Don't Build Your House On The Sandy Land

My Utmost For His Highest 

…add to your faith virtue… —2 Peter 1:5

{CHAMBERS} “Add means that we have to do something. We are in danger of forgetting that we cannot do what God does, and that God will not do what we can do. We cannot save nor sanctify ourselves— God does that. But God will not give us good habits or character, and He will not force us to walk correctly before Him. We have to do all that ourselves. We must “work out” our “own salvation” which God has worked in us (Philippians 2:12). Add means that we must get into the habit of doing things, and in the initial stages that is difficult. To take the initiative is to make a beginning— to instruct yourself in the way you must go.[…] Be determined to act immediately in faith on what God says to you when He speaks, and never reconsider or change your initial decisions. […] We have to get into the habit of carefully listening to God about everything, forming the habit of finding out what He says and heeding it.”

{ELGIN}  (Luke 6:46-49) “"Why do you call Me, 'Lord, Lord,' and do not do what I say? As for everyone who comes to me and hears my words and puts them into practice, I will show you what they are like. They are like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid the foundation on rock. When a flood came, the torrent struck that house but could not shake it, because it was well built. But the one who hears my words and does not put them into practice is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. The moment the torrent struck that house, it collapsed and its destruction was complete.””  Jesus was talking directly to his disciples but there was a large crowd of people listening as well.  It is one thing to hear the Truth and quite another to obey the truth.  About 8 children recited the entire 12^th chapter of Romans in church last Sunday.  Impressive and challenging, but what good did it do the congregation to hear that if they were not willing to do that.  Chapter 12 pretty much lays out how we are to live as Christians.  (James 1:22) “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.”  A recurring theme.  It must be that our tendency is to not do what the Word says.  Obedience is not something that suddenly happens on its own.  We must decide to obey.

So my friends “Don't build your house on the sandy-land, Don't build it too near the shore, Well, it may look kind of nice But you'll have to build it twice, Oh, you'll have to build your house once more. You better build your house upon the rock, Make a good foundation on a solid spot. And though the storms may come and go, The peace of God you will know. Rock of ages, cleft for me.  Let me hide myself in Thee.” Karen Lafferty (b. 1948) Words and Music © 1981 Maranatha!