done for good ever is lost. It is a stone in the building, and nobody can ever tell beforehand on which stone or stones the flood shall beat most violently. You ought all to be building fortress homes for the coming hour, when there will be no time, when it will be too late to think about protecting yourselves from the flood. Dig deep to find the rock. Be not contented with less; find Christ, be true, build on His truth. It is a glorious thing day by day to become more and more sure that your life is on the rock, your work eternal, to find happiness, rest and peace, the fruit of faithful honest work, to have heard Christ, to have trusted Him, and built your fortress home on Him.
E. Thring, Uppingham Sermons,vol. i., p. 10.
References: Luke 6:47-49. Expositor,1st series, vol. ix., p. 90. Luke 6:49. H. J. Wilmot-Buxton, Sunday Sermonettes for a Year,p. 91.Luke 7:1-10. G. Macdonald, Miracles of Our Lord,p. 138; W. Hanna, Our Lord's Life on Earth,p. 108; T. Birkett Dover, The Ministry of Mercy,p. 47; T. R. Stevenson, Christian World Pulpit,vol. xiii., p. 59; Preacher's Monthly,vol. iii., p. 27. Luke 7:2-9. C. Kingsley, Town and Country Sermons,p. 213.Luke 7:3-5. Homiletic Quarterly,vol. ii., p. 751.Luke 7:4-9. Ibid.,vol. iii., p. 90; Spurgeon, Sermons,vol. x., No. 600. Luke 7:5. J. C. Galloway, Christian World Pulpit,vol. xiv., p. 40. Luke 7:6. Expositor,1st series, vol. iv., p. 31.Luke 7:6-8. Spurgeon, Sermons,vol. xiv., No. 800. Luke 7:9. Bishop Moorhouse, Christian World Pulpit,vol. xxix., p. 296. Luke 7:11. J. H. Evans, Thursday Penny Pulpit,p. 325.Luke 7:11-15. A. Mackennal, Christ's Healing Touch,p. 142; Clerical Library: Expository Sermons on the New Testament,p. 72; A. Macleod, Talking to the Children,p. 81; S. A. Brooke, Christian World Pulpit,vol. xvi., p. 305.Luke 7:11-16. T. R. Stevenson, Ibid.,vol. xvii., p. 197. Luke 7:11-17. Homiletic Quarterly,vol. i., p. 350; Clergyman's Magazine,vol. iii., p. 153; T. Birkett Dover, The Ministry of Mercy,p. 54; W. Hanna, Our Lord's Life on Earth,p. 109. 169. 12. J. Vaughan, Fifty Sermons,2nd series, p. 319. Luke 7:12-16. Homilist,vol. v., p. 361.Luke 7:12-17. G. Macdonald, The Miracles of Our Lord,p. 190.