The Leaning Tower of Pisa

Back in December of 2001 the world-famous “Leaning Tower of Pisa” was finally reopened to the public. The landmark had been closed for close to a dozen years while major repairs were made. During that time a construction crew completed a 25 million dollar renovation project that was designed specifically to stabilize the tower. Part of the project called for the removal of 110 tons of dirt, and they reduced its famous “lean” by around sixteen inches. Why did they have to do that? The reason is the tower had been tilting further and further away from vertical for centuries, to the point that the top of the 185-foot tower had become an incredible seventeen feet further south than the bottom, and authorities in Italy were concerned that if nothing was done, the tower would soon collapse. 

What was the problem with the tower? Was it poor design? Was it faulty workmanship? Was it built using an inferior grade of marble? No. The problem was what was underneath. The sandy soil on which the city of Pisa was built was just not stable enough to support this monument; it had no firm foundation.

A strong foundation is imperative for any structure, and Jesus used that concept as an analogy for the believer’s life. In His conclusion to the Sermon on the Mount Jesus spoke of the wise and foolish believers. In context, Jesus was saying that a wise person would hear what He just said—the Beatitudes, His teaching on anger, lust, honesty, revenge, love, prayer, fasting, and the Golden Rule—and then apply that to his life. A person who does that is building his life on a firm foundation, and when the storms come, he will be able to stand firm.  

Some people hear the truth, but instead of heeding it, they choose to reject it. That is like building a house on shifting sand instead of a reliable rock. That is what foolish people do. John MacArthur defined the sand as the “self-will, self-fulfillment, self-purpose, self-sufficiency, self-satisfaction, and self-righteousness,” which is insufficient as a foundation. When the storms come, the person who builds his life on himself will crumble. 

What are the storms? Some see them as the storms of life: you get sick, you lose your job, your marriage falls apart, you become an empty-nester. We all face these storms, and a firm foundation is the only way we can withstand them. We have to build our lives on the teachings of Jesus. The storms may also refer to the judgment at the end of a person’s life. The wise person who is obedient to the teachings of Jesus will be just fine, but the one who lived in opposition to Christ will see his fate sealed. 

Maybe, like with the Leaning Tower of Pisa, your foundation is shaky and you are headed for a collapse. Maybe today you need to begin a renovation and start building your life on the Word of God.