In Luke 6:46-49 Jesus says,
“So why do you keep calling me ‘Lord, Lord!’ when you don’t do what I say? I will show you what it’s like when someone comes to me, listens to my teaching, and then follows it. It is like a person building a house who digs deep and lays the foundation on solid rock. When the floodwaters rise and break against that house, it stands firm because it is well built. But anyone who hears and doesn’t obey is like a person who builds a house right on the ground, without a foundation. When the floods sweep down against that house, it will collapse into a heap of ruins.”
This passage is sexy! The person who listens and puts into action Jesus’ teaching creates a life that is strong, stable, unshakeable and unbreakable. This person when building his house digs into the ground until he hits rock and then lays his foundation on the rock and builds his house on the foundation. When the storm comes that house doesn’t budge because of how it was built.
The person who hears the same teaching but doesn’t put it into practice creates a life based off of incorrect information and therefore has no stability. This person also builds a house, but instead of digging down to the rock and laying a foundation, he builds his house right on the ground. When that same storm comes the house collapses and crumbles into a heap of ruins.
The first guy anchors his house into the ground. He built a foundation on top of a solid foundation of ground and then anchors his house to it. The second guy has no anchor and therefore his house lacks the necessary stability to withstand the natural seasons of life.
Both people received the same information, but only one person used it. Both people built a house but used different techniques. The foundation is under the ground. It’s possible that you couldn’t even see the foundation of the first house. Meaning you could look at both houses and think they were built the same way. But when the storm pushes on the houses the one with the real foundation will prove it was built differently.
The kingdom of heaven is a kingdom of function. Jesus said, “I will show you what it’s like when someone comes to me, listens to my teaching, and then follows it.” That person’s life will prove it’s rooted in function, because it will stand strong in any situation. While the person who doesn’t put into practice Jesus’ teaching, can only stand under good conditions and therefore only for a limited time.
Instability in life is a reflection of the quality of information we are cultivating. While stability proves we are rooted in true function. We should always be growing in greater stability in thinking, feeling and action. If you find yourself in instability, you can be sure that your focus is set on things that are inferior to the truth. Reset your focus, reset your stability. Stability is proof of function. We belong to the kingdom of function.