Psalm 82:5 (NKJV)
They do not know, nor do they understand; they walk about in darkness; all the foundations of the earth are unstable.
Psalm 11:3 (NKJV)
If the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do?
These verses talk about foundations. A foundation is a substance on which you build a structure. The foundation actually supports the building. In fact, each part of the building depends on the foundation. If it has good, deep, sure foundations, the building will stand no matter what comes against it. If not, when trouble occurs the building will fall. As citizens of the Kingdom, our lives are spiritual structures. In Scripture, this structure is called `a temple of the Holy Spirit' (1 Corinthians 6:19), `God's temple' (1 Corinthians 3:16), `God's building' (1 Corinthians 3:9), and `a spiritual house' (1 Peter 2:5). This also can only be built up strong, tall and able to resist trouble if the foundations are properly laid.
But before we can talk about building anything we must first identify the best type of foundation for building on. To date, the best foundation of all for a building is bedrock. Other less stable layers such as gravel, sand, soil, clay and porous rock should be cut away so that a large structure can be built on bedrock. In our lives as Kingdom citizens it is the same. We should not build anything unless we found it on Jesus Christ. He is our rock (1 Corinthians 10:4) and we should do and build nothing that He isn't supporting. If we try to build something away from this truth, then the Day (the judgment day) will bring it to light, because all that we have built will be tested and we will only receive a reward for what survives (1 Corinthians 3:10-15). Jesus will support only what lie sees the Father doing (John 5:19). Therefore we must ask God the Father for His will for our lives and do only this. Then we will know that Jesus will be supporting it and we can begin to build.
Luke 6:46-49 gives us the option of building our lives on two foundations: Rock or Sand. These foundations represent Stability (Rock) or Instability (Sand). It is important to lay good foundations and if they are not properly laid in the beginning we run the risk of being like the foolish man who built his house on the sand. In this passage “Rock” represents Truth and “Sand” represents Opinions. Truth stands no matter what comes against it but opinions fail and falter with time. Jesus is saying that if you want to build on a good foundation, build on His words because His words are truth (John 17:17) and do not build on the opinions and theories of others. So many people, including many Christians, are building their lives on unstable foundations such as materialism, ambition, sport, education, philosophies, traditions of men, man's wisdom etc. The only stable bedrock foundation is the Lord Jesus Christ, who is the Living Word (the truth). After all, Jesus did say that He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life (John 14:6).
The foundations of our lives as Kingdom citizens are so important that it is impossible to go on to maturity without them. Jesus wants us to be mature as He and His Father are mature (Matthew 5:48) but if we will not lay the right foundations, God will not give us a 'building permit' to continue the building up of our spiritual house. So many Kingdom citizens are immature, even many that have been 'born again' for years. This is a tragedy because many of these people should now be teaching others or training their own disciples. Instead they are still like spiritual babies in Christ, still needing spiritual milk instead of solid food (Hebrews 5:11-14).
God wants us to lay the right foundations and then He will take us on from spiritual milk to more solid food so that we can grow in maturity in Him so that we can then go out and teach, edify and disciple others in the body of Christ. That is why it is important to lay a good foundation because the height that your future will reach tomorrow depends on the depth of your foundation today.
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Darren Wilson is an author, speaker, and entrepreneur based in Saint Martin. He is the author of several books including “Got Fruit?” that is available on Amazon and other major online book retailers. For more information, visit his website at www.darrenwilsonglobal.com or email him at info@darrenwilsonglobal.com.