What is a foundation? The foundation of a building is the element that CONNECTS IT TO THE GROUND. It’s located at the very bottom of the construction, in direct contact with the soil, and acts to transfer loads safely from the building to the ground. Foundations provide STRUCTURAL STABILITY AND SUPPORT to the building.
So, Can You Build a House Without a Foundation? The simple answer is that of course, you can — as long as you DON’T NEED IT TO STAND FOR LONG. Historically, houses without foundations have tended to be simple affairs, built around an earth floor, which WEREN’T DESIGNED TO LAST.
Our foundation as a Christian, “For no other FOUNDATION can anyone lay than that which is laid, WHICH IS JESUS CHRIST.” (1 Corinthians 3:11) And then Paul tells Timothy, “…from childhood you have KNOWN (eidō: to turn the eyes, the mind, the attention to understanding) the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you WISE for salvation THROUGH FAITH which is in Christ Jesus.” (2 Timothy 3:15) SO, WHY IS FAITH IMPORTANT? “…without faith IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO PLEASE GOD, because anyone who comes to Him MUST BELIEVE that HE EXISTS and that HE REWARDS those who EARNESTLY SEEK HIM.” (Hebrews 11:6)
How can we INCREASE our faith? “…faith comes from HEARING, and hearing through THE WORD OF CHRIST.” (Romans 10:17) How does the Word of God increase our faith? God’s Word is very unique in that it is “LIVING” how can it be alive? “…THE WORD OF GOD is LIVING (zaō: having vital power in itself) …” (Hebrews 4:12) Here is why it is so unique, “I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called FAITHFUL AND TRUE (this is Jesus Christ)…and His name is called THE WORD OF GOD.” (Revelation 19:11, 13) “In the beginning was the WORD, and the WORD was with God, and the WORD was God (Jesus is God the Son)…And the WORD became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the ONLY BEGOTTEN of the Father, full of grace and truth.” (John 1:1, 14)
Remember how the Bible says, “God said, “Let there be light”; and there was light.” (Genesis 1:3) When “God said”, out of His mouth came THE WORD OF GOD! Now, how do we know this? “We give thanks to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ…He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For BY HIM (Jesus THE WORD OF GOD) all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created by Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and IN HIM ALL THINGS CONSIST.” (Colossians 1:3,15-17)
One more miraculous fact about the Bible, “All Scripture is GOD–BREATHED (theopneustos: God’s breath) and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be THOROUGHLY EQUIPPED for every good work.” (2 Timothy 3:16-17)
Jesus explained it with this illustration, “Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and DO NOT DO WHAT I SAY? As for everyone who comes to me and HEARS my words and PUTS THEM INTO PRACTICE, I will show you what they are like. They are like a man building a house, who DUG DOWN DEEP and LAID THE FOUNDATION ON ROCK. When a flood came, the violent flow struck that house but could not shake it, because it was FOUNDED ON THE ROCK. But the one who hears my words and does not put them into practice is like a man who built a house on the ground WITHOUT A FOUNDATION. The moment the violent flow struck that house, IT COLLAPSED, and its destruction was complete.” (Luke 6:46-49)
HEARING AND DOING THE WORD OF GOD SO VERY CRITICAL IN OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH THE LORD.
Your Personal Pastor -Bill Stockham