Matthew 7:13 – 27.

The Sermon on the Mount is considered to be a magnum opus in the world of Christian literature. Great men and women of different faiths too, have heaped praises and have made attempts to practice the golden rules of Jesus Christ.

However, in the latter part of the discourse, Jesus talks about two gates, two prophets, two trees and two builders to flash a final warning to those truly seeking eternal life. In the parable of the two builders, Jesus referred the soft and dry river bed called Wadi (Arabic word for valley) to the sand on which the foolish man built his house. Without thinking about the future and seeking quick results, he built his house only to be washed away by the winds, the rain and the floods.

The man who built his house upon the rock was considered wise by Jesus because he designed his house anticipating that storms were part and parcel of life and worked diligently to dig deep into the ground to lay the foundation on solid rock (Luke 6:48).

Through this parable, Jesus taught the crowd, that unless they build their lives on the foundation of God’s word and practice it earnestly, they will not be able to overcome the trials and temptations of this life, to enter the kingdom of heaven.

Jesus also cautioned that man can enter heaven only by virtue of his godly character and by doing the will of the Father and not by claiming to have done signs and wonders in his Christian walk.

Thought for the day: The only thing which a man can take with him to heaven is his godly character.