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f) The Wise Man and the Foolish Man (Matthew 7:24-29)
MATTHEW 7:24-27
24 Everyone therefore who hears these words of mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man, who built his house on a rock. 25 The rain came down, the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat on that house; and it didn’t fall, for it was founded on the rock. 26 Everyone who hears these words of mine, and doesn’t do them will be like a foolish man, who built his house on the sand. 27 The rain came down, the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat on that house; and it fell — and great was its fall.”
You will be exposed to storms and tempests whether morally or practically, for our materialistically minded world is standing under God’s wrath. The Mighty has withdrawn His peace from the world. We live amidst the woes preceding the Second Coming of Christ. If any body says, “Peace be with you,” then he is dreaming, for God fights against egoistic sinners. Hate is increased, hunger is marching and grave sins are common in our society. How do you stand, my dear brother and sister, in the midst of this frightful tribulation?
Christ has answered you with a comforting word; “In Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world” (John 16:33). Do not be afraid, for He who rose from the dead has given you a solid basis for your future and a jewel more precious than rubies, that is the Holy Gospel in which you find power for life and death, for work and rest, for joy and sorrow. In the Gospel you can find the spiritual medicine for all your diseases and illnesses. If you use these divine words as a motto for your life you will become clever and wise. Nothing can shake you, and you will remain steadfast and untroubled amidst the devastating flood of God’s wrath, because you know the tender voice of Jesus saying to you, “Son, be of good cheer; your sins are forgiven you” (Matthew 9:2). Christ is the only solid basis for your future.
Woe to a person who builds his life on philosophies and doctrines that are not based on the cross, for they cheat him and tell him about the superiority and success of men through their own works. They puff him up till he bursts. Then he may finally perceive that there is nothing good in himself. He flees, hopeless, with pessimism lashed by fear, running after every false and unfaithful leader. They speak empty words that inspire them with worthless imaginations. The multitudes that have not learnt and grasped the gospel of truth will become an easy prey for the false Christ and his false prophet, and at the same time, a blasphemy on the heavenly Father who has loved and redeemed them too.
But you know the voice of the Good Shepherd who neither shouts nor cries, but protects and keeps His followers through His truth forever. He strengthens them for the good works originating from the power of His love and His patience. Nobody can snatch them out of His hand. He and the Father are one, and nobody can snatch us out of the hand of our heavenly Father (John 10:28). Christ lives and rules with His Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. He will come again soon to take those who believe and act according to the gospel into His spiritual kingdom. They are waiting for Him expectedly, paving the way for Him with pure conduct and presenting to Him the fruits of His Holy Spirit. All other people will cry out trembling with fear, “If only we had listened to the gospel and believed in Christ, we would have been saved. But now the wrath of God will judge us, and our determination is hell forever!”
MATTHEW 7:28-29
28 It happened, when Jesus had finished saying these things, that the multitudes were astonished at his teaching, 29 for he taught them with authority, and not like the scribes. (John 7:16.46; Acts 2:12)
Christ is a true man and true God, and all His words are sovereign. They can move stony hearts, save those that hunger after righteousness and heal the brokenhearted. We have today the privilege to distribute the gospel of redemption among those who are eager for it, in order to explain the greatness of the kindness of our unique Savior who will be the eternal Judge in the last judgment.
Spread the fullness of the Word of God in your surroundings that many may be saved in these last days. Do not exaggerate your intellectual knowledge or your own ability. Glorify the Father and the Son in the power of the Holy Spirit, the one God, and you will experience what Jesus said, “Lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:20).
PRAYER: O Holy Father, we thank You for You have inspired Your apostles with the word of our salvation and given us a valuable chance to penetrate deeply into your promises and the law of Your gospel. You saved us through the blood of Your Son and gave life to us with Your power. Keep us in Your love. Bless all who are eager for Your salvation and use us by Your grace that we may spread the gospel of redemption in our surroundings, that we may prepare together the way for the coming of Your beloved Son.
QUESTION:
- What is the only solid basis for your life?