When Jesus asked the question, "But why do you call Me 'Lord, Lord,' and do not do the things which I say?” (Luke 6:46, NKJV), he emphasized this inconsistency with the parable of the wise and foolish builders. Both heard the words of Jesus (Luke 6:47, and Luke 6:49). Both built a house (Luke 6:48-49). The difference is in the foundation. The wise man dug deep to build on bedrock. The foolish man built only on the ground, without any foundation.
This is the difference between those who only hear the words of Jesus, and those who hear and obey. To say Jesus is your Lord is to say you’re committed to Him, to give Him authority over your life. There are many things that want to take priority in a person’s life, but Christ is Lord, as all authority in heaven and earth are His (Matthew 28:18). To say that Jesus is Lord means that He and His will come first (1 Peter 3:15). This shouldn’t be all that difficult, as His authority is exercised in love, seen in His sacrificial death on the cross (1 Peter 1:18-19). He offers us all spiritual blessings (Ephesians 1:3), and the hope of eternal life (Hebrews 5:9). To submit to Him as Lord offers His blessings. Why would one call Him Lord but not submit to Him as Lord?
If we don’t do what He says, we have exalted ourselves over Him. Jesus can help us face any situation we encounter in life (Philippians 4:13), but if we don’t do what He says, we only complicate our lives. He has the answers, while we have the problems. This is why Jesus said to hear but not obey is like building on sand (Matthew 7:26). The only sure way for life, and the hope of eternal life, is to truly make Him Lord of our lives, which is to do what He says.
Do you profess Jesus to be Lord, but reject being immersed to be saved (Mark 16:16)? Do you call Jesus your Lord, but live contrary to what He taught (Mark 7:20-23)? Only those who hear and obey are wise, having truly submitted to Him as Lord. To just hear, but not obey, is foolish, because you have no real foundation on which life can be built and lived. Are you wise or foolish? Is Jesus truly Lord of your life?
Robert Johnson
Longview, TX
"And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?"
"Whosoever cometh to me, and heareth my sayings, and doeth them, I will shew you to whom he is like:"
"But he that heareth, and doeth not, is like a man that without a foundation built an house upon the earth; against which the stream did beat vehemently, and immediately it fell; and the ruin of that house was great."
"He is like a man which built an house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock." "But he that heareth, and doeth not, is like a man that without a foundation built an house upon the earth; against which the stream did beat vehemently, and immediately it fell; and the ruin of that house was great."
"And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth."
But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:
"Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers;" "But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:"
"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:"
"And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;"
I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.
"And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand:"
He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.
"And he said, That which cometh out of the man, that defileth the man." "For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders," "Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness:" "All these evil things come from within, and defile the man."
