Wouldn't It Be Nice If....?

“Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock. Though the rain comes in torrents and the floodwaters rise and the winds beat against that house, it won’t collapse because it is built on bedrock. But anyone who hears my teaching and doesn’t obey it is foolish, like a person who builds a house on sand. When the rains and floods come and the winds beat against that house, it will collapse with a mighty crash.”

Matthew 7:24-27

I saw a news program several years ago about a developer who built some beautiful (and quite expensive) homes.  They sold very quickly.  All was well until about two years later when cracks began to develop in the walls and foundations.  All attempts to contact the developer and his contractor failed.  Another year went by and several of these once beautiful homes collapsed completely.  What the developer and the contractor did not disclose was the fact that the homes had been built on a swamp that had been filled in. As time passed, the swamp began to reclaim its place in the area and took most of the homes in the process.

What made me remember this story was a person I once loved turned on me.  When I asked why, I was told that I should have listened to the rumors about them because the rumors were true and this person was self serving.  

If we follow the teachings of Jesus, we will be genuine and loving people.  We will be so genuine that we will treat everyone else the same way we want to be treated.  We will be like the house built on the bedrock....we may get treated badly but we won't crumble.  True strength, I believe, comes from being genuine.  Jesus was SO genuine that the Pharisees and Scribes hated Him because THEY were hollow inside. Jesus referred to them as "white-washed graves."  

The more I contemplated this Scripture, I knew that it takes looking inside frequently to make sure that my own foundation had no leaks or cracks.  If any are found, it's time to take them to the Cross and ask for Abba's help to seal them in His love.

Wouldn't it be nice if we could know if the people we interact with are genuine or "white-washed graves"?