The Dam (#314 of 365+)

“But because of your stubbornness and your unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of God’s wrath, when his righteous judgment will be revealed” (Romans 2:5)


Like the wall of a dam holds back a million tons of water, Jesus Christ shields my soul from God’s holy rage. He received the full judgment for all of mankind’s sin on the cross. However, those who deny him reject God’s free gift of grace and they will not be safe on Judgment Day.

Several years ago, Dr. John MacArthur preached a powerful sermon series called “Empty Words - Empty Hearts.” With all those positive, feel-good, false messages out there these days it was refreshing to finally hear someone speak convicting words of truth from the Bible. Dr. MacArthur centered his message on Matthew 7:21-29, when Jesus talked briefly about the Day of Judgment—a sobering event he will be presiding over—and the ways a man can build a house. He pointed out two types of people in these verses who represent people we know in our churches and our own families who are deceived, maybe self-deceived, into thinking they will be safe against the judgment: 1) People who say they are Christians and do good works in his name but don’t have a real connection with him. 2) People who listen to God’s word and fill their heads with knowledge but don’t live in obedience to him.

“As he spake these words, many believed on him. Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed” (John 8:30-31 KJV, emphasis mine)

“Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says” (James 1:22, emphasis mine)

“Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation—if you continue in your faith, established and firm, not moved from the hope held out in the gospel” (Colossians 1:21-23, emphasis mine)

“We know that we have come to know him if we obey his commands” (1 John 2:3, emphasis mine)

“They claim to know God, but by their actions they deny him. They are detestable, disobedient and unfit for doing anything good” (Titus 1:16, emphasis mine)

Here’s an excerpt of the transcript from Dr. MacArthur’s sermon:

So, building on the rock beloved is obeying, look at your life, examine it, is it a life that longs beyond any other desire to obey the Word of God? Or is it disobeying and always and ever and constantly justifying that disobedience? So obedience is the key word here. And I’ll add this thought, the only validation you will ever have of your salvation is a life of obedience, it is the only possible proof that you really recognize the Lordship of Jesus Christ. I’m going to say that again because that’s the heart of the message. Obedience is the only validation of your salvation. It is the only possible proof that you recognize the Lordship of Jesus Christ. Because if there’s no obedience then you’re confessing Jesus is Lord is just so much verbal exercise.

The Lord is never impressed with empty words or deeds. He isn’t interested in a simple mental assent to biblical truths either. What he wants is to take up residence in my heart. I think the more time I spend meditating on his Word and soaking in his presence, the more apt I will be to follow him and do what he tells me to do. Obedience is the result of a soul that truly has been transformed by the death of the Son and the life of the Spirit. That’s what God’s Word clearly teaches.

“For if, when we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life!” (Romans 5:10)

Lord, I thank you again—and I will thank you always—for your amazing grace and mercy towards me, a sinner. Help me to obey your Word and lead others to the truth. Amen.