WILL YOUR HOUSE STAND?
By R. A. Prickett
In building a house it is well to remember that conditions may arise which are not seen at present. In the Saviour’s instructions in the seventh chapter of Matthew He is seeking to get before the minds of His hearers a basis of sound faith, in contradistinction to the teachings of men. In verses 24–27 He gives us examples of two kinds of character houses,—one is founded on a rock, the other on the sand. The first case is to illustrate the man who both hears and does the words of truth found in the Book of God. He “digs deep” (Luke 6:48), to be sure that he is on the solid truth (John 17:17), and that there is no more sin separating him from God. He is a wise man. When the days of trial come, when he is tested, he endures. Notice there are three things mentioned as coming to that house,—first, rain; second, floods; third, winds. The rain softens the soil but does not affect the rock. The floods sweep away the softened earth and undermine the house. “The floods of ungodly men made me afraid.” 2 Sam. 22:5. How many a character has been wrecked by having been surrounded by the floods of the ungodly! The wind completes the wreck. “That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine.” Eph. 4:14. We are living in a time above all others when Satan has brought all his artillery of falsehoods and deception to bear to deceive men and women. Then how exceedingly important it is that we be founded on the rock, rooted and grounded in the truth, that we may be able to stand against all these things! Therefore be careful about the rain of sin, the company of the ungodly (Prov. 24:1), and the many voices, the winds of false doctrine. Build on Christ. Beware of the other character cited in Matthew 7, of the foolish man who built his house on the sand.