It’s funny how when we hear things from the time we are kids, we don’t really hear the message anymore. Because it’s not new and fresh, we evaluate neither the point nor our assumptions about the truth of it.

This occurred to me the other day as I read again the story of the wise man and the foolish man who built their houses, respectively, on the rock and on the sand. I mean, I sang the song since before I could walk. But, the point I missed was what truly distinguishes a wise man from a foolish man. My ASSUMPTION, made as a child and never re-evaluated, was that the wise man was the man who followed Jesus – a Christian – and that the foolish man was the one who did not – a non-Christian.

I’ve skipped through that story so many times, my pride telling me, “You’re on the wise side. No need to pay any more attention to that. It doesn’t apply to YOU, you have the ticket.”

But, the other day, I actually read through the parable in Matt. 7 and Luke 6. And the fallacy of my distinction between wise and foolish was blatantly exposed. It’s not at all about being a Christian vs. a non-Christian! It’s about obedience! Not just the act of obedience to surrender your heart to Christ, getting that ticket into heaven, but the daily obedience of surrendering your whole life (will, desires, hopes…. and actions) to His Way.

I will show you what he is like who comes to me and HEARS MY WORDS and PUTS THEM INTO PRACTICE. He is like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid the foundation on rock. When a flood came, the torrent struck that house but could not shake it, BECAUSE IT WAS WELL BUILT. (Luke 6:47-48 NIV, emphasis mine)

The wise man doesn’t just believe in God. He hears Gods Word. And walks it out.

I wonder what I’ve heard that I am not putting into practice. I pray today that He shows me. I want my house to be well built. I’m more interested in bringing glory to His Name than in being superficially shiny and pretty.