Rock or Sand
Matthew 7:24-27
Matthew 7
24 Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts
on them is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 The rain
fell, the torrents raged, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet
it did not fall, because its foundation was on the rock.
26 But
everyone who hears these words of Mine and does not act on them is like a
foolish man who built his house on sand. 27 The rain
fell, the torrents raged, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and
it fell—and great was its collapse!”
The Coronavirus and
Pandemic: Truth or Hoax
I
am quite certain that none of us wish to be the “foolish builder” illustrated
in this message from Jesus. We all want
to make sure we are building our house on the ROCK! Funny, how there are so many different
sources that all claim to be that rock.
And yet, they are so different.
They simply can’t all be true. That leaves every one of us with the
important question: “what is the rock
you are building your house (risking your life) on?”
Like
most of you, I have been very interested in the current situation we find
ourselves in. How did we get here? What do we do now? What does that mean to us down the road? Who
do we trust? Who stands to gain? Who stands to lose? Are we being duped? Are
we being given the best truth available?
And, the questions are endless…with very few absolute answers.
It
feels to me like the Clarence Thomas, Anita Hill controversy. I heard Anita Hill’s accusations first, and
was 100% sure she was telling the truth and that Clarence Thomas was guilty and
should be disqualified from consideration as a justice on the Supreme Court. Then….I heard Clarence Thomas and his bevy of
character witnesses. Once again, I was
convinced that he was innocent and the target of a well-crafted attempt to keep
another conservative off the Supreme Court bench.
Proverbs 18:17 The first to plead his case seems right, Until another comes and examines him.
My point is not about Thomas and Hill (everyone has their opinion), it is that it is very difficult to know what is truth and what is false. We all are left with a decision to make: WHO ARE WE GOING TO BELIEVE?
Proverbs 18:17 The first to plead his case seems right, Until another comes and examines him.
My point is not about Thomas and Hill (everyone has their opinion), it is that it is very difficult to know what is truth and what is false. We all are left with a decision to make: WHO ARE WE GOING TO BELIEVE?
I
realize (because I have already had this tactic pushed on me) that some of you
think, sincerely, that you have the information from what you feel is a
credible resource that tips the scales.
You have done your research, which is deeper and more authentic than the
research of those who need to “wake up” about what is really going on. I have been told I need to wake up numerous
times over the past few months. That
tends to put me on the defensive, quite honestly. It’s like a sales person saying; “trust me on
this…” when it is my money that is on the line.
I have tended to back off that tactic.
So, I don’t really want your video link or printed message that tells me
what’s really going on if I would just “wake up.” I have seen, read, and listened to enough
material on all sides of this whole situation.
I have looked at the statistics (which can easily be slanted any way
they need to be to fit a particular narrative), and remain with significant
questions in my mind and my heart.
I
am not your personal Bible Answer Man, nor do I intend to act or sound like it.
SO, you don’t need to send me your questions about who is right and wrong. I
don’t need to hear the person you consider to be that voice that will give us
the uncompromised truth. I have heard
prophesies, sermons, studies and “words from God” that do not all line up with
each other. Some of them, with best
intentions, are still largely in error.
I don’t desire to sift through more of them at this juncture. I am fairly biblically literate. I know the Book. I have spent the last 50+
years of my life living by it. What’s
more, I know the God of the Book and how he has revealed himself to us through
the man, Christ Jesus…AND, how he continues to walk and talk with us as the
Holy Spirit. Seeking direction and
wisdom from the Primary Source for this time is most important to me.
So,
what is a person to do? Good
question. All I can do is share with you
what this person is doing. If it is
helpful to you as you try and build your house upon rock…wonderful. If not, then you know what to do with it.
·
Perspective
(lenses I am looking through)
o
My major
focus is on the Kingdom of God…all other kingdoms are subservient to that.
o
We are not
home yet…we are moving in an eternal existence and this is a relatively small
blip on the screen.
o
I see the
world, not just the United States, as where I live.
o
I won’t be able to know all the answers I’d
like to know, nor whether the sources are trustworthy or questionable. That is why living by FAITH is a reasonable
thing to do.
o
Having said
that, I will endeavor to make the best choices I can, based on the best
information I can find.
·
Practices
o
Pray and
meditate daily. Not so much for answers
to the world condition, but to know God more intimately and to sense His
presence in my life.
o
Make daily
choices based on the FULL context of Scripture and what it teaches us
ethically, morally, and relationally.
Over all things, put on LOVE. It
binds it all together. (Colossians 3)
o
Do something
for someone else, daily or weekly, who has nothing to offer me in return. Do the generous thing. Learn to give stuff away. Make a choice to
love the immigrant.
o
Refuse to
treat my brother or sister as the enemy, even if they think they are and are
acting like it.
o
Become quick
to listen and slow to speak.
o
Set my
heart, my desires and my dreams on things “above,” not on material, temporary
things.
·
Privilege
I have
traveled in many parts of the world…much of which is underdeveloped and poverty
stricken. I have been with people who
live under various kinds of governmental and political systems. I was born, raised, and continue to live in
the United States of America. I did
nothing to earn that privilege and it has nothing to do with deserving
anything. It just is this way for me. I am a white American male who has benefited
from things that many folks do not enjoy simply because of my demographic. That
is not something to boast about or to be proud of. On the other hand, I prefer
to not be criticized for it. It is what it is.
I can’t change it. I don’t want
to change it. I want be a person who
recognizes and appreciates the privileges I have had and remain aware that the
only difference in me and a large percentage of the world is where I was born. While I enjoy the privilege, I want to accept
the responsibility to be a positive, contributing and caring individual to
everyone, here at home, and
abroad.
As you can readily see, there are
no quick answers here…no magic pills. Even if you have all the right answers, and whatever positions you hold are proven to be true....if its all about the here and now, it's still SAND.
The rain fell, the torrents raged, and the winds blew and
beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because its foundation was on the
rock.
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