Matthew 7:24-29; 8:1-4 - And Great is the Fall of it!

The Lord said, "Every one then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house upon the rock; and the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat upon that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. And every one who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house upon the sand; and the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell; and great was the fall of it." And when Jesus finished these sayings, the crowds were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as one who had authority, and not as their scribes. When he came, down from the mountain, great crowds followed him; and behold, a leper came to him and knelt before him saying, "Lord, if you will, you can make me clean." And he stretched out his hand and touched him, saying, "I will; be clean." And immediately his leprosy was cleansed. And Jesus said to him, "See that you say nothing to any one; but go, show yourself to the priest, and offer the gift that Moses commanded, for a proof to them."

A house built on sand is like a house made of sand!
...it's not going to last!
photo by José Carlos Cortizo Pérez,
used under the creative commons license.
check out more photos at:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/josek/

The Words that Jesus used when teaching the people were unlike another of His time. The teachers of the law quoted "the Fathers" and other learned people when they were trying to  prove their point. They pointed to the authority of someone else. But when Jesus speaks, He can speak of His own Authority, for it is rightfully His.  Happy is the man who follows the Words of Jesus, Who, speaking from a position of Authority, can deliver to us, life-giving Words.

Jesus taught that Words were, indeed, life-giving and if we would heed them, our lives would be like a house that was built upon a strong foundation. Yet, the person who ignores Jesus and all of His teaching will not stand when the storm comes because his house is built upon shifting sand. The wind will blow, the rain will come and the house will fall. And great will be that fall! How much better it is to have a house built upon the strong foundation of Jesus' Words and commandments. For when storms come (and they will) that person shall endure, in Hope and in God's Faithfulness.

O Lord, I do not want to have my house collapse around me! Help me to follow You and Your teachings, knowing that such a strong foundation will support me in all times! This day, O Lord, help me to meditate on the house that stood and the house that fell and, in Your mercy, let my house stand! Amen.