Luke 6:46-49 – “Why do you call Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say?  47 ” Everyone who comes to Me and hears My words and acts on them, I will show you whom he is like:  48 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.  49 “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.”  NASB

I have witnessed the disparity between what a person says and what they live in and outside the church.  That is a natural reality in life that people say one thing and do another.  However, when it comes to a relationship with God, just saying you are a Christian does not make you one.  Let me state, clearly, that I refuse to be anyone’s judge, and if anyone professes, they are a believer I will evaluate the fruit of their life, contrast their life with their declarations, but leave the determination of whether they are or not to God. 

In this passage, Jesus identified this problem vividly and His words should resonate with us and provide sufficient cause for us to carefully examine our own lives.  Jesus asked, “Why do you call Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say?”  Clearly, it is not our own declaration that makes His Lordship a reality in our lives it is the fruit of our lives that reveals the true condition.  No, I am not offering a justification for becoming judgmental and self-appointed fruit inspectors.  Jesus gave an analogy that is valuable for us as individuals in our self-examination of our own lives.  Let’s examine his comparisons and see if we can glean benefit.

If we Hear, the Words of our LORD and act on them in obedience Jesus said we could be compared to a prudent and competent builder.  That builder would dig a deep and solid foundation going to bedrock ensuring that if the floods or violent winds came the house would be strong.  In short, “having done all to stand, able to stand.” 

The person that Hears, the Words of Christ but does not act or obey them is like the person that ignores the foundation and erects his structure.  It may look wonderful on the outside but has no stability and will easily be destroyed.  Obedience involves an investment of time and energy in allowing a solid foundation to be built. This is the work of the Holy Spirit with our cooperation as we “study to show ourselves approved unto God, rightly handling the Word of Truth.”  This is allowing the Love of Christ to be shed abroad in our hearts and a commitment to obedience.  This is a love relationship that is not interested in simply looking right or sounding right but being right.

Just because one professes to be a follower of Christ does not mean the fruit of their lives will validate that claim.  When trouble comes, we find out what we are made of.  When the enemy comes in like a flood, we need a foundation that can withstand his assaults.  We must make Christ our Rock and upon that Rock build our lives, otherwise, it is the shifting sand of will-power and nothing more than rain on a tin roof.  Noise but no substance.

God, bless you as you seek Him in all things and at all times!