Building our Houses in sand and fog

An interesting conversation I had recently started when someone stated that if we “believe in Jesus” it’s like building your house on a rock. (Matthew 7) When the rain and storms come we will be able to stand, unlike the person who doesn’t “believe in Jesus”. That unfortunate person will be washed away because their house is built on sand.

 Sounds easy enough; Belief in Jesus produces a healthy fruitful life that can weather life’s storms. Don’t believe, and well, all bets are off.  But is it true?

 Often when we teach the parable of the wise man who built his house on the rock, Christians tend to make it a “believe in Jesus” moment. Have you accepted Jesus as “your personal Lord & Savior?”  But if we look closely, that’s not what Jesus said:

 Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock.  But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”  When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching, because he taught as one who had authority, and not as their teachers of the law.

 The first word in this passage suggests it is connected to what immediately proceeded it; which is a verse that implies that calling Jesus “Lord” isn’t what God is primarily focused on:

 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’  Matthew 7: 21-23

 The verse is suggesting that an affirmation of God followed by a lot of ministry activities isn’t God’s priority and, even worse, is still like building your house on the sand.

 In fact that verse stretches back two chapters and covers such topics as: Giving to the needy Prayer & Fasting (not drawing attention to yourself) Storing up treasures in heaven and not on Earth

 I’ll never understand this obsession with accumulating material wealth. You spend your entire life plotting and scheming to acquire more and more possessions until your living areas are bursting with useless junk. Then you die, your relatives sell everything and start the cycle all over again." ~ Odo from Star Trek

Do not worry Judging others  The Narrow and Wide Gates  “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it.But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.  True and False Prophets  “Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.

 The parable of the house built on the rock was all about hearing the words Jesus had just spoken and doing them! And what were his “words”?  Well as we see from the first point it nothing to do with what we would see in a standard evangelistic meeting designed to get someone to “receive” (give a verbal affirmation) of Jesus.  Instead, starting with the Sermon on the Mount in Chapter 5, Christ had begun instructing the crowd in a Way of life that was counter-culture and counter intuitive to their nature

 * examining yourself rather than judging others

* sacrificing your abundance for a person in need

* loving those who would abuse you and talk bad about you

not championing your relationship with God for your own esteem Jesus said putting these things into practice is like building your house on the rock!

 The authority that Jesus had when he taught these things stood in direct contrast to the religious leaders teachings of the time. Like today, ministry leaders tend to focus on particular rituals and activities that, they teach, God smiles upon. Jesus shook up that whole system!!

 He was saying, “The religious leaders will tell you what God desires is this, but what God really desires is that”

 Isn’t it really what Jesus’ ministry was all about? He was pretty much always saying, “You think the road to God’s Kingdom is that. But that road is wide, traveled by most folk, and leads to a life of pain, anxiety, and destruction. I’m telling you the road to God’s Kingdom is this and unfortunately few find it. It is quite narrow and following it will go against your natural reflex and comfort zone.”.

Oh, but if you can find it, and He has promised to show us the Way, it leads to Life and Life eternal