Fractured Foundations

In Psalm 11:3, David asks the question, "If the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do?"  David draws on an analogy in the physical realm to depict a particular spiritual concern that he had.  If the failure of the building's physical foundation spells the end of the entire building, the failure of God's people to maintain the foundation of truth means disaster for their spiritual health and well-being.  Did you catch that?  God's people must maintain the foundation of truth.  

       Just like physical buildings, the totality of our lives and destinies are being built day by day by our actions and decisions. Wisdom requires therefore that we pay great attention to the foundations upon which we build our lives and destinies. A lot of believers are going through very difficult moments and needless pain all because they have built their lives on faulty foundations. So many marriages are hitting the rocks because they were not established on sure foundation. Many destinies are being destroyed because believers are not willing to take the pains of laying firm foundations. A lot of believers just want to have the desires of their hearts by all means – including ungodly and crooked means. How many believers have joined the world in falsifying traveling documents just to travel or work abroad? How many denominations and ministries have started out on foundations of lies, deceits, love of money and fame, rather than genuine love for God and His kingdom? How many business ventures involving believers are built on fraudulent foundations? Or is God not part of our business ventures? How many courtships and relationships are built on questionable foundations?  The list of questions could go on and on.

       This is an appropriate place to start the dissection of what we believe and why we believe it because if our foundation is not impervious, then no conversation we have after this will matter.  There is a moment in the Bible when Jesus asks His disciples a very controversial question it seems.  In Matthew 16, Jesus asks them, "Who do men say that I am?"  They take turns giving answers, "some say you're John the Baptist, some Elijah, and some Jeremiah or one of the prophets."  Basically what the disciples are saying is, "they really have no idea who you are."  Then Jesus turns the question on them.  "Who do you say that I am?"  Simon answers first, "you are the Christ, the Son of the Living God."  Jesus immediately tells Simon that flesh and blood did not reveal it to him but His Father, who is in Heaven.  Then he renames him, Peter, and states that "on this rock, I will build my church."  Many believers think that Jesus just gave Peter a promotion for getting a question correct, that Jesus named Peter as the foundation of the church.  Knowing who Jesus is, does that really sound like something He would do?  Make Peter the foundation for His own church?  Well, the Catholics seem to think so since they claim that from that encounter Peter became the first Pope.  I disagree.  What then was Jesus naming as the foundation of His church?  What about the statement that Peter had just given.  "You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God."  Now, that sounds like a strong foundation.  It also makes more sense when Jesus proclaims that the gates of Hell will not prevail against it.  So, that means that Jesus is the foundation of His own church!  That seems like such a simple statement, but so many have built the foundations of their beliefs on anything but Jesus.

       Now, there is another statement that Jesus makes in these verses that I want to talk about as well.  This one goes out to all the church leadership...apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers.  So many are striving to build big, strong, financially stable churches.  But Jesus says, "I WILL build MY church."  Who does the "I" refer too?  Jesus.  Who does the MY refer too?  Jesus.  So, where is your name?  That's right, it isn't there because it's not your church and it's not your responsibility.  Jesus will build it for you.  Furthermore, He proclaims that He WILL.  He doesn't say that me might...he says that He will.  How many church leaders suffer from anxiety and stress because of the responsibility they feel to push numbers for church growth and to make sure they bring in more money than they did the week before?  If you were truly trusting in the Lord to build His church, then the members and the money would be there, wouldn't it?    

       So, let us examine what we have laid as the foundations of our beliefs.  If it is anything but the Lordship of Jesus Christ and His relationship to the Father as a son, then it is fractured and needs to be repaired and the only way to do that is to start believing the truth and making choices and decisions based on that truth.  It may be a painful process and take some time, but it will be worth it in the end when God is moving in your life and He is building what you have spent your whole life striving to build.  Life and ministry are supposed to be enjoyed.  The Father would prefer that you live life and ministry simultaneously.  They should be one and the same.

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