Psalm 127:1 “Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it: ….”
There is an addition being put on to the house of one of our members, all done with the proper plans and permits with no clandestine “bootlegging” in the works, so we can talk about the project openly. The building needs to be built right!
Because this is not brand new construction, some stuff has to be torn down. Old foundations must be jackhammered out, prior walls have to be torn down, and all of that disposed of. Then there are footings to be poured, which means digging must be done. After this comes the framers, the roofers, and all of the interior work, … and if you don’t already know where I’m going with this, you probably need more sleep!
As Christians, Galatians 6:10 refers to us as being of the “household of faith” and our bodies are referred to as (2 Corinthians 5:1) “our earthly house.” That being the case, we must have the proper foundation, and 1 Corinthians 3:11 tells us that “…other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.” and Matthew “nails it down” by saying that a wise man builds his house on a rock which can and will withstand the rains, and the winds, and the floods of this life. Only a fool dismisses this wisdom, as Psalm 11:3 puts this truth in the form of a rhetorical question, “If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do?”
And then come the framers. The Bible says something about that too in 1 Corinthians 3:12-13 “Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is.” Some parts of the frame call for 2 x 4’s while others may require 2 x 6’s or even 4 x 12’s, and it has to be put together by what Paul calls in 1 Corinthians 3:10 “a wise masterbuilder” saying “I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon.”
Naturally, even when it comes to the roof, God has his own set of plans and architectural drawings, saying (Deuteronomy 22:8) “When thou buildest a new house, then thou shalt make a battlement for thy roof, that thou bring not blood upon thine house, if any man fall from thence.” Safety is always a major concern with God, whose planning department specs He personally placed in His manual! And when the foundation is completed, when the framers are done, when the roof is on, there is still interior work to be done, and you want that to be appropriate (2 Timothy 2:20) “But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour.” We don’t want just a nice exterior for our earthly tabernacles; we want the inside to match the outside lest we be found hypocrites, so we ask the Holy Ghost to be our Interior Decorator, and all is beautiful!! The refuse from the project? The “roll away” should be in place today, because (2 Timothy 2:21) “If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work.” Throw all the junk from the old man into that “roll away dumpster”!
2 Corinthians 5:17 “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” (2 Corinthians 5:17). And whether we’re in a physical construction project or not, each of us is continually in a spiritual construction process, for we, like Abraham, look “for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.” Hebrews 11:10.
Keep it up, Buzz & Melissa (& Jerry IV)
Love and Prayers to you all,
Pastor
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