Come, Hear, Act

“Everyone who comes to Me and hears My words and acts on them, I will show you whom he is like: he is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid a foundation on the rock; and when there was a flood, the river burst against that house and yet it could not shake it, because it had been well built.”

Luke 6:47-48

If the last few years have shown us anything, it’s that the storms of life are sure to come. Things are likely only to escalate until the return of Christ. The bible tells us, due to sin and violence abounding more and more, the love of many will grow cold (Matthew 24:12). We are living in critical times, but glory be to God we have a Savior who told us exactly what to do during times like this. Jesus said whoever 1) comes to Him, 2) hears His words, and 3) acts on them, he will be like a man who built a sturdy house with a sure foundation upon solid rock. Jesus says not if, but when the storms and floods arise, this house will not be shaken, for it is securely established. 

We certainly ought not neglect coming to Jesus, sitting at His feet, and hearing His words, but we can’t miss the last part of this three-part instruction – “and acts on them”. No matter how much time we spend with Jesus, listening intently to His word, it is not enough to merely hear the word and do nothing about it. Jesus goes on to say, “But 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.” (Luke‬ ‭6:49‬) Likewise, James warns that if you are a hearer of the word only and not a doer, you are deceiving your own selves (James‬ ‭1:22‬). 

I love how Francis Chan puts it in his book You and Me Forever. He likens hearing without doing to some of the most obese people on earth, who eventually become bedridden due to constant caloric intake and no output, eating themselves even unto death. Similarly, many Christians are constantly being fed bible studies, books, sermons, church services, and conferences, yet they still feel the need for more consumption. In reality, their biggest need is to take action and work out what they have already heard time and time again.

When the storms of life are brewing, and the wind is beating against your house, remember the Savior’s simple instructions. Come to Jesus, hear His words, and act upon them. Take Him at His word and put it into action, and you will be like a man who dug deep, laying his foundation securely upon a solid and unshakable rock.

“On Christ the solid Rock I stand; all other ground is sinking sand!”