Matthew 7:15-29
“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: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock.” (Matthew 7:24–25, NKJV)
A person’s home is usually the largest investment that he or she makes. We live in our homes, raise our children, entertain our friends, and grow old together. We want a home that lasts. Therefore, we don’t want to be in a hurry and throw something together that quickly falls apart. In the story of “The Three Little Pigs,” we don’t want to be like the pig who built his house out of straw. When the wolf came calling, he huffed, and he puffed, and he blew the house down. In the original story, (written by Joseph Jacobs in 1890) the wolf ate the pig!
We also face a wolf who tries to catch us (John 10:12) and a lion who seeks to devour us (1 Peter 5:8). He is deadly serious and does everything in his power to deceive and destroy both us and our loved ones. Our only protection is to build our house upon the Rock using the best materials. When the rains descend, the floods come, and the winds blow and beat against our house, it will not fall. Neither will it fall when the devil comes to wreak havoc and steal, kill, and destroy.
At the end of the greatest Sermon every given, Jesus says that the only way to build a house that endures is to build it on the Rock. We do this by listening to all His words and doing what He says. This Sermon on the Mount, along with all the other things that Jesus taught, is intended by the Holy Spirit to make our lives strong and impregnable against the devil’s devices. But we must take them to heart and do them. The “therefore”’ at the beginning of verse 24 tells us that this is Jesus’ concluding illustration to help us apply everything He said previously. If we hear His words, but do not do them, then James says that we deceive ourselves (James 1:22). John tells us that if we say that we know Him but do not keep His commandments, then we lie and the truth is not in us (1 John 2:4). But if we will regularly read Christ’s words (and the whole counsel of God) and do our best to practice these things, then God will help us to build a house that will last and be a shelter, not only for our own family, but for others as well.
“Heavenly Father, thank you for the truth of your Word. Help us to listen and obey everything that you say. Help us to build a home that endures and is a refuge for others. In Jesus name we pray. Amen.”