Last Thursday morning I enjoyed a precious time of worship with two of my grandchildren. Nora, 2 yrs., played the bass notes on the piano while her curls bounced in rhythm. Judah, 4 yrs., danced and kicked even while managing to keep his hands on the high notes. I played the middle notes with a loud oompah as we sang “I Will Make You Fishers of Men,” “Out on the Deep Blue Sea,” “Jesus Loves the Little Children,” and many more.
The one that struck me was “The Wise Man and the Foolish Man.” We were singing along when the truth suddenly hit me: the rains come down on everyone, wise or foolish.
This is something we know and teach–it rains on the just and the unjust. But something about the current storms of life made it more real to me.
The only difference between the two men was where they built their houses. One on sand and one on the rocks.
Jesus told this parable to His disciples as He referenced the importance of hearing and doing His words. “Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock; and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock. But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand; and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall.” Matthew 7:24-27.
What is more flooring is what comes before this parable. (Our Bible teachers used to tell us that whenever we read the word therefore, we should look to see what it’s “there for.”)
Well, here it is: “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness.'” (vs. 21-23)
Whoa. Knowing Him is greater than miracles or prophesying or casting out demons. Those aren’t bad–they’re an important part of the Gospel/Good News! But He said that some who do those things are also practicing lawlessness.
If we’re not under the law, but under grace, what can this mean? I have some ideas, such as possibly doing our own will instead of asking Him what His is. Loving ourselves instead of loving Him and other people.
If we look further up in this same passage, we see His exhortation to beware of false prophets who are really ravenous wolves. Possibly He’s exposing those who feed off the sheep instead of feeding the sheep. These people might appear to have supernatural works marking their ministries, but it’s about getting, not giving.
Further up, He encourages us to follow the narrow way. He tells us to keep asking, seeking, and knocking, trusting that He gives good things to His children.
But He’s looking at the heart.
Our situation in the States is a revealer of our heart motives. If the “stuff” is all swept away, will we be okay? Do our lives consist of anything more than our comforts? Are we holding to things or the Rock?
Are we seeking to give, caring for those who have no voice? Or is it all about ME?
The weather report is more rain. The stormy kind with high winds. Oh, God, may our lives be proven to be built on the Solid Rock, not on any shifting sand! Our trust is in You, and as long as we have You, nothing else will shake us.
My friend Hope and I enjoyed the music of Danibelle back in the ’70’s and ’80’s. (In fact, Doug and Suzi, Liz and Geoff, Lynette and Greg sang this song back in the days of our group, Friends of Jesus!) This lyric is my favorite: “Let the storms rise, let the winds blow till the tears fill my eyes; I’ll still love You, Lord. I’ll still love You.”
Rev. 3:15-20 “I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth. [Does this sound like those crying, “Lord, Lord,” but He never knew them?] Because you say, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’–and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked–I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see. As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent. Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.”
That speaks of KNOWING Him. Eating a meal together. Fellowship with the King of glory. Ahhhhhhh . . . so good.
So all that from a children’s song. Smile. This is not a time for fear, but rather of being awake and alert, a time for soul-searching, a time for filling our lamps with oil.
A time for buying from Him what truly fills us and cloths us and helps us see.
We aren’t blind in this country because we can’t see; we’re blind because we don’t WANT to see. God change us.
Thanks for listening to my rambling thoughts this morning! Love you all. Praying for our readiness and faithfulness!!!
by Becky Spencer
