By Dan L. Cox
Only what is from God and has His blessing is truly valuable in life; conversely, if God is not in your lives, activities, goals and families, then all is in vain and will end in frustration and disappointment. Thus, we should seek God’s blessing and guidance in all things from the very beginning of our lives.
The foundation of God’s throne is righteousness and justice. Everything that is built needs a foundation if it is going to last. Houses, office buildings, or tool sheds in the backyard, all needs a good foundation. Marriages that are built on a foundation of trust, respect, and love that will last for a lifetime.
Matthew 7:24-27 tells us to build your house on the rock. Jesus is the “Rock.” To build on the Rock means to walk in His ways, to obey Him, and to be a disciple. Multitudes have acknowledged Jesus as their Savior, but their foundation is cracked because they are still choosing to build on sand. Sand would represent the shaky system of this world. If you tried to build a house with no foundation, every board you put in place would fall down. You might prop some boards up for a while against something else, but a little shaking or wind, and it will fall over. Many are “propped up” in their relationship with Jesus Christ through excessive leaning on someone else they think is strong.
I Peter 5 :5-7 tells us, trust is a foundation. God won’t allow us to succeed until we lean entirely on Him. We need to get excited about the foundation. In the book of Ezra 3:10-12, they greatly rejoiced when the foundation was laid. When you build a home, you don’t stand in the yard and rejoice over the basement; you rejoice over the foundation, because the house won’t stand without a firm foundation.
God made some decisions about the world before He began moving forward in the plan. Ephesians I :4-5: “He has chosen us before the foundation of the world…” Revelation 13:8: “Lamb slain before the foundation of the world.” Almighty God made some decisions before He even laid the foundation of the world. He already knew what would happen concerning the fall when He created man. He already decided that no matter what it took (or how long it took) He would have a people He could fellowship with – who would worship Him, and He could shower blessings upon. Setting your mind ahead of time is the only way to have a success.
Luke 14:28-30 tells us that we need to count the cost before you start to build or we will be unable to finish. A book on foundations for believers probably would not sell very well- nobody wants to take time to read how to build a good foundation. Most people do not like to read instructions, multitudes of believers try to be victorious in life, and they don’t even read the instruction book (God’s Word). We need to count the cost of building our life on a solid rock foundation.
Repentance is a foundational thing (Hebrews 6:1-2). John came to preach the baptism of repentance for remission of sins (Mark 1:4). The foundation of the New Testament Church was built on repentance (Acts 2:38). It is God’s will that all should come to repentance and that none would perish (II Peter 3:9).
We cannot build a foundation of dead works of the flesh (dependence on the flesh)? (Galatians 3:1-3). He saved us and called us – not according to works, but by grace (II Timothy 1 :9).
It is fine to build a house of prosperity.
But, if we don’t use what we have to help others by becoming greedy and selfish, we have cracked our foundation and the prosperity will leak out.
I encourage you to inspect your foundation for cracks, and systematically get them fixed – no matter what it costs. Let God fix your foundation if it needs repaired. Build your life upon the foundation that God has laid for you, and you will be successful with it standing against the storms of life.
Rev. Dan L. Cox is the Pastor of the United Pentecostal Church in Warsaw, Indiana, Presbyter of Section One, and Editor of the Indiana Apostolic Trumpet.
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