1. Myth: “The line dividing heaven and hell is. . . who claims Jesus’ name.”
- Matthew 7:24, 26 – “puts into practice,” “does not put them into practice.”
- Focus: empty religion.
[a, c, g, o]
- There is a lot of empty religion out there.
- And, as I’ve shared before, one of the biggest myths that leads to an empty religion is the idea that I can have some vague “belief” in Christ that is completely disengaged from any obedience to Christ and I’m fine spiritually.
- There is just no way to thoroughly read the New Testament and come away with that belief.
- It’s clear that Jesus expects us to follow Him. And as we do that, our lives should bear fruit for God’s glory.
- As Bonhoeffer said, “Only he who obeys believes, and only he who believes obeys.”
- What is the source of this false confidence? A few of the possibilities:
a. Distorted “eternal security” focus that expects no discipleship.
b. Lack of self-examination.
c. A focus on religious activities.
d. Belief that their good works will balance out their sin.
e. Assurance because “I was saved as a child.”
f. Assurance because “I’ve been a member of this church for 20 years.”
g. Failure to recognize that commitment to a denomination or church is not the same as commitment to the Word of God.
Truth: “. . . who practices Jesus’ teachings.”
- This is the concluding idea of the sermon, emphasized repeatedly: put these teachings into practice.
- The difference between the two people here is simple and straightforward: one put Jesus’ words into practice and one didn’t.
- The difference was not that one was aware of Jesus’ words and one wasn’t.
- The difference was not that one heard Jesus’ words and one didn’t.
- The difference was not that one said he believed Jesus’ words and one didn’t.
- The difference was not that one praised Jesus’ words and one didn’t.
- The difference was in the act of putting His words into practice.
- It’s telling to consider how many people simultaneously consider Jesus a great teacher and completely ignore His teachings.
- There are those who agonize over the question “Am I saved?”
- There are those who wonder: how can I make sure I’m “in”?
- There is no need for that uncertainty. Simply and faithfully be someone who wants to know God’s will and to practice Jesus’ teachings.
- Read the Bible as a lifeline.
- We need to be hungry – desperate even – to know God’s will.
- Every choice, we need to ask: what would Jesus have me do?
- Not as one of the options that we’re considering, but as our de facto action.
2. Myth: “What matters most in my life is. . . what’s seen.”
- Matthew 7:24, 26 – “rock,” “sand.”
- Focus: superficial.
[e, f, h, i]
- Example #1: Materialism.
- We certainly have a focus in our society on the way that things appear.
- We are probably the most materialistic culture in history.
- The material blessings that we have access to are certainly thing we should be thankful for, but we need to recognize that there is a spiritual danger there.
- The danger is simply that when we focus so much on what is seen, you can miss what’s more important.
- Example #2: Fame.
- Another way we are superficially focused on what you can see is in our quest for fame.
- We’ve seen a significant spike among younger Americans in those who think an important life goal is to become famous.
- Of course, we don’t think about the destructive power that fame has in their lives – we just think it’d be cool to be well-known.
- So many kids’ show today are about fame: Hannah Montana, Big Time Rush, iCarly.
- It’s not that the wrong way looked bad.
- In fact, both of the houses here look fine outwardly.
Truth: “. . . what’s unseen.”
- Luke 6:48-49 – “dug down deep and laid the foundation on rock,” “without a foundation.”
- The parallel passage in Luke mentions the foundational work that’s done.
- The thing about foundation work is that once the building goes up no one sees it anymore. Because no one is impressed by it the way they would be by, say, a big-screen TV, it’s easy to think that’s it’s not essential.
- It’s telling to watch how people respond to the storms of this life.
- You have two people side-by-side, let’s say 35-year-old mothers of two. Each faces a serious illness with one of her kids. One ends up with a divorce and a serious need for a therapist while the other endures the trial not without pain but nonetheless with hope and strength.
- Outwardly they look the same; the difference is what is unseen.
- I think in the parable that Jesus is telling it’s clear that the foundation is the decision to practice Jesus’ teachings.
- That choice to take Jesus’ teachings as our guide lays an unseen foundation that gives us something essential when we face storms.
- And yet the things that are unseen so often so undone.
- I don’t know who spent time in the Word behind closed doors this week.
- I don’t know who spent time in prayer this week.
- I don’t know who protected their mind from destructive media.
- I don’t know who was careful in their thoughts.
- But the fact that those things are unseen doesn’t make them less important.
- We often want quick answers from God. We want the path we walk to be the one with the least controversy and hassle. We want what’s pleasing rather than what’s right.
- The test of your life is not what everything looks like in the sunshine, but how you handle the storm.
3. Myth: “Being close to God means I. . . will experience no storms.”
- Matthew 7:25, 27 – “rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house.”
- Focus: exception.
[b]
- Some people expect that being a Christian means that God will keep all the struggles and difficulties and problems of life away from them.
- Or, at least, bring quick answers when those storms do arise.
- Some preachers actually preach this “health and wealth” gospel.
- More prevalent, though, are preachers who refuse to engage the great heartaches of life in their sermons, leaving us to expect nothing but good things because of their silence to any darker possibility.
- More to the point here, though, is the thought of being an exception.
- This storm most directly represents Final Judgment. I think there are times when this is true during this life, but the main focus here is eternal.
- There is a storm that all of us will have to face at the end of this life: standing before God.
- Will our life stand in that moment or will it fall?
- It’s essential to see the simple truth here that both houses faced a storm.
- We don’t want to think about it, but it’s a stark truth: every single one of us will stand before God to give account of our life.
- And Jesus describes that as a “storm.”
- Why can’t what Jesus is describing here be struggles that we go through in this life?
- There is certainly a measure of truth there that living in Christ brings benefits in this life. But it is also true that you can make it through this life with a “great crash” in your life even if you are not a Christian.
- In fact, that’s one of the reasons why some will be so surprised on Judgment Day: their life seemed blessed in this life – enough to eat, a place to sleep, no great tragedies, a spouse and children.
- The lack of a great crash in their earthly lives does not mean that all is well for their Final Judgment.
Truth: “. . . can endure any storm.”
- Having been one who has put Jesus’ words into practice, we can face the Final Judgment with confidence. We can endure that storm because of our foundation.
4. Myth: “The ultimate test of my life is. . . how high I reached.”
- Matthew 7:27 – “great crash” - doesn’t matter how high you reach if it all comes crashing down.
- Focus: success.
[d, j, k, l, m, n, p, q]
- We honor success in our society.
- The one with the impressive title.
- The one with the massive house.
- The one with the red-hot sports car.
- The one with loads in the bank.
- And when someone has reached great heights of success, we presume they have lived a good life.
- But what if they have all the success in the world and God says they come up short?
- We all want to know how we can live a life that matters.
Truth: “. . . how well I weather its greatest storm.”
- It doesn’t matter how big a house you have if it comes crashing down in the storm.
- How can I weather life’s greatest storms?
- It’s a simple fact: you will face this storm someday.
- To listen to some people, Final Judgment will be like a gentle breeze. God sharing words of tender love and no condemnation. Yet Jesus here says it’s a storm brewing.
- A self-directed life will come crashing down.
- There are no exceptions to these destructive results.
- We need to begin with the end in mind.
- Don’t be deceived and see your life come crashing down.
