House on the Rock

24 “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.25 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.26 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.

27 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”
28 When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching,

29 because he taught as one who had authority, and not as their teachers of the law.

Recently, my life group studied this parable, which is the ending of the Sermon on the Mount, the story of the wise and foolish builders. I've read this story plenty of times before, but in the context of our life group study it said something completely new to me. Previously, the house on the rock was simply a life with a solid foundation of belief in God. The house on the sand was just the opposite, a life without a solid foundation, one not led with God as it's guide. Although, at surface level, I think the parable still says these things, God revealed much more to me recently.

In the sermon on the mount, Jesus is preaching about how to live a Christ-centered life. The sermon is basically an instruction manual of righteous living. When applied, we live a full life that demonstrates Christ's love. The parable of the wise and foolish builders is about application. The wise builder applied Jesus's teaching (or whoever taught him how to build a house) and his house remained standing. The foolish builder didn't apply that knowledge, and his house was washed away.

The parable is also a story of faith. The house on the rock represents BIG faith. Just as a house on a strong foundation can weather any storm, so can our trust in God stand up to all of life's circumstances IF it is confident and grounded. Our faith is our foundation, our core that keeps us from falling apart when times get tough. The bigger and stronger our faith (the more confidence we have in God), the more we can withstand without buckling (sinning) under the pressures of life.

The house on the sand is a life lived without enough trust/confidence in God to live according to His word. Just as the house crumbles in the storm, so does the person who does not live a faithful obedient life, give into sin and eternal death.

I want to live in a house on the rock.

Created over 2 years ago