June
6, 2003
BUILDING
YOUR HOUSE ON THE ROCK, Part III
"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).
"Every
building erected on other foundation than God's word will
fall. He who, like the Jews in Christ's day, builds on the
foundation of human ideas and opinions, of forms and ceremonies
of man's invention, or on any works that he can do independently
of the grace of Christ, is erecting his structure of character
on the shifting sand. The fierce tempests of temptation will
sweep away the sandy foundation and leave his house a wreck
on the shores of time.
"But
today mercy pleads with the sinner. 'As I live,' says the
Lord God, 'I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked,
but that the wicked turn from his way and live. Turn, turn
from your evil ways! For why should you die?' (Ezekiel 33:11).
The voice that speaks to the impenitent today is the voice
of Him who in heart anguish exclaimed as He beheld the city
of His love: 'O Jerusalem, Jerusalem,
the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent
to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together,
as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, but you were not
willing! See! Your house is left to you desolate' (Luke
13:34, 35). In Jerusalem, Jesus beheld a symbol of the world
that had rejected and despised His grace. He was weeping,
O stubborn heart, for you! Even when Jesus' tears were shed
on the mount, Jerusalem might yet have repented, and escaped
her doom. For a little space the Gift of heaven still waited
her acceptance. So, O heart, to you Christ is still speaking
in accents of love: 'Behold, I stand
at the door, and knock: if any man hear My voice, and open
the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and
he with Me' (Revelation 3:20). 'Now is the accepted
time; behold, now is the day of salvation' (2 Corinthians
6:2).
"You
who are resting your hope on self are building on the sand.
But it is not yet too late to escape the impending ruin. Before
the tempest breaks, flee to the sure foundation. 'Thus says
the Lord God: "Behold, I lay in
Zion a stone for a foundation, a tried stone, a precious cornerstone,
a sure foundation; whoever believes will not act hastily"
'(Isaiah 28:16). 'Look to Me, and be
saved, all you ends of the earth! For I am God, and there
is no other' (Isaiah 45:22).
'Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your
God. I will strengthen you, yes, I will help you, I will uphold
you with My righteous right hand' (Isaiah 41:10). 'You
shall not be ashamed or disgraced forever and ever'
(Isaiah 45:17).--Thoughts From The Mount Of Blessing,
pp., 150-152.
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