Matthew 7:24-27

²⁴ “Since this is true, everyone who both hears these words from me and does them will be like a prudent man who built his house on the rock.

²⁵ And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, but it did not fall, because it had been established on that rock.

²⁶ And everyone who hears these words of mine but does not do them will be like a thoughtless man who built his house on the sand.

²⁷ And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and its fall was devastating.” _________________________________________

The Sky Kingdom and listening to Jesus

Jesus concludes his sermon with a warning to his listeners. Essentially, he is saying that now that they have listened to him, the choice is theirs whether they would respond in the right way.

They had already passively enlisted in his kingdom by seeking him in the first place. But neither of them had begun to think about following up. In Jesus’ words, they had not yet begun to build their houses. When you are in the enlistment phase, no one knows what you are really thinking. You appear to be religious and wise, but it is not yet clear whether that appearance is true to what is going on inside of you. There are quite a few today who have had some exposure to the gospel, and appear to have enlisted in Christ’s coming kingdom, but they remain passive. Jesus does not even mention this as an option.

The two real options to listening to Jesus’ message have to do with what happens after we leave the base of the mountain. Some will choose to build their lives on their own understanding, their own wisdom. They will live thoughtlessly. They will not allow the way that Christ prescribes to establish them in what they had professed. The result will be disaster. The rain, floods and winds are a given. Trouble will find us.

Jesus’ sermon is a “how to” message designed to help us to survive the trouble. Those who take Jesus’ words seriously will survive, and that survival will draw others to him. Their obedience to what Jesus said is the rock foundation, not simply their enlistment. When Jesus gave his great commission to the church, he told us to make disciples by teaching them to obey everything that he commanded. Their obedience, not simply their names on a register – will show that they are truly his disciples.

Where does grace fit this picture? Some say it does not. Some think that Jesus was teaching people still under the Old Testament “dispensation” so his message is practically irrelevant to those of us this side of the cross.

No, not at all. Jesus’ great commission was after the cross, and in it he still commands obedience of his disciples. Grace is what makes that obedience possible. Grace leads people to the rock. Grace permeates the building process. Faith in God’s grace gives us courage to build. Grace calls on the builders to pay attention to his blueprint.

LORD, we confess that we have stayed too long at the base of the mountain, lingering as your words resonate in our minds. But you have called us to go and build on your foundation. You have challenged us to face the storms ahead with confidence that your commands alone will establish us and protect us. Make us wise builders, following your blueprint.