The torrential rains, driven by hurricane winds, flooded the street. Some mansions collapsed quickly; others survived longer. But by the end of the storm, only a few were left standing. Television crews waded through the water, filming the destruction. Incredible homes – totally gone! Reduced to a pile of rubble. Here and there – bits and pieces of many things. Jagged fragments of a marble sink; a flattened piece of high-end electronics; chunks of elaborate furniture; pieces of flamboyant jewellery; a smashed painting that once proudly hung below the vaulted ceiling. Nothing was salvageable. Bulldozers moved in quickly. Only a few homes survived. There one day and gone the next.
Powerful sermons have been preached to sinners about a foolish man who built his house on the sand and the wise man who built upon the rock. But could Jesus’ words be applied to you or me or to the both of us?
Why do you call Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say? Luke 6:46
Sometimes we say: “Lord, Lord!” and, it sounds so impressive. In reality, though, there’s very little evidence that Christ is authentically reigning upon the throne of my heart. Is He really the Lord of my life and my wallet and my time – or do I just feel better when I say that? Do I call Him “Lord” and continue on with my life as I want to live it – enjoying the things that give me a boost, pursuing the goals that appeal to me, and making choices that make sense to me?
What ‘say and sway’ does the LORD really have in my life?
I’m in the driver’s seat – not the Lord. I obey the impulses of my heart. I bow to the desires of my flesh. I bend to the pressure of my friends. I submit to the trends of the world. I surrender to the dictates of my career path. I yield to the things that satisfy me.
Have you ever thought about the final days of your life? Have I? When the big storm comes and I’m fading quickly, no longer able to work, unable to play, barely able to read the ‘get well’ cards and pushing the institutional food away from my bed, and as loved ones surround me – what life reflections will I have? I hope it doesn’t go like this:
“O Lord, I never thought it would all be over so quickly.
Why did I miss so many prayer meetings getting those certificates?
And all the overtime I worked, Lord, is it really possible my castles in the sand are all going to be washed away so quickly?
I worked so hard to get that car and to build that home and to climb that corporate ladder, but what did I really do for You?
Mostly what my children saw of me was – work, work, work and dollar signs!
What legacy am I leaving them?
I haven’t been much of an example on how to live one’s life.
While others took their kids to Christian gatherings, I was always too busy on the weekends.
Yes, Lord, my kids know I used to get up very early every morning – but it was always so I could get to work very early each morning – not for devotional purposes.
I worked hard but to what end and for what purpose?
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And Lord, here I am – unable to relive my life.
I blew the privilege of being one of Your close followers – a disciple.
I can’t go back now and build a life that will outlive the storm.
I can’t believe I poured so much of my time and energy into everything else but did the bare minimum for You.
I feel like I built my life on the sand, and everything that was important to me is being swept away.
My soul is saved, but my life for You has been lost.”
“Everyone who comes to Me and hears My words and acts on them, I will show you whom he is like: 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.”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.” Luke 6:47-49 NASB
Someone said: “Only one life; ’twill soon be past. Only what’s done for Christ will last.”
Walk carefully and closely with the Lord today.
Warmly in Christ,
Peter Ramsay
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