Built In A Hurry.

Many years ago I worked on building site which was building high-end houses. Very expensive, very large and fitted out with all the latest materials. A certain customer walked into the company’s offices one day and asked to see a plan of the new house being built. The builder showed him the plans which showed the various road layouts and where each house would be built on each road.

The customer pointed to one of the buildings and said that he wanted to buy that particular house and that he wanted construction to start on it right away. The house couldn’t be built right away as the roadway hadn’t been constructed nor any of the other dwellings built yet. The customer said that he had the cash and that he could pay in full right away.

And so the builder started work. The roadway was laid first and the various water, electrical and communication cables were all laid. Within a few days the roadway was built and the ground site cleared to start laying the foundations. After they were layed then everything started to quicken up so as to get the house built. My problem with the whole scenario was that everything was happening too quickly. No time was given for foundations to settle in nor concrete to fully harden before the next trades were onto the site and starting their work. Since my particular role was done near the end of the building work by the time we got into the house there was all sorts of problems that we had to work around.

Needless to say, about six minths later little faults started to appear within the house. Cracks started to appear along the wall, doors started to creak and condensation started to get into areas of this brand new house.

I never did find out what happened in the end for my time with that company had came to an end and I moved to other work.

This memory reminded me of the time that I got into a conversation with a guy about church, faith and other things. His words to me made me decide that I didn’t want to carry on the conversation any longer. He said to me, “I don’t mind christians but I really hate fundamentalists”. Now, he was from one of the more liberal, easy-going denominations and to him a  “fundamentalist” meant a bible believing and gospel preaching christian.

I had to totally disagree with his viewpoint for, to me, the Bible is the very foundation of my faith.

I guy that I had worked with in another factory decided that he was going to take over a small church that needed a preacher. This guy wasn’t saved for very long and he hadn’t had time to learn about Jesus and for other christians to teach him about God’s Word and to learn how to present biblcal teachings to other people. He had no biblcal training, discipleship, nor mentor training. Needless to say that little church didn’t last too long and closed soon afterwards.

I compare this with another man I knew many years ago who ran a little mission hall in a busy community area. His was just a small simple gospel preaching hall with plenty of gospel hymn singing. He didn’t try to be too clever. He just preached God’s gospel and led the people in hymn singing. That small hall was filled each week.

The point I want to share about these people that I have mentioned is the difference in “foundation teaching”. It really is of the utmost importance to have a good grounding, or base point, with which to build your faith on. Consider ….

Psalm Ch11 (3)If the foundations are destroyed, What can the righteous do?

The Book of Genesis is a book of foundations. The book can be divided into two sections based firstly around four events and then four people. The first four events between Chapters 1 to 12 cover the creation, the fall of man, the flood and the forming of the nations. The second section from chapters 12 to 50 cover the lives of four people. Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and Joseph. (Source listed below).

And it is on the foundation of this bible that all of Israel and Christ’s church will be built. Consider the words of the apostle Paul in his letter to the christians at Corinth…

1st Corinthians Ch3 (10)According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I have laid the foundation, and another builds on it. But let each one take heed how he builds on it. (11)For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.

Although I have spoken mostly about the Bible and Jesus as being our foundation. There is another aspect which I would like to draw our attention to. And that is that we should not build things too quickly. One of the Psalmists says….

Psalm Ch46 (10)Be still, and know that I am God;

And Jesus’ words as written in the Gospel….

Mark Ch6 (31)And He said to them, "Come aside by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while."

This is one of the main ingredients in God’s love and work. He wants us to take time and rest. He wants us to take the time to pray to him and read His word. Slowly. And often. And not to be like those who rush through everything.

The Prophet Isaiah tells us….

Isaiah Ch40 (31)But those who wait on the LORD Shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint

As the old Gospel song says, “Take time out for jesus. He took time for you”.

Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine!
Oh, what a foretaste of glory divine!
Heir of salvation, purchase of God,
born of his Spirit, washed in his blood.

This is my story, this is my song,
Praising my Saviour all the day long.
This is my story, this is my song,
Praising my Saviour all the day long.

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(Source:-The Complete Book of Bibles, Maps and Charts, Nelson).