Foundation

Living in Europe has given me a new perspective on what it means to have a firm foundation.  The buildings all around me are hundreds, if not thousands, of years old and even though their walls have crumbled and some have completely collapsed there is one thing that they had in common... their foundation was firm.

Walking around I am captivated and in aww at the buildings that surround me.  But until today I've never given a second thought to the fact that without a deep and strong foundation the buildings would not be able to support themselves.  The first evidence of strong weather would topple them.

Anyone who listens to my teaching and obeys me 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 rock.  But anyone who hears my teaching and ignores 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 fall with a mighty crash. ~ Matthew 7:24-27 

As Christians we are called to build upon a foundation that is infinitely stronger and deeper than a foundation for any manmade structure.  God calls us to build upon the knowledge of Him.  If we do this we will become the structures that everyone walks past admiring and holding in aww.  They think they are marveling at us, but in all actuality, it is our foundation, Christ in us, that they hold in amazement!

If we build upon Jesus Christ, our cornerstone, then even when the storms of life threaten to knock us down our foundation is secure.  Yeah sure, we may end up with hail damage, broken windows, busted siding, etc., BUT our foundation is still strong, allowing us to rebuild, from the ground up if we have to!

Walking along the ruins, my eyes dart from one place to another taking in all of my surroundings.  Wondering who used to walk this same path?  What life must have been like?  What did the building look like in it full glory?  Then when I least expect it, I whack my foot against the rocks, tripping over the foundation of buildings that have come and gone, but their foundation is still their.  It may be buried and needing to be excavated or it may be poking it's nose out of the ground but firm foundations don't go anywhere.  Our foundation is buried deep within us and is made evident in our lives by what we say, do and the way we live.

Come to Christ, who is the living cornerstone of God's temple.  He was rejected by the people, but he is precious to God who chose him.  And now God is building you, as living stones, into his spiritual temple.  What's more, you are God's holy priests, who offer the spiritual sacrifices that please him because of Jesus Christ.  As the Scriptures express it, "I am placing a stone in Jerusalem, a chosen cornerstone, and anyone who believes in him will not be disappointed."  Yes, he is very precious to you who believe.  But for those who reject him, "The stone that was rejected by the builders has now become the cornerstone."  And the Scriptures also say, "He is the stone that makes people stumble, the rock that will make them fall."  They stumble because they do not listen to God's word or obey it, and so they meet the fate that has been planned for them.  But you are not like them, for you are a chosen people. You are a kingdom of priests, God's holy nation, his very own possession.  This is so you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light.  "Once you were not a people; now you are the people of God.  Once you received none of God's mercy; now you have received his mercy."  Dear brothers and sisters, you are foreigners and aliens here.  So I warn you to keep away from evil desires because they fight against your very souls.  Be careful how you live among your unbelieving neighbors.  Even if they accuse you of doing wrong, they will see your honorable behavior, and they will believe and give honor to God when he comes to judge the world. ~ 1 Peter 2:4-12  

As Christians, we are always being surveyed, just like the ruins in Europe.  People are watching our every move trying to figure out... What paths have they walked?  What is their life like?  I wonder what they will look like at their peak of greatness?  We need to make sure that our foundation is secure and that we are living the life we were called to live!

But God's truth stands firm like a foundation stone with this inscription:  "The Lord knows those who are his," and "Those who claim they belong to the Lord must turn away from all wickedness." ~ 2 Timothy 2:19 

Prove by the way you live that you have really turned from your sins and turned to God. ~ Matthew 3:8