Distance Devotions – April 14, 2020
Matthew 7:24-27 – Whosoever Heareth Correctly….
Matthew 7:24 Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: 25 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. 26 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: 27 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.
The word whosoever is a wonderful word. It is where the door of the Gospel swung open and we walked into the grace of God. Without whosoever no one would know whether they could approach the Lord or not. Our text is using the word in a different sense. While we are to be inviting any and all to hear and respond to the Gospel invitation, our text clearly shows some hear, but do not respond properly. The key thought is how you hear. In the Bible, we are told, take heed how ye hear. (Luke 8:18) Some of us can likely remember our mother or father having a direct conversation with us as a teen and asking us, “Do you hear me?” Of course, the issue wasn’t whether we heard, but how we were going to respond to what we had heard. Same setting here, how will men respond?
Jesus is making it plain that everybody is not going to heaven. There will, no doubt, be multitudes who open their eyes in Hell unexpectedly. Fair ideas, religious emotions, and connection with a local church will not ensure that you arrive on Heaven’s bright shore. The Lord is very clear about this. “21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? 23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.” What a frightening thought! What has God said to you and how have you responded to Him? Has He spoken unto you in grace and drawn you to faith in His Son, Jesus Christ? If all you have done is agreed to be “religious,” I have shocking news for you, you are yet in your sins and He will tell you to depart as a worker of iniquity. Failing to do what you hear is fatal. We have been warned to flee the wrath to come, we have been told to look unto Christ, we have heard the Gospel message time after time, but we must respond to it. Hearing alone is not enough.
Pastor F. J. Weems III