Matthew 7:24-27
“Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock. Though the rain comes in torrents and the floodwaters rise and the winds beat against that house, it won’t collapse because it is built on bedrock. But anyone who hears my teaching and doesn’t obey it is foolish, like a person who builds a house on sand. When the rains and floods come and the winds beat against that house, it will collapse with a mighty crash.”

In these last days, we need to be wise in listening and following His teachings, then we will be like a person who builds his house on solid rock. If we don’t follow and disobey God’s word, then we will be like a person who builds a house on sand which collapses when floods come down.

If we just listen and not follow it then we deceive ourselves. James 1:22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.

When we follow Jesus, and obey His word, we won’t be shaken easily by our circumstances. It may be disappointing but we can overcome by His strength. Jesus said “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”(John 16:33)

Be the follower of His word and the house of righteous will stand until the end.

Ephesians 5:16
making the best use of the time, because the days are evil.

Each one of us are living our lives and spending the time that might not aligned with the Christian walk. If you look around, the present days are evil. And the enemy is working hard to get all your attention.

As Christians, we need to cease the time (carpe diem) and start preparing for the eternity. What is your life? James 4: 14 says, yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes.

The enemy is well prepared to take you down, so be watchful in prayer and meditation. 1 Peter 5:8 says, Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.

Let’s start making best use of our time and prepare for His return.

Luke 8:8
But others fell on good ground, sprang up, and yielded a crop a hundredfold.” When He had said these things He cried, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear!”

In the parable of sower from Luke 8:5-8
5 “A sower went out to sow his seed. And as he sowed, some fell by the wayside; and it was trampled down, and the birds of the air devoured it. 6 Some fell on rock; and as soon as it sprang up, it withered away because it lacked moisture. 7 And some fell among thorns, and the thorns sprang up with it and choked it. 8 But others fell on good ground, sprang up, and yielded a crop a hundredfold.” When He had said these things He cried, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear!”

The seed refers to the word of God. The wayside soil represents the those who hear the word of God but don’t understand it and are unwilling to receive it. The enemy comes and takes it away. It is removed even before it has been deeply rooted.

The rocky soil represents hearers who receive the word and enjoy it temporarily. When temptation or persecution comes, they wither away. They drift when the comfort is gone.

The thorny soil represents those who receive the word and live by it. But are constantly craving for worldly riches and get distracted by greed and power. They give in to the flesh easily.

The good soil represents the believers who walk in His word and live by the Spirit (Romans 8:6). They don’t wither when trails come, they constantly draw strength from the word and bear much fruit (Matt 7:20).

Let’s get planted in good ground and bear much fruit for His kingdom.

Matthew 6:33
But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

Without even thinking sometimes we just go after what makes us feel good and worthy, which is mostly worldly and gives temporary satisfaction. Per Matthew 6:33, when Jesus preached on the Mount, he said to seek first the kingdom of God, and all the other things will be added to you.

Our first and foremost thing to do is to seek the salvation which is inherent in the kingdom of God. We don’t know when the life will end. What we store on earth will be destroyed one day. Matthew 6:19 says “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal;

The kingdom of God has eternal value which is greater than the riches of this world. That doesn’t mean that we abandon our lives, instead live the life that God gave us that leads towards His kingdom. Share the good news of salvation with unbelievers, live by His word and in obedience, and love God and one another.

Don’t go after the world but seek His kingdom FIRST!