The Rock

I don’t understand storm chasers. Storms will come in our lives without chasing after them. 

 

‘Why do you call me Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say? Everyone who comes to me and hears my words and acts on them, I will show you whom he is like: he is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid a foundation on the rock; and when a flood occurred, the torrent burst against that house and could not shake it, because it had been well built. 

 

But the one who has heard and has not acted accordingly, is like a man who built a house on the ground without any foundation; and the torrent burst against it and immediately it collapsed, and the ruin of that house was great. 

 

There is a unique quality that is seen in every true believer of Christ. They go beyond the acknowledgment of God’s existence and beyond a verbal confession of the Lord to a place of simple obedience. Of course, our obedience is by no means perfect. Somedays, we feel like we have been fairly obedient and other days, not so much. We go through seasons of faithfulness and seasons of unfaithfulness. Our levels of obedience ebb and flow. 

 

But there is always within us a yearning to do what is right in the sight of God. The process of growing in Christ as new creations in Him begins with a yearning toward obedience. 

 

The Rock 

 

In this passage in Luke, Jesus immediately acknowledges the unique quality of obedience in His followers in two ways: one in a negative light and the other, positive. 

 

Negative Manner: ‘Why do you call me Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say? 

 

Positive Manner: Everyone who comes to me and hears my words and acts on them … 

 

Jesus goes on to explain the eternal importance of building our lives on the rock. Notice, He doesn’t say that building our lives on our own obedience is the key. No, because our spiritual growth in the area of obedience varies person by person. Religious individuals who have not personally received Christ by faith can and do live moral lives. But we must ask the question, ‘what is the foundation of their moral living?’ The foundation is the key! 

 

The foundation of our lives is not our own actions; the foundation of our lives must be Jesus, the ROCK of our salvation! 

 

There’s an old hymn that reflects this truth beautifully: 

 

My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus’ blood and righteousness. 

I dare not trust the sweetest frame, but wholly lean on Jesus’ name. 

On Christ the solid rock I stand, all other ground is sinking sand. 

 

When darkness veils his lovely face, I rest on His unchanging grace, in every high and stormy gale, my anchor holds within the veil. 

 

His oath, His covenant, His blood, supports me in the overwhelming flood, when all around my soul gives way, He then is all my hope and stay. 

 

The Storms will Come 

 

Let’s be prepared, the storms will come. 

 

Another question we should ask is this: what exactly is the storm that Jesus is referring to? 

It seems that Jesus is referring to the coming judgment seat of God. In Corinthians 3, Paul speaks of the foundation as being Jesus Christ and that some build upon the foundation with gold, silver, and precious stones. But others build upon it with wood, hay, and straw. Paul then says that THE DAY (referring to judgment day) will test it with fire. Our hope in that DAY is nothing less than Jesus’ blood and His righteousness. 

 

Jesus is our ROCK during the final judgment. But the Lord is also our rock day-by-day in the troubles we face on this earth. In response to God’s sustaining power over his enemies, King David lifted up praise to God when He said; 

 

The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; My God, my rock, in whom I take refuge. 2 Samuel 22 

 

Also, Psalms 46 says; 

 

God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore, we will not fear, though the earth should change, and though the mountains slip into the heart of the sea. 

 

Lord God, the storms will most definitely come. Thank you that haven’t left us on our own to withstand the storms in our own strength. Even when the wind is fierce and the waves are crashing on the outside, all is calm inside the cleft of the rock of our salvation. Keep us close to You throughout the storms of this life and well prepared for the fire of the final judgment. At that time on the DAY of judgment, may You simply say to us, ‘well done good and faithful servant, enter into the joy of your master. Amen!