I don’t know a whole lot about building houses. But I do know that you have to have a good, solid foundation to build the house on. Without a good foundation the house is bound to fall. It’s pretty important to have a good foundation if you want to keep your family safe inside the house as well as all your possessions.
Jesus used this very basic and essential observation to drive home the lesson of obeying His Word. In Matthew 7:24-27, Jesus contrasts the outcome of those who obey versus those who don’t.
“Everyone then who hears these words of Mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. And everyone who hears these words of Mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.”
Jesus was talking to a large crowd of people that day. They all heard the lessons He was giving. Once Jesus was done, the people would have to make a choice. Would they believe and obey what they heard? Or would they not believe and obey? Jesus made it clear to them what the outcomes would be. Those who obeyed would be saved. Those who didn’t obey would be lost.
The same is true for us today. The Word of God has been made known. We have it in the Bible. We know it. We can hear it. God tells us about our sin and need for forgiveness. He tells us about repenting from an ungodly life to live a godly one. But when all is said and heard, how will we respond to the Word of God? Will you obey? Will I obey? If we don’t obey then there is going to be great punishment in Hell. But if we do obey then there is going to be an even greater reward in Heaven!
The choice is simple. The choice is ours. The choice is as plain as the nose on our faces. I have to build my house on the rock. I have to build my life on Jesus. Trust and obey. There is no other way. Hear God. Believe God. Obey God.
A Cord of Blue 