Transformation is not Information

“Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say? As for everyone who comes to me and hears my words and puts them into practice, I will show you what they are like. They are 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. But the one who hears my words and does not put them into practice is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. The moment the torrent struck that house, it collapsed and its destruction was complete.”
Luke 6:46-49 (NIV)

The wise and the foolish, both built a house. When a storm came, one house stood strong while the other house was destroyed— a simple, yet powerful story.

We sang about the wise and foolish men in Sunday School and we professed that we were the wise man who built his house on the rock. What differentiates the wise man and foolish man is not the house. It is the foundation. We like to assume that we are building on good foundation. But what is good foundation? Is it a good education, strong family values, an all rounded philosophy of life, 10 years of Sunday School lessons, and a dose of good sermons every week? How about the word of God? The Scripture tells us that heaven and earth will pass away but the word of God will remain forever.

The teaching of the above text and context shows us that it is the obeying of the word of God that makes the wise man wise. What makes a man wise or foolish is not the word of God. It is the obeying of the word of God.

Jesus was teaching on the mount and He concluded the teachings with the above instruction and illustration.

We can attend church and hear the word of God every Sunday. We can study the Scriptures, dig deep into history and the meaning of words and understand the principles taught in each passage. But you are only wise when you act according to what is taught in the word of God.

Building on the rock and digging deep in the text above means obeying the word of God. It means forsaking sins. It means cultivating new habits of obedience. It means changing into the character spoken of by the word of God. Obeying the word of God is digging deep and laying the good foundation. Jesus is looking for life changed not knowledge.

Transformation is not information. Information enters the mind but it shouldn’t stop there. We have to decide if we are going to assimilate or not assimilate it into our core belief system . Do the teachings of Jesus fit well with our current core belief? If not, something has to go— either we trash the belief in our core system that opposes God and obey Him or let the teachings of Jesus slip by. We make such a decision every time we hear the word of God whether we think about it or not.

George Whitefield put it quite succinctly:
The renewal of our natures is a work of great importance. It is not to be done in a day. We have not only a new house to build up, but an old one to pull down.

Even when, we have decided to throw out a core belief for the teaching of Jesus, it doesn’t just lose its power over us. Paul tells us that the Spirit wars against the flesh. There is a battle inside us. The new belief opposes the old belief and the old belief doesn’t leave without a fight. Transformation is more than a reformation, it is a revolution.

So, what do we do when we listen to the word of God or when we read or study the word of God?

1. Look for areas of your life and core beliefs that do not match the standard of God’s word and decide on change. Immediately commit to the change. When you defer the decision, make it a point to come to it again. Chances are, decision deferred is decision lost.
2. Cultivate habits that are consistent with the character of God. The word of God reflects God’s character. Put principles into applications. Ask God for strength to change. Memorize the Scripture verses. Transformation is the miracle of God plus the stewardship of man.
3. Share with others what you have learned and committed to do. You are more steadfast in your commitment this way. Besides, your friends can also support you and be part of the change process. Transformation doesn’t come to us, we must run to it.

When Jesus is truly Lord in our lives, we shall be transformed.

Will your house be standing when the time of reckoning comes?

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.
Matthew 7:21 (NIV)