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In the book of Luke Jesus gives the parable of the two builders. The parable warns us about the dangers of paying lip service to Jesus and his teachings but not obeying.
Luke Chapter 6 verses 46-49
The Wise and Foolish Builders
46 “Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say? 47 As for everyone who comes to me and hears my words and puts them into practice, I will show you what they are like. 48 They are like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid the foundation on rock. When a flood came, the torrent struck that house but could not shake it, because it was well-built. 49 But the one who hears my words and does not put them into practice is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. The moment the torrent struck that house, it collapsed and its destruction was complete.”
Everyone is building some kind of house
Jesus makes it clear that upon hearing Jesus, we are all in two camps. There is no neutral ground. You are either building a solid house that will stand or you are building a house that will eventually collapse. In other words, we are all pouring our treasure into some sort of alabaster box. We live in an age of cognitive dissonance where people say one thing and practice another. Jesus speaks directly to this culture and says, if you love me, you will keep my commands. If you profess to follow me, you won’t just say the right things, you will do the right things.
Storms are coming
Another enlightening point Jesus makes is about the certainty of storms. In these end times, there is a certain prosperity gospel that is pervasive in many circles. False teachers make the case that believing in Jesus will lead to a life with no storms, strife or hardship. Jesus in this parable says ‘when’ a flood came putting in the parable the inevitability of storms. In a sense, he is saying expect storms. The storms of life will rage, however, those who have built on solid rock will stand.
Look at verse 48
‘When a flood came, the torrent struck that house but could not shake it, because it was well built’
When we obey Jesus and put his words into action, it’s akin to building a rain shelter before it starts to rain. We are protecting a future version of ourselves from being rocked by the storms of life that will surely come.
Authentic faith lasts
I love the sheer confidence with which Jesus speaks in this parable. He declares boldly that he is the firm foundation and a house built on him will stand. This security and assuredness should comfort us and give us hope. Everything else we build on will cave on itself. On the other hand, Jesus declares that he is secure and his word can be trusted. Jesus says in this passage that we can bank and trust him. He is saying he can handle the weight of our trust and expectations.
Christianity is a contact sport. In our information age, it’s easy to see it as following Jesus as a life philosophy or a bunch of claims we agree to. Jesus in this passage says it is more than that. It is a pattern of living, a pathology of behaviour that demands something from us.
Everything else we build our life on will disappoint us. Everything else will crumble under the weight of the expectations we put on it. Christianity is a contact sport, you have to connect with his word. You cannot just mentally accept it. You have to put your weight on it. If you do this authentically, your life will be secure and whatever life throws, you will stand.