Photo by Andy Quaeda on Unsplash
My dad worked in construction, building bridges, houses, and high-rise buildings. I remember being on the job site with him as his crew prepared the framing for the foundation of a footer for a bridge crossing the St. John’s River in Jacksonville, FL.
I remember him telling me that this was the most critical part of the bridge because, without a solid foundation, it would crumble and injure or kill a lot of people.
I remember how meticulously he measured and secured the framing and the rebar (metal bars), ensuring everything was according to the specifications.
It has been many years since I last crossed that bridge, but I have not seen any news about it collapsing.
I was reminded of this recently while reading the Old Testament book of Proverbs.
“To make sure your foundation is trust in God, I’m laying it all out right now just for you.”
Proverbs 22:19 The Message
As a Christ-follower, it is essential to have a strong foundation on which to build a life of faith and hope in God.
In his teaching, commonly known as the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus tells the story of two housebuilders.
One house was built on rock—a solid foundation—and the other on sand—no foundation at all.
In both instances, bad weather comes because bad weather always comes in life. One house stood up the storm, while the other was destroyed.
It doesn’t take rocket science to determine which house stood and which fell.
The rock house had a solid foundation, and the sand house did not.
The Apostle Paul says a lot about foundations in his teachings.
In his first letter to the Christ-followers in Corinth, he says,
“Using the gift God gave me as a good architect, I designed blueprints; Apollos is putting up the walls. Let each carpenter who comes on the job take care to build on the foundation!
Remember, there is only one foundation, the one already laid: Jesus Christ.
Take particular care in picking out your building materials.”
I Corinthians 3:10-12 The Message
The apostle is saying the same thing that Jesus said but paints a different picture. He cautions us to take “particular care” when choosing our building materials.
Like the one builder in Jesus’ story who took particular care to build on the rock, we are to do the same.
The Apostle Paul says the foundation is Christ, and Jesus says to be careful to build on the correct foundation.
In another place, the Apostle Paul says that we are building on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Jesus being the cornerstone (Eph. 2:20).
The wisdom of Solomon (the writer of the book of Proverbs) says the foundation is trust in God.
Consider how significant this is.
How do you follow a God that you have never seen or heard? The more significant question is, why would you follow that God?
The answers to these questions could vary as the people answering them, but the short answer is trust. You follow a God you have never seen or heard because you trust the things you have been told by those who came before you.
In our case (in the 21st century), it is the combined trust of millions of people who have gone before us, which leads back to the apostles and prophets who prophecied about and lived with Jesus.
Using the foundation story about my dad, these people (apostles, prophets, and people in your life) represent the rebar used in setting the foundation. They are strategically placed to provide you with the maximum support that ensures your foundation is solid.
What is trust?
Trust is hope that is based on a belief.
In this case, trust is in those who have gone before us, both currently and in the past—as far back as the biblical characters we hold in reverence.
We believe in their stories and trust that they are true.
This trust becomes the foundation on which Christ-followers stand in a post-modern world. It is the hope we hold close to our hearts because:
- Our personal experiences align with the Word of God and settle the issue in our hearts.
- The experiences of those in our community who, by their stories, affirm our belief.
- The hope is that our commitment to Jesus will keep us protected as the world grows darker.
Consider it this way:
We trust because we hope and believe in the Word of God and the God of the World.
A close personal relationship with the Godhead provides you a living hope. It is a living anticipation full of expectation of something good happening.
A close personal relationship with the Godhead is a journey. I invite you to follow along. As I learn, I will pass it along so you, too, can learn. I hope that as you learn, you can pass it along so that I (and others) might learn.
You must be logged in to post a comment.