In order for Christ to build us up in his image, he’s got to have a sturdy foundation.
This is why Jesus gave us his eternal word. It’s upon his teachings that we can safely place our lives, and remain secure.
Jesus’ word is the seed the springs to life in those who trust in him with their whole heart. The fruit it bears being love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self - control. Against such, there is no law.
After we have given our lives to the Lord, and established our trust in him, he can begin building up his house.
Don’t we know that we are the temples of the Holy Spirit, and that our lives are not our own? If God plans to dwell within us, he’s going to make some changes.
He knocks down the walls of self righteousness and pride, and instead builds up walls of virtue and peace. He rips of the floor boards of lust and replaces them with love and respect for others. He replaces laziness with ambition, and willful ignorance with a search for knowledge.
As we continue in our walk with God, more virtuous attributes are out in place.
2 Peter 1:5-7, “For this reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self - control, and self - control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love”.
All of these characteristics, the fruits of the Christian life, are built in the solid foundation of Christ’s word. When the storms of life hit, we remain calm, for our foundation is steadfast, and won’t fail us.
However, if we build our houses on the sand, it’ll be utterly scorned.
If we build our lives on the pleasure of this world, and try to find meaning in a world that is passing away, then so will our houses. The storms of life will come, and everything we’ve built will be knocked down. Not only that, but our efforts will be proven meaningless when Christ returns, and we aren’t ready to meant him.
Instead of building our lives on the things of this world, Christ calls us to let him build up our lives in his image.
Instead of focusing on ourselves, we are called to something bigger and more purposeful: a kingdom where all are welcome. It’s a place where God’s love is a light to all, and sin has been eternally defeated. It’s a place of oneness with the Lord, and always being in his glorious presence. It’s a world where we share in the glory of God who called us out our darkness and into his marvelous light.
But this will not happen for us if we continue to find our identity in the things of this world. We must replace our foundations of sand and replace them with foundations of solid rock. Then, we must let the artist do his work.
God bless, Jesus loves you ✝️❤️
