UPON THIS ROCK

The most familiar use of this phrase in scriptures I think would be in reference to the Apostle Peter and his confession regarding Jesus as the Christ. And as a foundation for the Christian can there be any more important or solid foundation that to acknowledge him as Lord and Savior?

But how often do we end up building some other house of belief on that foundation till it is no longer what people see? It is hard to avoid that terrible reality in this day and age when the church is so consumed with trying to offer up some magnet of teaching to draw as many people as possible.

There is admittedly more to the faith that just John 3:16. For Christianity is in part something that should touch all aspects of life. Not necessarily as a means of change. But something that affects us just the same.

Hopefully though in the quest for understanding and seeking God we don’t forget or lose sight of the foundation. And that we build our Christianity in a way that is support by this basic fact instead of resisting it or trying to paint over it with something that we think is more attractive or appealing or that will be less offensive to those who aren’t yet saved.

Sometimes when that edifice of traditions and teachings gets too tall and it completely makes one lose sight of the foundation I think God has a way of sending an earthquake to force us to go back and rebuild. It may not be that our edifice was all bad, just that it was giving people the wrong understanding of what Christianity is truly suppose to be about, which is Jesus.

However if we have in one way or another used the wrong timber for our building and it for one reason or another collapses, gritting one’s teeth and building it the same way a second time will not improve the problem. It just ends up carrying the risk of God once gain having to send an earthquake.

I have seen the sad times when people were so proud of their edifice and wouldn’t even dare think of tearing it down. It is THEIR creation. They are the product of their hands, their labor and their reason to boast. You’ll never hear the words, God did this. It is always I did this! One can only appreciate how the foundation of Jesus definitely was carpeted over by their ego and they have no intention of you seeing Christ instead of their carpet.

In such situations if the heart is corrupted and will never respond if the Lord were to shake the foundations then he not bother with the earthquake. The building may even get expanded and improved and the people will regard it as a sign of Lord’s approval.

Thus is the lie that adds to the structure. One that becomes a sad form of cement to hold together what truth would cause to decay.

May God grant us all the wisdom to never forget what rock is the real foundation of our faith. And the wisdom to rebuild when we do forget.