2006-03-24 - Wise and Foolish Believers

Part 1

The Scripture Reading today is from Matthew 7:24-27.

Matthew 7:24 "So then, everyone who hears my words and puts them into practice is like a wise man. He builds his house on the rock. ²⁵ The rain comes down. The water rises. The winds blow and beat against that house. But it does not fall. It is built on the rock. ²⁶ "But everyone who hears my words and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man. He builds his house on sand. ²⁷ The rain comes down. The water rises. The winds blow and beat against that house. And it falls with a loud crash." (NIRV)

Hey Friends,

Today, I would like to share a story with you about a foundation. Our church's building is about 20 years old, and the sanctuary is on the second floor. About a year ago, we got a donation of wood to redo our stage, and we received volunteer support from members of a church in Alabama that were in town for Vacation Bible School and street witnessing in the city.

We had our first Christmas musical on the stage in December. The stage already seemed flimsy when people were walking across it. With the large number of people on the stage, it only got worse.

We planned to redo the surface of the stage and put a laminated surface on top. After a recent prayer service, we pulled up the plywood (particleboard), to see what we needed to do to level the surface and remove the "squeaks" and the "creeks". We figured that we would just "sweep" up a little bit.

After removing the surface of the stage, we found that the old stage was still below the new stage. In many places, the new stage was not even secured to anything but to itself. It was mostly lying on the surface of the other.

Along the back of the stage, close to the wall, there was a section that was supported only with horizontal 2"x 4" boards set at about 16 inches apart, whereas the rest of the boards were 2" by 6"s. Many of the 2"x 4" boards were cracked. In other places, we had cut boards too short, and they didn't reach the distance they were supposed to reach. Some boards were nailed in crooked.

We originally thought that we were going to "sweep" up a little. But we found out that our foundation was completely bad. This brought to mind the idea of building upon a firm foundation. It was no wonder that the stage had the "squeaks", the "creeks" and needed more than the "sweeps."

We made the wise decision that we are going to completely remove the stage and start anew. We're going to build on a Firm Foundation. The next plan was to put our feet on solid ground, literally, as we removed the rest of the stage down to the bare floor. Eventually, we will have the stage floor rebuilt on a firm foundation that will be safe for all people.

We have since completely replaced the stage foundation and the floor which is a really nice wood laminate. So now, it's time to celebrate and worship Jesus as a corporate body, and we celebrate on a firm foundation.

That is a physical foundation. Now I want to address your spiritual foundation.

Are you on a firm spiritual foundation? Do you know beyond a shadow of a doubt, that if you died right now, that your life is secured in Heaven?

If you can't say, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that your life has been secured in Heaven and you are just hoping that you will make it there, would you like to have the assurance of salvation that comes from Jesus Christ in your life today?

In Christ,
Rob

CFDRobw@aol.com
http://www.cfdevotionals.org