Matthew 7:24-27, “Therefore, everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand.  The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”

Did you sing this song when you were little?  “…the rains came down and the floods came up, the rains came down and the floods came up, the rains came down and the floods came up and the house on the sand went CRASH!” Everyone always seemed to love that song, maybe because we have an inner desire to smash sand castles, I don’t know, but it’s a fun song. The message behind these verses is a serious one, though.

Jesus Himself is telling us that just hearing what He has to say isn’t enough.  Going to church on Sunday and maybe for a special meeting here or there isn’t enough. When you were growing up would it have been ok if your parents said, “Please clean your room today, and take out the trash” and all the while they were talking to you, you listened intently but when you walked away you didn’t give any of what they had to say another thought.  In your mind, you thought, “They know I have a lot going on today with my friends, and what would my friends think if I said I was going to clean my room…”. How do you think your parents would respond?  Now, what if instead of not doing what you were told, you decided to not only clean your room, but you decided to dust and vacuum for your mom as well, in fact, you got your friends involved, like Mark Twain, and cleaned the whole house?  

Jesus has called us to not just hear, but do, and in chapter 5 of Matthew, He even explains that He didn’t come to abolish the Law but to fulfill it, so we are not saved by observing the Law, but through Him. BUT, because He shed His blood and He fulfilled the Law and He gives us His Spirit when we accept Him as our Savior, we are able to be and do more.  We can guard our hearts and minds by what we allow in.  Being careful what you read, watch, listen to, who you hang out with, and most importantly, how much time you spend with Him, getting to know Him so He can fill your heart and mind, will make all the difference in every area of your life!  Don’t settle! Be the one who goes the extra mile, pursuing Him and striving to be more like Him.  

I see Christians dropping like flies all around by lowering their standards to what is considered politically correct vs what is Biblically correct.  How sad, they are missing out on a closer walk with God, and all of the approval in the world will never take His place. Don’t compromise.  God is the same yesterday, today, and forever, and His Word hasn’t changed. Wrong is wrong, right is right, men are men, and women are women, and one day we will stand face to face with Him, will you be able to feel good about your stand then? Try basing your decisions and the stands that you take with an eternal mindset instead of an earthly one. You aren’t here long…how much does another person’s opinion really matter in light of eternity?

So, back to the song… whether you are single or have a family, I would love to encourage you to build your home on His Word. That way, just like those houses, when the floods come and everything around you appears to be falling apart, you know you are secure because you are standing on the Rock! He loves you and wants His best for you. He has a plan for your life, and in order to find His best for your life, you must follow His plan, then you can rest in knowing His best is yet to come!