Furthermore, everyone hearing these sayings of mine and not doing them will be likened to a foolish man, who built his house upon the sand. Matthew 7:26 (Reference Bible)
In the times in which we live today the world has never been so attractive. So many wonderful things are being made and readily available for our comfort and pleasure. From a baby we are taught by society, the media and all those around us, that anything we want can be had with a little effort.
We teach our young children to aspire and work hard; we encourage their dreaming of a good life and of having economic success. The instruction is the same for church-going people and unbelievers alike. We tell them they can and should have it, that they could even possibly be the president or the boss of the big company.
So what is wrong with that? In this way of thinking and acting, we are all to blame. Who in their right mind would ever say anything different?
Well, it seems that Jesus did and those who want to hear His voice will actually stop and consider it. The pure in heart will bring before their Lord, this concept and any other issue no matter how tender or sore it may be.
Jesus pointed throughout His ministry and life, directly at His Father in Heaven and the Kingdom made not with hands. So important was this ¨other¨ existence or ¨other kingdom¨ to Him, that every action and every word was used to encourage us in that direction.
Our Savior knew and it was said of Him, that He spoke with authority. He saw just how important our frivolous lives here truly are, and the deception we are under when we turn our attention to those lives we live here. Not only the little things that we set our hearts upon here are dangerous to the health of our soul, but the preoccupation of our lives themselves is also a threat.
Many people might nod their heads and agree that we should make the Lord bigger in our lives, but this is a problem we each face every day so perhaps we should press the issue a little further in the hopes of finding a remedy.
Are we making big the things in this world or the things in our lives? If we are, we have without realizing it, made God somewhat smaller.
You may say that we are taking this all a little too far. God knows we are human and He will make allowances for us. This is true, He will still have to make thousands of allowances for us, but He has asked us to listen when He speaks, and Jesus came not only pointing out the correct path, but showing us the consequences for falling short.
Anyone who would hold on to their treasures here, will for sure find objection to these words and read no further. But Jesus felt it important enough to mention, so we too must step forward even if it means carrying a cruel and heavy cross.
Therefore, when Jesus mentions building upon rock as opposed to sand, we all agree that He means building upon our faith in Him and His Father who sent Him. Good! One step we have made, but the next one is the one where we might stumble.
When we make the bold statement our eyes are gazing upwards. This is correct and a worthy offering for Him. But then, almost with the same breath and in very next instant, we change that gaze back to ourselves. We look at our lives, our interpretations of religious teachings and doctrines. We begin to examine the people around us to find comparison to ourselves, or perhaps we choose not to choose. .
All the while we are doing this; we have our gaze removed from the Lord. We tell ourselves that we are doing it for Him. But the fact remains, that we are gazing at us, making ourselves bigger and looking completely in the wrong direction.
On the other hand, Jesus speaks of a prudent man. He has listened carefully to His Teacher and believed on His words. He saw quickly that there was no point in wasting time on Himself. He knows all too painfully well that He cannot be and is not sufficient and refuses to try. Anyway, there is nothing lost to him, because He has his eyes on something with far more value.
This blessed believer of whom Jesus refers in Matthew 24-27, is building his house on the Rock. He chose not to build upon the sandy surface of this world. The comforts, the pleasures and all the things our hearts could go out to here in this life, were not a good enough foundation for this true CHRIST-ian.
Make no mistake my friends; Jesus called us out of the world. He called us into walking each and every day with Him. His Way is not a way of fun and good earthly things. He offers a wealth and a career, a future and a pleasure that is altogether different from what we see around us. This joy, this pleasure and this purpose are to be with Him. To revel in all that He is and all that we find by being with Him.
Jesus never pointed to things; He was consistent in pointing to living entities and very real relationships. Let us begin to imitate this prudent man of whom Jesus spoke. Let us keep clear just where to put our foundation. May we today, sift away the sand that is all around us. We can dig past the distractions of this world and all that our hearts might be tempted to go out to. We can get right down to the Rock.
If we are this determined that our house be strong enough, we will make sure there is no sand left and that we build on Him alone. We will look not to this side or that, but to Him. Please Lord help us to set our hearts like concrete upon You today. Let our relationship with You be that foundation and let us place none of it upon the sand of earthly things.
Set our hearts we pray, upon weathering the storm that we cannot see coming. And then, on that day when the winds and the waters rise, we will be safe in You.
Amen
Scott W
Searching For Christ 
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