June
4, 2003
BUILDING
YOUR HOUSE ON THE ROCK, Part I
"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).
"Jesus
ended His teaching on the mount with an illustration that
presented with startling vividness the importance of putting
in practice the words He had spoken. Among the crowds that
thronged about the Saviour were many who had spent their lives
about the Sea of Galilee. As they sat on the hillside, listening
to the words of Christ, they could see valleys and ravines
through which the mountain streams found their way to the
sea. In summer these streams often wholly disappeared, leaving
only a dry and dusty channel. But when the wintry storms burst
upon the hills, the rivers became fierce, raging torrents,
at times overspreading the valleys and bearing everything
away on their resistless flood. Often,-- hovels reared by
peasants on the grassy plain, apparently beyond the reach
of danger, were swept away. But high on the hills were houses
built on the rock.
"Like
the builders of these houses on the rock, said Jesus, is he
who shall receive the words that I have spoken to you, and
make them the foundation of his character and life. Centuries
before, the prophet Isaiah had written, 'The word of our God
stands forever' (Isaiah 40:8)... The word of God is the only
steadfast thing our world knows. It is the sure foundation.
'Heaven and earth will pass away,' said Jesus, 'but
My words will by no means pass away' (Matthew 24:35).
"The
great principles of the law, of the very nature of God, are
embodied in the words of Christ on the mount. Whoever builds
upon them is building upon Christ, the Rock of Ages. In receiving
the word, we receive Christ. And only those who thus receive
His words are building on Him. 'No other foundation can anyone
lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ' (1 Corinthians
3:11). 'There is no other name under heaven given among men
by which we must be saved' (Acts 4:12). Christ, the Word,
the revelation of God,--the manifestation of His character,
His law, His love, His life,--is the only foundation upon
which we can build a character that will endure." --Thoughts
From The Mount Of Blessing, pp., 147-149.
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