The Word of God makes it clear that listening to God’s word is like building your house on a solid rock. Thus, the word of God is compared to a solid rock. It is immovable, our foundation and solid footing on which we must build our lives.
Matthew 7:24-27 (NLT) “Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock. Though the rain comes in torrents and the floodwaters rise and the winds beat against that house, it won’t collapse because it is built on bedrock. But anyone who hears my teaching and doesn’t obey it is foolish, like a person who builds a house on sand. When the rains and floods come and the winds beat against that house, it will collapse with a mighty crash.”
There are a few things in this text that stands out. The first is the pronoun anyone which indicates that we all have a choice. Nothing is forced on us. The choice is yours: do you want to build on a solid rock and overcome the storms in your life? You have a choice to make – to build your life on solid rock or sand.
We find two keys in this passage: one is to listen and follow, the other to hear and not obey. One is wise the other foolish. Listen is a verb which means you pay attention to what you hear, to what is said. Listen also means to obey or to follow. Thus, when I listen, I listen to follow and, in this case, it means I build my house on a solid rock because I listen to obey and follow the word of God. When I carefully listen, absorb, understand, and act in obedience to the word of God I make the word of God my own, I believe it, I know it and have no doubt in my mind that I can trust what God says in His word. Once I do this, it is compared to a solid rock, a strong foundation. The Bible says that life’s rain, winds, and storms will beat against my house, but it will stand. When life’s problems come my way, I have assurance, confidence, and trust in the word of God. I understand that I have the promises of God that will take me through the storms.
The other option is to hear and not obey. Hear is also a verb but a passive verb meaning no action is required. So, I can hear and choose not to obey or follow. This means I don’t make the word my own, don’t know it, don’t care to understand it and don’t act on it. The result is a house built on sand. When life’s problems come my way in this house, it will surely collapse with a mighty crash. A house on the sand can simply not withstand rains and floods, winds that beat against the house, and I have nothing to safely take me through the storm.
Today, be wise – decide to listen and obey the Word of God. Own it, make it yours and trust it. Build your house on solid rock.