Build On The Rock

“Therefore, whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock” (Matthew 7:24 NKJV).

I’ll confess up front. I do foolish things. Mind you, I don’t want to; but, at times the old nature wins. Know what I mean? If it’s any consolation, a Trappist Monk addressed that very issue “I believe that the desire to please God, does in fact please Him.” (Thomas Merton 1915-1968). Sure, every believer wants to please Father God, and one way to do that is by obeying His Word. Let’s dissect a fundamental principle found in the parable of a wise man and a foolish man. The two men in this story had much in common. Both desired to build a house, and both constructed houses that looked beautiful, strong, and indestructible. However, when the rains poured down and a terrible hailstorm pelted, one of the houses collapsed.

What happened? Why didn’t both houses fall? The difference—one had a firm foundation, while the other stood on faulty ground. Hence, the wise builder ‘dug deep’ and set his home on a solid firmament. We may conclude that mere outward appearances, religious works, and tithing doesn’t substitute for a heart truly surrendered to the Lord. Perplexingly, Judas (Jesus’ betrayer) participated in these ‘holy’ activities; maybe even memorized prayers and yet, he didn’t genuinely believe (John 17:12). Tragically, Judas’ built his house on sinking sand.

According to scripture, the foolish man plainly heard mandates by God but didn’t let them transform his life nor produce fruit “But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall” (Matthew 7:26-27 NKJV). Plainly, Jesus offers two choices; either you construct your life on Him or you depend upon a fallen world “The [empty-headed] fool has said in his heart, there is no God (Psalm 14:1, 53:1 Amp). My point. Absolute trust pleases the heart of God, and obedience creates a firm foundation for our lives. Those who love and obey Jesus enlarges in wisdom and develops strength for endurance. Terrible storms may hit, but they can never destroy God’s children.