“Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.” Matthew 7:24-27
Yesterday, my wife and I went out to celebrate our anniversary. We started the evening with a bit of window shopping, and we planned to find a place to eat afterward. When it came time to select a restaurant, we were both quite hungry. There were dozens of spots to choose from. We browsed several and found beautiful environments, high-end cuisine, or slightly too casual for how we were dressed. We finally settled on a nice Mexican restaurant because it offered options and quantities that best fit our desires. As the meal began, we realized this place was higher class than we were accustomed to. Portions were delicious and tiny, and staples like cheese were replaced with fancy house-made relishes. We left with a sense of disappointment even though everything we had was prepared to perfection and served with class.
Isn’t it interesting that missed expectations can change our perception of an experience? As we conclude the Sermon on The Mount, I believe we run the risk of missed expectations. If we approach the teachings of Jesus with an idea that they are a guide to achieving the American dream, we will be sorely disappointed. If, on the other hand, we recognize that the teachings of Jesus are a guide to living a life of meaning, peace, and purpose then the journey will meet our expectations more readily.
The text above reminds us that winds will blow. It reminds us that building a solid life structure is difficult on the stone. It reminds us that the aim of all this obedience and work is to establish a life that can handle the inevitable challenges of a broken world. If we enter faith thinking it is a journey to the easy life, we will be disappointed. If we enter knowing it is a guide to sustain a strong and meaningful life, we will be able to face the storms.
Why are you on this faith journey?
Meditate on these images and ask yourself. What is the goal for my faith Journey? How will my life hold up to the wind and waves of life?
by Aaron Bjorklund
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