In Luke 6:43-49. Jesus says,
"For no good tree bears bad fruit, nor again does a bad tree bear good fruit, 44 for each tree is known by its own fruit. For figs are not gathered from thornbushes, nor are grapes picked from a bramble bush. 45 The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks. 46 "Why do you call me 'Lord, Lord,' and not do what I tell you? 47 Everyone who comes to me and hears my words and does them, I will show you what he is like: 48 he is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And when a flood arose, the stream broke against that house and could not shake it, because it had been well built. 49 But the one who hears and does not do them is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. When the stream broke against it, immediately it fell, and the ruin of that house was great."
We have been examining four areas of our lives this week in response to this parable to ensure that we will be left standing after the judgment of God. We have already examined our produce and our professions. Today, let us examine our practice and our perseverance. Jesus said in verses 46 and 47, ""Why do you call me 'Lord, Lord,' and not do what I tell you? Everyone who comes to me and hears my words and does them, I will show you what he is like." Are we doing what he tells us? Are we hearing his words and doing them? Examine your practice. We do what we do because we are what we are. What you are practicing says a great deal about where you stand with God. First John 2:3-4 says, "Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. He who says, "I know Him," and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him." Is your life characterized by sin or by righteousness? Actions speak louder than words.
Jesus tells another parable in Matthew 21:28-31 He said, "What do you think? A man had two sons. And he went to the first and said, 'Son, go and work in the vineyard today.' And he answered, 'I will not,' but afterward he changed his mind and went. And he went to the other son and said the same. And he answered, 'I go, sir,' but did not go. Which of the two did the will of his father?" They said, "The first." We do the will of God by acting, not by saying. As Paul wrote in Romans 2:13, "For it is not the hearers of the law who are righteous before God, but the doers of the law who will be justified." What are you doing? Examine your practice. You will know them by their fruits.
Finally today, let us examine our perseverance. Jesus said in verses Luke 6:47-49, "Everyone who comes to me and hears my words and does them, I will show you what he is like: he is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And when a flood arose, the stream broke against that house and could not shake it, because it had been well built. But the one who hears and does not do them is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. When the stream broke against it, immediately it fell, and the ruin of that house was great." In this parable we see two men building on two foundations with two outcomes. One life survives judgment. One does not. There were two foundations, two houses, and two men, but the thing that really separated them was the steadfastness of their faith. One's obedience to the Word was steadfast. One persevered in the faith. Examine your perseverance. The real test of our faith is not whether or not we made a decision. The real test of our faith is whether or not we persevere in the faith.
Those who are truly born again will persevere. We Baptists talk much about the security of the believer, but that is really none of our business. It is God’s business to secure the believer. The Bible calls us to focus on the perseverance of the saints. That is our business, because those who are truly born again will not fall away. 1 John 2:19 They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us; but they went out that they might be made manifest, that none of them were of us." 1 John 2:24 "Therefore let that abide in you which you heard from the beginning. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, you also will abide in the Son and in the Father."
Salvation is a daily walk, a present tense faith, an ongoing personal relationship with Jesus that lasts for eternity. That is not necessarily easy. Salvation is free, but it costs us everything we have. Salvation is easy, but extremely difficult as well. John Bunyan said this, “Therefore, when he says strive, it is as much as to say, ‘Run for heaven, labor for heaven, wrestle for heaven, or you are likely to go without it.’ People are prone to think they can get into heaven by lying, as it were, on their elbows.” Listen to these admonitions about persevering in the Word of God.
1 Cor 9:24-25 Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it. And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown.
1 Tim 6:12 Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses
Are you running for heaven? Laboring? Wrestling? Or are you trying to coast in on your elbows? Examine your perseverance. Are you pressing forward in Christ? In the words of Jesus Himself, "No one, having put his hand to the plow , and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God" (Luke 9:62). Examine the produce of your lips, your love, and your lives. Examine your profession. Have you turned, trusted, and been transformed? Examine your practice. Is your life characterized by righteousness or sin? Examine your perseverance. Are you going on with God? Are you taking up your cross daily and following Him? If not, please, please, please, please repent and turn to Christ in faith. Call upon Him in repentance and faith. Follow Him. Search for Him with all of your heart until you find Him. Seek His face until He revolutionizes your life. Until next time…
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