The Wise Man Knows Where to Build

Matthew 7:24 “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on a rock." It is not enough to hear and to say the right words. Jesus had just explained that not everyone that says “Lord, Lord" will enter into the kingdom of heaven. Just dropping the name of Jesus here and there will not get the job done. The message of this parable is to everyone that hears the words of the sermon that Jesus just finished making. The responsibility is then upon the one who hears. What will you do with what you’ve heard. To acknowledge that they are interesting teachings or that if people would just pay attention then the world would be a better place, is just not enough. It is not until I begin to hear what Jesus is saying and realize that I have some serious deficiencies and decide that with His help I need to do something about the problem. When I find myself lusting for what doesn’t belong to me, or hating and finding fault with other people, or worrying about things I don’t have, etc. When I begin to, with the help of the Holy Spirit, get my house in order and establish it on the positive side of Jesus’ Instructions, then I'm like the wise man building on the rock. You might observe that until the storm comes almost any foundation will do. We all know that sooner or later the storm is going to come. Warning!! One doesn’t change foundations during the storm. Changing foundations requires a lot of tearing down and rebuilding. It doesn’t happen overnight nor can we do it ourselves. We need the power of the Holy Spirit and people to council with and to practice our new attitudes on. It’s important to note that we don’t build on the foundation with stuff. It’s attitude, relationship with and trust in Jesus, knowledge of the Word and reliance in the power of the Holy Spirit. It is staying focused on the Planner and His Plan.