Luke 6:46 “Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say?”
Observation: Jesus then goes on to offer this contrast: “Everyone who come to me and hears my words and acts upon them…is like a person who builds a house on firm ground…” And then: “…. but everyone who has heard and doesn’t obey is like a person who builds a house right on the ground, without a foundation”.
In this long discourse Jesus uses numerous parables and word pictures to help the truth of His teaching sink in. Good trees produce good fruit; bad trees produce bad fruit (v. 43). Good men bring good things from the treasury of a good heart; an evil person produces evil things from the treasury of an evil heart (v. 45). Some build strong foundations upon rock; others build on ground without foundations (vs. 48-49).
Since He desires obedience above all other character traits, it should not be surprising that he would end with an illustration of the fruit of an obedient life, compared to that of a life lived in disobedience. One notable thing about both groups of people is that floods indeed do come, torrents will burst against me repeatedly in this life. They are a matter of “when”, not “if”. So, to think that I can live insulated from raging torrents is to be naïve in the extreme. In fact, it is in the midst of those floods that I can best learn about myself things He has known about me all along.
Application: My heart’s desire is that my life be built upon a foundation that no torrent can breach regardless of its strength. But consider this: how can I ever be confident in the durability of my foundation until it has been tested? And since my eternal life in Him depends upon how I stand in the face of adversity, shouldn’t I welcome the testing, that the robustness of my foundation be proved?
In 1986, the space shuttle Challenger exploded soon after take-off. Investigations that followed revealed the ship had been doomed long before launch, when the purity of the mined minerals that comprised strategic components were not thoroughly tested. A bolt broke, and all was lost for want of quality control in the manufacturing process.
What about my own manufacturing process? Isn’t it far better to be tested now, while correction is still possible? I have come with broken parts throughout, but it is only through His testing that I could ever hope for improvement.
Prayer: Lord Jesus, forgive me for so confidently living as though all is well with my soul. Broken parts, patterns of unrighteousness, self-confidence, pride…so much in my life needs your correction. Reveal these things to me, Lord…things that have kept me at arm’s length from you for so long. Take me through any of life’s valleys that you determine would bring restoration of our relationship, Lord. I welcome your gentle handling of my heart. In Jesus’ name, Amen.