I live in a city where there is a lot of development taking place. Every day you can drive around and see homes, apartment buildings, stores and schools being built. On one hand it is exciting to see growth and on the other hand it is difficult to maneuver and frustrating because I know with physical development comes more traffic. As I watch all this building I have thought about foundations. Have you given much thought to the foundation of your home? I must admit that it is not on my mind. I take it for granted that everything is fine. I have recently started selling real estate. I know that foundation issues can sink a deal faster than almost anything. No one wants to buy a property and then put thousands of dollars into repairing a foundation issue. Sadly, a personal foundational issue has sunk many relationships also. Who or what our foundation is built on matters a great deal.
Why is a good foundation imperative to a sustainable building? According to Max Alexander of This Old House, “a proper foundation does more than just hold a house above ground. Building foundations also keep out moisture, insulates against the cold, and resists movement of the earth around it. Oh, and one more thing: it should last forever.” We know from Ephesians 2:20 that we are members of God’s household built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. He is a firm foundation, the rock on which we stand. What a beautiful picture of what Christ does for us. If we build on Christ, who he is and who he says we are, we are insulated from rot and ruin of eternal damnation. We can resist collapsing because of the wayward world we live in, and we live forever in heaven with the Son and the Father if we have accepted Jesus as our Savior.
There is a lot of work that goes into preparing a foundation before you can build on it. Much of this work is done behind the scenes. If you watch a construction project, you will see the excavation equipment first. As you drive by, you may wonder what is going to be built. Over time you see concrete with pipes sticking out. I have never noticed the drainpipes and waterproofing, but these are vital steps to a secure foundation. Finally, you will see a concrete slab ready for framing. The foundation has been carefully designed by the engineer to sustain the architectural design. Much like God carefully prepares our security to sustain the work he has called us to do. God knows exactly where to place every pipe, moisture barrier, and piece of gravel so we build on him to reflect his glory to a hurting world in need of a Savior.
How do we lay the groundwork to prepare our spiritual foundation? We know that God has great plans for us (Jer 29 :11). But we must be willing to do the work to prepare ourselves to display his great vision for our good and his glory. We must read the Bible, pray, worship, grow in our faith journey by trusting God. These habits will lay the groundwork for a stable foundation rooted in Jesus as the cornerstone. We must dig deep and develop faith so our foundation can mature. We must also be careful to avoid spiritual foundation problems. Build on Jesus to avoid giving into your sinful nature. Galatians 5:19 lists these characteristics. Also, avoid giving into temptations of the flesh, negativity, giving into fear, jealousy, or anxiety. It is far better to build on Jesus and the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5: 22-23).
The most famous example of building on a poor foundation is the Leaning Tower of Pisa. The tower was built on soft ground and with the uneven settling of the foundation, the structure began to lean. Efforts have been made over the years to try to reinforce it, but for many years it remained in danger of collapse. Engineers worked for years to level it up and finally in 2008 sensors showed it was now stable, and expected to remain stable for several hundred years. This is an extreme example of what happens with a building built on the wrong foundation. You need to be equally careful what you build your life on to avoid catastrophic collapse.
I have mentioned previously about changes occurring in my life. These along with feeling alone have threatened to blow me off course. Recently, I thought about the song I sang in VBS many years ago, about the house built on the sand or the house built on a solid rock. As a child the depth of this song was lost on me. As an adult, I realized that even though I feel tossed and knocked around by life, I am still standing. Only one reason can be found and that is because I built my house on rock. The winds and the storms of life come and blow, but I can still stand because my foundation is built in the rock of God.
A good foundation takes time to build; it can’t be rushed. Without a good foundation, whatever is built on it will not stand. People study for years on the proper depth to pour a foundation, what are the best materials for locations, what is needed to help buildings withstand hurricanes, weight of snow on roofs and other forces of nature. We also must spend time working on our foundation. Christ is the cornerstone on which we must build. If we do not start with Jesus, we are doomed to destruction. We live in a world full of storms, temptations, and trials designed to take our attention off God and onto ourselves and what we can control. We must build upon the rock of Jesus and keep our attention focused on him.
Why do some people seem to have peace in chaos? Why are they seemingly unaffected by trials? I believe it is because Jesus is the foundation of their life and where they find joy and peace. Jesus is faithful and will not let us down. Ever. By putting our faith in Jesus, we can be assured of peace if we let go and let him have his way. He is perfect and holds us perfectly. My problem comes to light when I want to control the situation, outcome, think my way is better, or I try to stand in my own authority or power. However, I will inevitably fail as I am not strong enough, in my own strength, to withstand the torrent of assault that will come my way. My life must be built on the loving savior and his absolute power and authority over everything on earth and heaven.
A good foundation provides stability to a structure. Storms may come and blow. The house shakes, windows rattle but you can still stand after the storm with Christ as the source of your foundation. Keeping Jesus as the foundation of my thoughts, actions, and attitudes, keeps the foundation of my life strong.
There will be various occurrences in life that have the potential to shake our foundations. We should strive to be like the wise man who built his house on the rock. “The rains came down and the floods came up, but the house on the Rock stood firm” (Ann Omley) The last verse of that song says, “So build your life on the Lord Jesus Christ, The blessings come down as your prayers go up, so build your life on the Lord.” What a great truth, taught to children but needed by everyone. Make Jesus the source of your foundation so you can stand firm.
Peace in the Desert 