The Unknown

Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:

Matthew 7:21-23

Here is something very startling to be seen in the text. The scene opens off with those having entered the kingdom of Heaven versus those even now that are standing without. The issue here is though that the pearly gates do not just open for anyone. Nor do they always swing wide on hidden hinges. The issue here is very simple, even that of the name of the Father. His name it seems then is the one that makes all the difference in the world. I know last time we had talked about his place as being that of the twelve disciples and God having gone far off into the great beyond.

Being then that of his place, it seems his nature really should be seen. For here as in all else does our God appear. Though most don't realize it yet, that's why it was needed for God to come and rescue his people. More than that, he hasn't come just to leave us alone right wherever we happen to be at the time. So then it remains, the all things being seen of the Lord. For in his people does his care to them best appear. It was not for nothing then that the disciples left all to follow the Lord.

22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?

First, he had to teach them what of himself so that his ways might in them appear. You might wonder how these all things then do appear. The text names some of them just to tell of a few. There's prophecy, miracles, and casting out all sorts of demons. Yet when it comes right on down to it the issue is rarely one of not having heard of the Lord. See, in order to hear, one must first be sent and how shall they except it be told unto them. It seems then that the issue is not one of a lack of knowledge but rather one that did not come from himself.

For this cause there is both some hearing and some doing noted as seen in the text. Behold, his sheep hear his voice and so do follow him quite well. Perhaps in all the fuss and clamor with which we are surrounded, it's awful hard to hear his voice at times. Harder still just to do it. But that is when some of us must simply be still as our good Shepherd has said, this one who gave his life for the sheep. Nor is it just any old sheep, but rather therein is found the rights to be called the children and people of God. See, I have just heard his sayings and so applied them right well.

And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

Now let's see what of the doings therein. Those at first had no trouble at all with recognizing the Lord. It's sure hard not to when he's seated on his throne high and lifted up. Yet how many of you know the doings of God. You know, when you're down and out and feeling small and our God comes along to lift you by his doings way up so tall. Perhaps you had never seen it before, this shift found contained in the text. But so do the wise and the scholar appear. It might be awful hard to do as has said though at times, which is why we see the comparison given between the wise man and the house on a rock. If you happen to know a thing or two about building, houses rarely stand upon when put on a rock. It is only when they are say carved from the very rock itself that these will therein be able to stand.

So then we see that in all our ways and goings too we rather ought to trust in the Lord. For the one that builds the house and keeps it all well is Christ himself. For this cause then, these that came under the power of themselves now have nothing in which to him to bring. They had not it seemed since they knew not the peace he could bring. Being kept by the Lord then doesn't mean anything more than simply hearing and trusting at his Word.