“I was walking in that neighborhood right off of Main Street between Sixth and Tenth Avenues the other day,” I commented, “and I saw something I wonder if you know about.”
“What’s that? Stan replied.
“Right in the middle of one of the blocks between two really nice looking houses there’s a vacant lot with just a foundation on it. Do you know anything about that?”
“Well,” Stan said, “that’s the old Wilson place. I don’t know the whole story, but I’ve been told that William Wilson owns that lot and he had intended to build a house, but something happened after he got the foundation laid. I don’t know what that ‘something’ was, but he never built the house.”
“Do you know if he still lives around here?” I asked.
“I heard that he moved away right after the ‘something’ happened and that he hasn’t been back for years.”
“Kind of a mystery,” I commented.
“It is,” Stan replied. “Not unlike a lot of Christians I have observed over the years.”
“In what way?” I asked.
“Starting with the foundation of Christ in their lives, never building on that foundation, and eventually moving someplace else.”
Continuing, Stan added, “The apostle Paul wrote about this in his first letter to the church in Corinth. That’s the same letter that he wrote to me and to each one of us. He wrote about the importance of building on the foundation of Christ, not just lay the foundation and then do nothing about it.”
“Building, like in being a disciple?” I asked. “Not getting stuck on conversion? Is that the kind of building you’re talking about?”
“That’s it,” Stan replied, “but it’s not just me talking, it’s what God is talking about in His word that He had the apostle Paul write for us. Don’t stop with laying the foundation. Go on and build what it is God has for us to build. Build with the steps of discipleship while pursuing the eternal life of knowing God the Father and His Son who is the foundation.”
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Bible verses to consider:
According to the grace of God which was given to me, like a wise master builder I laid a foundation, and another is building on it. But each man must be careful how he builds on it. For no man can lay a foundation other than the one which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians 3:10-11.
This is eternal life, that they may know Thee, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you hast sent. John 17:3.
Prayer: Thank you, Father, for your provision of Jesus Christ as the foundation for all I need, both for life eternally with you when it’s time, as well as the eternal life of knowing you and Jesus on this side of eternity. I confess that too often I choose to not build on the foundation of Jesus because I choose to build something else. Please forgive me. And please help me in following the steps of your lead into an ever-closer and ever-deepening relationship with you built on the foundation of Jesus. Thank you I can and do bring these prayers before you in His wonderful and precious name. Amen.
Think on this: Have you accepted the free and gracious gift of the foundation of Jesus Christ so you have the assurance of salvation and redemption? If no, why? If you have that assurance, how are you doing with building on that foundation? As well as you would like? As well as God would like? If you sense the need to build on the foundation of Jesus in ways you have not, do you know how that can happen? Would you like that? Why or why not?
Waiting for the Train 