Shifting Sands

Through Him, therefore, let us constantly and at all times offer up to God a sacrifice of praise, which is the fruit of lips that thankfully acknowledge and confess and glorify His name. (Hebrews 13:15, AMPC)

 

In the closing statements of the Sermon on the Mount found in Matthew 7, Jesus provides wisdom for consideration. Governing obedience is not by what we say, but by what we do. The Sermon on the Mount is the longest recorded sermon given by our Lord covering chapters 5-7 in the book of Matthew. In it, we find these lessons or stories, which cover a number of topics familiar to most Christians:

·        Beatitudes,

·        Salt and Light,

·        the Fulfillment of the Law,

·        Murder,

·        Adultery,

·        Divorce,

·        Oaths,

·        Eye for Eye,

·        Love Your Enemies,

·        Giving to the Needy,

·        Prayer (The Lord’s Prayer),

·        Fasting,

·        Treasures in Heaven,

·        Do Not Worry,

·        Judging Others,

·        Ask-Seek-Knock,

·        the Narrow and Wide Gates,

·        True and False Prophets,

·        True and False Disciples,

·        the Wise and Foolish Builder

The closing topic is the Wise and Foolish Builder (Matthew 7:24-27). Any house will fall if the foundation is not secure. Our founding fathers knew that our nation needed a proven and true foundation. Examining their own lives they chose one containing laws not formulated by men, but by the Creator of all. A foundation of truth that stood the test of time and quieted the fears of men. They chose Judeo-Christian values written in the Word of God, the Bible.

 

What portion of our economy represents the managing unrighteousness? We have seen exponential growth in the last 50 years. Many attribute this to the change of our school systems with the removal of the Bible; however, the real failure is lack of instruction given from the Bible in our homes. If we are truly a nation governed by the people, then the unrighteousness that exists in us is prevalent in our society. Legislation utilizing the Bible alone is insufficient. Peoples’ hearts need to change. Sacrifices are required for the lack of obedience (I Samuel 15:22). Had Adam and Eve never sinned in the garden, Christ would not have had to die on the Cross.

 

We need our nation called to a sacrifice of praise yielding revival in the hearts of men. The foundation of our nation is now on shifting sand because of our disobedience to God’s Word. A revival is necessary to secure our foundation again on God, Christ, and the Word of God.

 

So everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts upon them [obeying them] will be like a sensible (prudent, practical, wise) man who built his house upon the rock. And the rain fell and the floods came and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. And everyone who hears these words of Mine and does not do them will be like a stupid (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 and complete was the fall of it. (Matthew 7:24-27, AMPC)