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ome years ago, I was traveling on American Airlines to Washington D.C.
The plane left in the Arizona afternoon and landed in Dallas, Texas in
the evening. Then I boarded a connecting flight to Washington D.C.’s
Ronald Reagan Airport. My assigned seat on this flight was next to a
young woman who was a journalist. Sometime after lift-off, we started
talking about a number of subjects. Eventually I mentioned Jesus Christ.
She was not a Christian, yet she started asking questions. This was unexpected.
Usually, most people act embarrassed or say, “I am not interested.” So
I had the opportunity to explain that Jesus Christ was God, that He died
for her sins and returned to life. I explained that Jesus would forgive
her sins if she wanted Him to do that. After we landed at the Ronald
Reagan Airport and as we were walking down the corridor, she turned to
me and told me that she was not interested in Jesus. She had just wanted
to see what I would say. I was surprised! She had seemed really interested.
Had she rejected Jesus? I did not know. All I knew was that the seed
of truth was planted and, Lord willing, someday the seed would grow.
Was she like the foolish man in Jesus’ illustration who built his
eternal house on a sandy seashore?
Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine, and acts upon them, may be compared to a wise man, who built his house upon the rock. And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and burst against that house; and yet it did not fall, for it had been founded upon the rock. And everyone who hears these words of Mine, and does not act upon them, will be like a foolish man, who built his house upon the sand. And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and burst against that house; and it fell, and great was its fall. (NASB) Matthew 7:24-27 Sand. Jesus’ last illustration in the Sermon on the Mount may
describe her current house, one built on sand. His illustration of the
water, and wind crashing against the houses on the sand and against the
rock is a picture of the certainty each person has of going to hell or
to heaven. A foundation built on sand is one that is not built on Jesus.
Only Jesus the solid rock is safe and secure.
Throughout Jesus’ ministry, He called men and women to believe
in His message. He called folks to believe if for no other reason than
because of His miracles.
. . . If I do not do the works of My Father, do not believe Me; but if I do them, though you do not believe Me, believe the works, that you may know and understand . . . (NASB) John 10:37-38 In the middle of John’s gospel, he writes,
But though He had performed so many signs before them, yet they were not believing in Him . . (NASB) John 12:37 Here Jesus calls His listeners to hear His words and act. The journalist
heard and did not act. More Sand. Judas, the apostle, is an amazing example of one who rejected
Jesus’ words and did not respond. He preferred a sandy foundation.
Jesus had called him to be His disciple (Luke 6:13-16). Judas had seen
Jesus’ many miracles, heard His teachings, and had seen the crowds
hang on Jesus’ every word. He was part of the suspense between
Jesus and the religious leaders. He prayed with them and spent time with
them. He was with Jesus and the other disciples during the last supper
when Jesus said that one of them would betray Him. The other disciples
did not suspect Judas. They wanted to know who it was.
Simon Peter therefore gestured to him, and said to him, “Tell us who it is of whom He is speaking.” (NASB) John 13:24 Judas was part of the inner group, yet the other disciples did not know
it was Judas. He looked good! He looked like them. He appeared to be no different
than the others. They did not know that Judas was stealing their money (John
12:6). The gospels call him the “Son of Perdition” (John 17:12).
He saw no need for Jesus in the end. He built his house on sand and when
the waters of God’s judgment comes some day, he will be destroyed.
The Rock. Remember Nicodemus? He was the Pharisee who came to Jesus at night
and asked,
“Rabbi, we know that You have come from God as a teacher; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him.” (NASB) John 3:2 |
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| Sermon on the Mount | |||||