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Commentaries
English
Luke
  
47"Whoever comes to Me, and hears My sayings and does them, I will show you whom he is like:48He is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently against that house, and could not shake it, for it was founded on the rock.49But he who heard and did nothing is like a man who built a house on the earth without a foundation, against which the stream beat vehemently; and immediately it fell. And the ruin of that house was great."


Jesus was a carpenter and builder. He took part in building many houses, and saw with his experienced eye which houses were well established, and which were without a foundation. He had already seen fallen houses and firmly established houses in the midst of the sweeping flood.
Jesus compared the life of man to a house that is built step by step, beautifully decorated, and provided with valuable furniture. Yet, all these fine appearances are useless, if the house did not have a solid foundation to enable it to stand firm in the days of disasters. What is the foundation of the house of your life?
Christ is the eternal foundation to every believer. He comes to us with his word, and from here the difference between the wise and the unwise arises. The wise believer hears the gospel of Christ, and opens his heart to his speech. This speech moves his heart, his pride becomes broken, and he actually repents. Then the word of Christ can convert him, creating a new man, founded on Christ who fills him with his power and love, that he may do what the Holy Spirit wills. This man became wise for he built himself on the power of God. Christ became the foundation of his being at present, and his intercessor on the Day of Judgment. The Holy Spirit also became the engine of his motives. The connection between man and God, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit is not superficial, but firm. It continues in death and forever, for the blood of Christ is our righteousness, and his Spirit our comfort.
The unwise may also hear the word of Christ, but does not care much about it, for his heart is full of thoughts and problems. He accepts some of the thoughts of the Son of God to build his life, but does not repent originally, or change morally and radically. His faith remains superficial and traditional, without the works of the love of God. In the days of trouble and old age this man will not find strength and comfort, but death will smile at him like a fearful ghoul, in spite of his baptism, and the judgment of God will lie in wait for him like a hungry lion. Great will be the fall of this man, for he heard the word of God, but did not really open himself to the instrument of his Lord’s power, neglecting his favor.
The flood of God’s wrath is inescapably coming, and his judgment is certainly imminent. Are you firmly established in Christ? Or are you still relying on yourself? Does the Holy Spirit produce in you the fruit of his goodness, or do you look like a dirty container filled with garbage? Resort to Christ, and repent truly, so that he may be your only Lord, and his love may overcome your iniquities. Hurry to the Savior of the world that he may save you and sanctify you while it is called "Today."

Prayer
O Lord, We worship to you for you became the foundation of our life; and made us deep-rooted in you, changed us, and helped us to hear and realize your word. Please keep us in your love, strengthen us in your purity, and guide us to your truth that we may abide in you, and do what you say with your help.
Question
How do we found the house of our life faithfully, in spite of the disasters of time and the Last Judgment?