Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.”
Matthew 7:24-27
The area where I live on the North Shuswap recently had a very severe wildfire come through. With gratefulness we thank God that no lives were lost, however many structures were lost, about 180 and the effects of the event will be evident for years to come. One of those effects is that, because of the size of the wildfire some areas have experienced dramatic changes in the very soil, the paths of water and plants. These changes have potential to greatly destabilize the land and can cause landslides, rockfalls and flooding.
Because of this, people in these areas are temporarily unable to build until geotechnical assessments can be done. When we build, we need to make sure we are building on solid ground. This is true of the homes we live in, but it is also true of how we live in this world.
Who is the builder in Jesus’ parable? Anyone who hears His words. You could argue that we are all building our life upon something, a worldview or set of values, but here, Jesus is narrowing his focus to address a very specific group: those who have heard his words. And what he wants those who have heard his words to know and to take intentional time to consider, are the results of what we choose to do with his words.
Jesus’ words require a response, for better or worse. If I am speeding down the highway and a police officer lights me up with sirens blazing, I do not have the option of not responding. That’s why lights and sirens exist so that it is impossible for me not to know that I am being pulled over. In that situation, not responding is in itself a response. What Jesus is saying is that his words put us in a similar situation, should we choose to ignore them, that in itself is a response and one that carries consequences.
Hearing the words of Jesus and doing them, putting them into practice places us on the solid rock. When the rains, floods, and winds of this life come, when trials, hardships threaten with circumstances that are so far beyond our control that we feel completely and utterly helpless, the one who hears and puts in action the words of Jesus will not crumble and fall, but can weather the many uncertainties of life knowing that the eternal living word of Christ dwells within.
Conversely, hearing the words of Jesus and ignoring them, builds a life on sand. When the uncontrollable circumstances of life come, we fall apart because we have nothing of eternal significance to anchor our lives to. We may do the best we can with what we have and build a life that we may be very comfortable with but when the greatest most uncontrollable situation of life comes our way, that is death itself, what will be the outcome? Will your house stand, or will it fall?
Living in line with the words of Jesus anchors our life in his eternal strength. And the wise will build their lives upon His word and live in confidence and security.
I love you, O LORD, my strength.
The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer,
my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge,
my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.
I call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised,
and I am saved from my enemies.
Psalm 18:1-3