Text: “And the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; for it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock” (Matthew 7:25).
As we pass through this earthly life, we are going to come upon difficult times, sooner or later. These difficult times may resemble heavy rain beating down upon us soaking our clothes and making it hard for us to stay focused and keep walking in the right direction.
At times we feel our problems and troubles are flooding our life and we may not be able to survive. The winds of adversity or hardship or hard times blow against us and we feel as though we are going to fall.
Our earthly house, our body may be taking a beating because of some illness or some disease. We feel as though we are useless because our mind doesn’t function as we think it should. Maybe our memory doesn’t work like it used to work. Perhaps we don’t have visitation from family or friends and we feel lonely. At times we feel as though our life is crumbling and we will fall and be washed away into eternal darkness.
As a Christian and as a child of Almighty God, we need not fear anything because God’s word says, “I will never leave you nor forsake you” (Hebrews 13:5). Jesus never said life would be easy. When He sent out His disciples, He said to them, “Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves….But beware of men, for they will deliver you up to councils and scourge you in their synagogues” (Matthew 10:16, 17).
The disciples knew there would be hard times. They knew persecution was on the way because Jesus hid nothing from them. The disciples knew whom they were serving. They placed their faith and trust in Jesus. Their lives were built on a solid foundation that would not give way to destruction.
We are no different today. Yes, trial and tribulations will come our way. We should be ready to face any mountain or obstacle that comes before us. We should not worry about swimming through the rough waters of despair or misery. Jesus has conquered all that we will ever face. He encountered all the pain and grief the world has known or will ever know.
At times we feel our burdens are more than we can carry. We feel as though we cannot take another step. We feel as though we are hanging on by our fingertips. We feel hopeless, but then we hear that still small voice in our heart that says, “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28).
We are victors and not victims. We are victors because our life is built on a solid rock and that rock is Jesus Christ. Our relationship with Jesus is like no other relationship. We believe His words and we are obedient in that we put them into practice in our daily living. His light shines upon us and through us telling the world we are different.
Jesus said, “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven” (Matthew 7:21). There are people who do much talking about Jesus and His lordship, but that is merely for their own benefit. They are lacking truth and obedience. These are the people who will someday hear these words spoken to them by Jesus: “I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!” (v. 23)
There are people who know the right words giving others the impression they are well versed in some subject or some sport. We have probably all been spectators at football, basketball, or baseball games and have heard the advice given by spectator coaches.
These spectators shout and carry on as if they know more than the coach. When a play doesn’t do right or the player makes a mistake these spectator coaches carry on as if they are pros when in reality they only know words. There is a great difference between talking a great game and truly possessing athletic skills.
That is what Jesus is indicating in verse 21 when He says, “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven….” He is telling us that some people talk about heaven and how they belong to the kingdom of God, but their walk in life does not match their talk.
Jesus wants us to do what His word says and to be obedient to His word. When we obey His word, our life will reflect His image. When we walk in His light, His light will shine upon us and through us to those people around us. To say we do something and then we don’t follow through is disobedience which leads us and others down the road of destruction.
Jesus wants to make it clear that just because one sounds religious, but has not accepted Him, does not follow His word, and does not have a personal relationship with Him, will be turned down at the day of judgment. Just being good or acting good will not get one into the kingdom of heaven. These people will not be rewarded with a place in the heavenly mansion.
Jesus has always tried to convince his hearers that He is Master of their heart. His disciples preached this message. The words in red say so and preachers throughout the years have proclaimed this same message. The Psalms and the hymns we sing are all indicative of this message. Some people hear the message and take it to heart while others hear but choose to ignore the message.
In our text for today, Jesus talks about these two groups of people. He tells us about those who hear and obey and He tells us about those who hear but do not obey. He illustrates to us in very simple terms what these people are like.
Jesus says, “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and put 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 it foundation on the rock” (v. 24-26).
When we build our house upon the rock, we are building it upon Jesus’ words. We hear what He tells us; we do what He says, and in so doing, we become obedient. We are building our life upon a firm foundation. We need not worry or think about what seen or unforeseen circumstances we may encounter, because nothing can destroy our foundation and cause us to fall.
James put it this way: “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it – he will be blessed in what he does” (James 1:22-25).
One of the major problems with people today is that they do not listen intently to what is being said. Think of the times you and I have said something very important to a person only to find out the person really did not hear what we were saying. All of us have heard words beneficial to our well-being, but we have chosen not to follow those words.
If we think back far enough, we can remember when our parents gave us words of advice that we did not follow. We heard those words only superficially. Those words did not sink deep into our minds, because we were pre-occupied with other thoughts.
There were other times when we used our sense of selective-listening. We only heard the words that were beneficial to us. As a result of this selective-listening, we paid the price for our disobedience. If we had listened, we just might have been blessed.
Many people do not take life seriously. Some think that this earthly life is forever, especially if they are at young age. Those people who were or are fortunate enough to have parents who built their life upon the rock are more likely to follow in the footsteps of their parents.
This is not always the case because the ruler of this world works in direct opposition to Almighty God. The devil makes worldly pleasures seem right and acceptable to those whose life has a weak foundation.
People do not deliberately choose to follow the ways of the world, but Satan entices people to make wrong choices by making them believe society sets the standard. The real truth is that God sets the standard for righteous living and not society.
God’s laws have not changed. They are the same as when Moses accepted them on Mount Sinai. When it comes to moral laws and moral justice, God’s law applies which means the majority rule does not work.
Jesus went on to talk about the second group of people with these words: “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 the house, and it fell with a great crash” (vs. 26-27).
I don’t believe anyone wants to be labeled foolish. Jesus is telling us that His word should be most important in our life. He has revealed His word to His people through various means, but at times it falls upon deaf ears. Some people think the world has all the answers.
Worldly possessions seem to be most important in the lives of many. God plays second fiddle to all the world has to offer. Jobs, money, houses, cars, and numerous other items are number one in the lives of many and are placed before God. These become the things that are worshipped instead of Almighty God.
This is the foolish person who is building his house upon the sand. There is no solid foundation, because these things or items will not lead the person to eternal life with the Creator.
If each one of us would just follow the “words in red” our life would be build on a solid foundation and there is no stronger foundation than the Rock. Jesus tells us how to live a life that will lead to a place in His kingdom.
He talks to us about such things as murder and adultery which begins in a heart not dedicated to His word, but open to the way the world thinks. He tells us that we should always go the second mile for someone in need regardless of what they have done to us. Jesus tells us to “love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you….” (Matthew 5:44).
People hear these things and know they are right and true, but murder occurs every day. The daily TV news as well as the daily newspaper reports someone being murdered each day. How could one not know that murder is wrong? Murder is a sin and comes about through greed, anger, selfishness and destructive words. “Jesus said, “Whoever murders will be in danger of the judgment” (Matthew 5:21).
Jesus quoted from the Old Testament and said, “You shall not commit adultery” (Matthew 5:27 and Old Testament Exodus 20:14). Do people know this is wrong? I am sure they do, but they seem somehow to justify it in their mind. This is not thought of as sin because so many people are doing it and society seems to accept it. Marriages are destroyed and people are hurt, but self-satisfaction is attained.
It is an act contrary to God’s word, but let’s not worry now because we only live once. The words are in red: “You shall not commit adultery. But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart” (vv. 27-28).
Jesus said, “You have heard that it is was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy. I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you” (Matthew 5:43-44).
Jesus tells us to love for several reasons. If we love, we will not try to get even or seek revenge when someone hurts us in some way. Also, we will not be taking the law into our own hands and committing a crime. Lastly, when we love our enemies, we conquer evil with good and this is the example He set before us.
I have mentioned only three things Jesus talks about in His word, but there many others. He said that when we do deeds or things to help other people, we should not expect the trumpets to sound for us. If we do this, then we are bringing glory to ourselves.
Jesus said, “When you do a charitable deed, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, that your charitable deed may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will Himself reward you openly” (Matthew 6:3-4).
Whenever we do something for another person, we should not have an ulterior motive. In other words, we should not count on them doing something for us in return. When we do for others, we are doing for our Father. Everything we do for people should be out of love because that is the example Jesus set before us.
Jesus talked about returning to judge the nations and He mentioned separating the sheep from the goats and placing the sheep on His right and the goats on the left and then said, “Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world” (Matthew 25:34). He did not stop here, but continued to talk about when He was hungry, thirsty, a stranger, naked, and in prison that we came to see Him.
Then those who are righteous will ask Him when they did all of these things for Him and He will respond with these words: “Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me” (Matthew 25:40).
When your life is built upon a solid foundation, the Rock, you will naturally do these things and in so doing you will acquire a place in the heavenly mansion. The importance of serving others is paramount or supreme in establishing a strong foundation for your life. Through serving people, we show our love for them. This is the love that glorifies God and reflects our own love for Him.
Conclusion:
Our earthly life is only temporary. One day, we shall all move to the other side to be with our Savior and our loved-ones who have already made the move. When we hear Jesus’ words, take them to heart, do what they say, become obedient to Almighty God, we can be assured our life is built on a solid foundation and that foundation is the Rock.
“And the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; for it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock” (Matthew 7:25).
We will know Him when we meet Him face to face and we will not hear Him say to us, “”I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!” (Matthew 7:23), but with His arms outstretched toward us, He will say, “Come to Me….” (Matthew 11:28). Our name will have been written in the “Lamb’s Book of Life” (Revelation 21:27).
Amen.
