This week we continue in our series of “The Kingdom of Heaven is like…”. Our focus this week will be use two familiar discussions Jesus had. One from one of Jesus’ most pivotal sermons, the Sermon on the Mount.  This sermon is thought to be the core of Jesus’ teaching on what it means to be part of the kingdom of God/Heaven

NOTE: Last week we discussed that out of the New Testament, only Matthew, a Jewish disciple was the only one that used the reference to the kingdom of Heaven; when all other written references refer to the kingdom of God. We confirmed that kingdom of God and. kingdom of Heaven are interchangeably, and even recorded as such with Jesus in Matthew, chapter 19:

Then Jesus said to his disciples, “I tell you the truth, it is very hard for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of Heaven. 24 I’ll say it again—it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of God! – Matthew 19:23-24 NLT

Our first focus will be on the conclusion of the sermon, about a builder. Jesus compares our lives to the building of a house. Jesus uses this conclusion to indicate that all of the context of the sermon is foundational, not optional.  He even points out what happens when we don’t have ears to hear…

Building on a Solid Foundation

⁴⁶“So why do you keep calling me ‘Lord, Lord!’ when you don’t do what I say? ⁴⁷I will show you what it’s like when someone comes to me, listens to my teaching, and then follows it. ⁴⁸It 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. ⁴⁹But 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.”– Luke 6:46-49 NLT

A couple quick things to point out. We can quickly focus our attention on the ground shifting and how it might shift and the disaster that can happen, but there is a broader lesson in this lesson.  It is not only the foundation that needs to be considered, but the location. Are we building our life in a floodplain? And if so, are we prepared? Have we taken the necessary steps to weather the storms that will come. If we build on solid rock in a very windy place like Hood River, Oregon, are we going to withstand the constant pressure of the Pacific wind? A wise builder does not only survey and select the best location, but also builds a wise structure to last.

We have lived in a variety of places in our lives to this point. Some many years longer than others, but regardless of the time spent in each one, we got to know the house. We got to know the quirks and the little things that just were not right. Some may have flooded when it rained hard, others had bad drafts, yet others had creaks and other weird sounds. We got to know them and learned to live with them. Our lives are not much different in a sense. We have come to know who we are and we definitely know some of our own quirks and little things that are not right.

Reflecting on your life as it is today, explain in terms of a home/building how your life is established. Remodeled? Restored? Added on to? In the messy phase of upgrading? Is there any maintenance going on?  Or are there areas abandoned and ignored? What is life like that your soul dwells in?

Now in reflection to the teachings of Jesus, how stable and well maintained is your house?

Back to common phrase with Jesus, he says a person is LIKE  person that builds a house in certain fashions. What is a person’s spiritual life like when it is build on the wrong principles? How does a person’s spiritual life affect their mental health and response to crisis (storm’s in this life).

Reflecting back over your life, you have weather many storms, some better than others. Can you share how your spiritual condition either benefited you or hindered you in storms of the past?

If we are a wise builder and follow Jesus teaching, what will others observe?

Now moving on in contrast to the good builder we see another reference used by Jesus.

Parable of the Lamp

¹⁶“No one lights a lamp and then covers it with a bowl or hides it under a bed. A lamp is placed on a stand, where its light can be seen by all who enter the house. ¹⁷For all that is secret will eventually be brought into the open, and everything that is concealed will be brought to light and made known to all.
¹⁸“So pay attention to how you hear. To those who listen to my teaching, more understanding will be given. But for those who are not listening, even what they think they understand will be taken away from them.” – Luke 8:16-18 NLT

At this point Jesus is presumably addressing the crowds again. The point of lighting a lamp is that its light may be seen. Similarly, the disciples must reveal to others the light they have received. In this way the teaching of Jesus, which was known and understood only by a few people, would one day be expressed more clearly.

Verse 18 brings out the point of verse 10, that we did not read. It states

You are permitted to understand the secrets of the Kingdom of God. But I use parables to teach the others so that the Scriptures might be fulfilled:
‘When they look, they won’t really see.
When they hear, they won’t understand. – Luke 8:10

How is the Kingdom of God revealed to people? Share how you were first introduced to the Kingdom of God.

In our journey before heaven, we will continue to remodel and renovate our house. We must not become passive and self-righteous, this would be like an abandoned, condemned home. It might be on good foundation, but the rest of the house is worthless. In closing lets expand the light discussion…

Receiving the Light

³³“No one lights a lamp and then hides it or puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where its light can be seen by all who enter the house.

³⁴“Your eye is like a lamp that provides light for your body. When your eye is healthy, your whole body is filled with light. But when it is unhealthy, your body is filled with darkness. ³⁵Make sure that the light you think you have is not actually darkness. ³⁶If you are filled with light, with no dark corners, then your whole life will be radiant, as though a floodlight were filling you with light.” – Luke 11:33-36 NLT

One of the battles that many have is that they really don’t have a desire to be radiant. Just being out of the darkness may be a big change from where they are at and they actually are quite pleased with how things have changed.  The battle is that the objective of a light being turned on is not the objective, because if it is under a basket, really, it is just like it is not on at all.  The benefit and potential of a light bulb is not for the light bulb, it is for those that benefit from a functional light bulb.

Sometimes it is not avoidance or being humble, but maybe we it is darkness in our life that we don’t want to get rid of, the sin and shame that, “if they only knew” that tells us we are not worthy.

What are some areas that you have been putting a lamp shade on in your life? Where have you been holding back from God’s opportunistic opportunities. What can you do to allow God to be more radiant in your life?

Next Week…

It is the American way of life, but being in debt is dangerous and very life-sucking. We venture into the teachings Jesus had on a couple debtors.