Dec 23 - Matthew 7:27-28

Jesus said,

“And everyone who hears

these words of mine and

does not act on them will be like a

foolish man who built his house on sand.

The rain fell, and the floods came, and

the winds blew and beat against that house,

and it fell—and great was its fall!”

Matthew 7:27-28

These are the final words of the Sermon on the Mount.

This three-chapter passage is viewed by many as the most powerful, positive part of scripture. It talks of love and forgiveness. Of turning the other cheek. It teaches us how to pray. And warns us against the pitiable disgrace of hypocrisy. 

It is said that Ghandi shaped his peaceful transformation of India on Jesus' principles in the Sermon on the Mount. (And may have converted if he could have found even one Christian living by Jesus' principles that were outlined here.)

The Sermon on the Mount ends simple wisdom. Jesus says, "This is how you stand and this is how you fall":

·       The secret to standing strong throughout your days is to build your house -- your life -- on a solid foundation. 

·       The secret to falling in life is building your house on a foundation as shaky as sand. 

That's obvious. That's wisdom. Anyone -- believer or not -- could say, "Wisdom = Solid Foundation = Standing rather than Falling = Better Life." Got it. 

But could Jesus have one more message for those willing to look deeper?

He specifically calls us to build our house on the rock. The Rock is a consistent Jewish image for God. God is called "the Rock of Israel" (2 Sam 23:3) and "the Rock of one's salvation" (Deut 32:15). Habakuk (1:12) speaks to God as if "Mr. Rock" was his name, and David speaks to God, using this as (one of) his most defining titles or characteristics (Ps 42:9). 

The verse I want you most to hear is Psalm 78:35 -- "and they remembered that God was their rock."

Did you remember this when you were reading Jesus' final teaching in the Sermon on the Mount?!

This is not just simple wisdom advice. This is an eternal call. When we remember that God is our Rock and build our house on Him will stand firm ... eternally. But when we reject the chief cornerstone (the Ps 118 prophecy that Jesus said was being violently fulfilled as he was being led to his crucifixion), then "great will be its fall."

Yes, the Sermon on the Mount is sweet, and it can be used generically by people seeking to live a better life ... even non-believers. 

But ... it doesn't stray far from the fullness of Jesus' message. There is only one way, one truth, and one life. And the alternatives are standing strong eternally ... or great is its fall. 

In Christ's Love,

a guy who talks to a rock