Our final paragraph topic is: (The reaction of the crowd)
We finish up the Sermon on the Mount with this final paragraph. In it we hear about the reaction of the crowds that heard Christ teach the Sermon. Matthew, the author of this book, tells us that when the sermon was finished, the crowds were astonished at the teachings of Christ. They had never heard anyone teach like him for he taught with authority. He did not teach like the Pharisees or the Scribes. The question that we may ask ourselves today is, do we believe the authority of Christ. Do we believe and know that his teachings are true and real? Do we know that he is not just speaking life principles to be taken lightly? Do you know that he is speaking life principles with all authority, as spoken by one with greater authority than the best authority we know today.
The best authority we know comes from the news and what we find in the media. The best authority we know today comes from the books that we read. The best authorities come from what we are taught in schools and colleges and universities. For this is where our beliefs are formed and our life principles are established. And in many cases we get our authority from our ministers, pastors, priests, bishops, etc.
Do we go to the source? NO! We let the source come to us. We have the greatest authority in our homes, but we go to church on Sunday to get our cup of authority. Do we go to the source? NO! We have our life principles in our night stands and we get our authority from the DVDs that we purchase from our church ministry. Do we go to the source? NO! We have our true source of wisdom on the coffee table and seek it not. Do we go to the source? NO! We have the fountain of life on the dash of our car or in the rear window and we seek the meaning of life not from within it's pages.
And they were astonished then, when he finished. And we are deaf now when we hear the words of life everlasting. We live in a world of convenience. Why? It is convenient for us to pick up our bibles when we need help. We live in a world of convenience. Why? It is convenient for us to pray when we are sick. We live in a world of convenience. Why? It is convenient for us to seek the Lord when we are facing disaster. We live in a world of convenience. Why? It is convenient for us to offer praise one day a week and forget about the other six. You see Satan has made it convenient for us to live in a world where everything is at our fingertips. He has made it simple for us to have our cake and be able to eat it. He has lulled us to sleep and put our world in a deep sleep that it cannot awaken from. And he has also made it contrary for us to practice life principles as given to us by Christ.
Christ gave us these teachings to help us live better. These sermons are not meant as condemnations. They are meant to help us stay out of trouble. Christ knows what will lead us down the wrong path. He knows what actions will open the door to Satan and what actions will keep that door closed. Christ knows what beliefs will cloud our hearts and what beliefs will cause them to shine brightly. Christ knows what principles we need to have in our hearts and those that we need to keep out. So he tells us with authority what we should do. He tells us with certainty what will work and what will not. He gives us the key to the test and the answers to the questions that we may be able to pass the test with flying colors. The question is will we listen. The question is, will we hear his words. The question is will we adhere to them. The question is will we get off the fence and stand upon the rock or will we continue to sit on the fence thinking that we can partake of both worlds.
There can be no mistake, for God does not make mistakes. Some mistakenly believe that they will see the day when science will break the cycle of death and man will live forever on this earth. It has been spoken and it has been written. Judgement will come, either today for some, tomorrow for others, or in the future for most. But as certain as we are decaying daily, death will come. And with death will come judgement. Christ has spoken with authority to show us the way. Christ has given us his teachings to give us life. Christ has opened the door where the narrow gate ends to let those in who have followed his words. Christ is waiting for you? Will you follow? Will you hear? Will you take him into your heart and keep him? Will you love him?
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