| Devotional Hours with the Bible |
Chapter 16 |
Page 4 |
“Why call ye Me Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?” Confession of Christ is a good thing, but unless the life corresponds, it is only a mockery. It is not enough to honor Christ before men, praying to Him and ascribing power and glory to Him. Jesus tells us that those alone shall enter heaven who on earth do the will of the Father who is in heaven. Every confession of Christ must be confirmed and approved by obedience and holiness. “Simply to Thy cross I cling” is not all of the gospel of salvation; it is only half of it. No one is really clinging to the cross who is not at the same time faithfully following Christ and doing whatsoever He commands. We never can enter heaven unless heaven has first entered our heart. We shall do God’s will in heaven when we get there; but we must learn to do it here or we never shall get there.
“Whosoever cometh to Me, and heareth My sayings, and doeth them… is like a man which built a house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation upon a rock.” All turns on the doing or not doing of Christ’s words. Both the men described in these last verses hear the words of Christ, but one of them obeys, and thus builds upon the rock-foundation. The other hears, but does not obey, and builds upon the sand. The men built houses which were probably very much alike, so far as the appearance was concerned. But there were two kinds of ground in that vicinity. There was a wide valley which was dry and pleasant in the summer, when the men were looking for building sites. Then there were high, rocky bluffs. One man decided to build in the valley. It would cost less. The digging was easy, for the ground was soft. Then it was more convenient, for the bluffs were hard to reach. The other man looked farther ahead, and decided to build on high ground. It would cost far more, but it would be more safe. So the two homes went up at the same time, only the one in the valley was finished long before the other. At last the two families had settled in the two residences and were happy. But one night there was a storm. The rain poured down in torrents, and floods swept down off the mountain. The house that was built in the valley was carried away with its dwellers. The house on the bluff was unharmed. The illustration explains itself. He who has built in the valley is the man who has only professions, but has really never given his life to Christ, nor built on Him as a foundation. The man who built on the rock is the man who has true faith in Christ, confirmed by living obedience. The storms that burst are earth’s trials and the tempest of death and judgment. The mere professor of religion, not a possessor, is swept away in these storms; for he has only sand under him. He who is truly in Christ is secure; for no storm can reach the shelter of Christ’s love. It is a terrible thing to cherish a false hope of salvation through life, only to find in the end that one has built upon the sand.
Page 4
<< Prior Page 1 2 3 4 Next Page >>