September 29, 2008
Foundations
A
crucial part of building is to lay a good foundation. A foundation must be
constructed in such a way as to bear the load under all circumstances and
withstand the test of time. A building with a poor foundation simply will not
last.
We
don't need a degree in engineering to figure out that something with a poor
foundation will not stand up. Even a child with some blocks quickly learns the
concept long before they have the vocabulary to describe the concept.
Some
things to consider before you build.
No
thinking person would erect a building without a proper foundation. Yet when it
comes to our eternal destiny many build on poor foundations. They build on self
or good works or any number of religious rituals or idols. Those foundations
cannot withstand the pressures of life or the fires of purification.
We
stand or fall on our foundation. If our foundation is anything other than Christ
it will not stand.
1
Corinthians 3:1-15 NET
So,
brothers and sisters, I could not speak to you as spiritual people, but instead
as people of the flesh, as infants in Christ. I fed you milk, not solid food,
for you were not yet ready. In fact, you are still not ready, for you are still
influenced by the flesh. For since there is still jealousy and dissension among
you, are you not influenced by the flesh and behaving like unregenerate people?
For whenever someone says, “I am with Paul,” or “I am with Apollos,” are
you not merely human?
What
is Apollos, really? Or what is Paul? Servants through whom you came to believe,
and each of us in the ministry the Lord gave us. I planted, Apollos watered, but
God caused it to grow. So neither the one who plants counts for anything, nor
the one who waters, but God who causes the growth. The one who plants and the
one who waters work as one, but each will receive his reward according to his
work. We are coworkers belonging to God. You are God's field, God's building.
According to the grace of God given to me, like a skilled master-builder I laid
a foundation, but someone else builds on it. And each one must be careful how he
builds. For no one can lay any foundation other than what is being laid, which
is Jesus Christ. If anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious
stones, wood, hay, or straw, each builder's work will be plainly seen, for the
Day will make it clear, because it will be revealed by fire. And the fire will
test what kind of work each has done. If what someone has built survives, he
will receive a reward. If someone's work is burned up, he will suffer loss. He
himself will be saved, but only as through fire.
If
your foundation is your favorite pastor you will fall. If you build on your
denomination or brand of non-denomination it will not stand. If it is your
worship style or church rules or unwritten code of what it means to be
"Christian" it will not stand the test of time. You cannot build on
membership; baptism; communion; prayer; tithing or anything like them and expect
to stay standing.
Jesus
the Christ is the only foundation.
Until
next time, may you build on Christ and Christ alone.
Blessings
to you!
Darrel
Mason