FIRST THINGS FIRST
Throughout his teaching ministry, Jesus repeatedly stressed the importance of building solid foundations for the Christian life. Without them, faith never grows strong. In the gospel of Luke, Jesus said,
"I will show you what it’s like when someone comes to me, listens to my teaching, and then follows it. It is like a person building a house who digs deep and lays the foundation on solid rock. When the floodwaters rise and break against that house, it stands firm because it is well built. But anyone who hears and doesn’t obey is like a person who builds a house right on the ground, without a foundation. When the floods sweep down against that house, it will collapse into a heap of ruins.”
We can take several things away from this anecdote.
1. Jesus’ teachings are the building materials that create proper foundations.
2. Lives built without biblical foundations will not survive the challenges followers of Christ face daily.
3. Hearing and obeying Christ’s words is the labor required.
Success in the Christian life comes only through establishing a solid foundation. Without it, all our efforts will fail despite good intentions. In the natural world, creating the foundation of a building is the most critical phase.
First, it must be deep enough to overcome changes in temperature, such as frost, which can cause the earth to heave. Second, the foundation must be stable and thick enough to support each successive floor. This is why contractors reinforce concrete with steel rods to ensure stability.
Finally, foundations must be straight, or everything built above it will be crooked and unsteady. If one corner of the foundation is off by as little as an inch, the entire structure can become uneven by several feet! This means windows, doors, and floors won’t fit properly and can become unusable over time.
By design, foundations are not particularly attractive or noticeable. People don’t compliment the foundation of a house or building, but everything built above it. We tend to ignore foundations because they are not visually appealing. However, they are essential to the success of any structure.
Pyrrhotite is not a word most people ever heard of before. In the state where I reside, thousands of people know that word very well. During the late nineteen eighties and early nineties, pyrrhotite found its way into the concrete used by a major cement company. Approximately thirty-five thousand houses were built using cement containing this element.
At the time of this writing, every house's foundation with pyrrhotite is crumbling and must be replaced at an astronomical cost. Without going into all the details, our state's residents now pay twelve dollars extra each year hidden within their homeowner's insurance to pay for the enormous cost of replacing these foundations.
Similarly, many Christians build their lives on faulty foundations. They mix truth with unbiblical philosophies that do not originate from God. Unless they abandon these ideas, their foundations will crumble over time. Laying the proper foundation for your life in Christ is paramount.
SIX FOUNDATION STONES
In New Testament times, large stones were used in foundations. Typically the builders used mortar to bind the stones together. When speaking with the Hebrew Christians, Paul used this metaphor when addressing spiritual immaturity. He said,
"There is much more we would like to say about this, but it is difficult to explain, especially since you are spiritually dull and don’t seem to listen. You have been believers so long now that you ought to be teaching others. Instead, you need someone to teach you again the basic things about God’s word. You are like babies who need milk and cannot eat solid food."
These believers failed to grow up and become spiritual adults despite many years of church attendance. They continued to behave like babes in the faith, incapable of progressing to spiritual maturity or training others.
At the beginning of the next chapter, Paul lays out six stones essential to every Christian's spiritual development. These stones (or principles) establish the foundation to build a useful Christian life. Chapter six begins with these words:
"Therefore, leaving the discussion of the elementary principles of Christ, let us go on to [maturity]." In the next verse, he identifies six foundation stones that must be established to grow up spiritually. They are:
Repentance Faith Toward God
Baptisms
Laying on of Hands
The Resurrection of the Dead
Eternal Judgment
Each stone unites with the others to form the proper foundation for the Christian life. Without them, a Christ-follower will eventually fail to overcome the stresses that inevitably come from standing for righteousness.
I have known many fellow Christians for more than four decades as a minister. Some began with great excitement but eventually turned back and no longer follow Jesus. Others began less dramatically but failed to build a good foundation. During times of testing, I watched as they chose the comforts of this life over the promises of eternity.
If you are serious about your walk with God and desire to become all that He planned for you in this life, it is time to choose. To develop a strong relationship with Christ and receive his eternal rewards, the principles you will learn about in this book are vital.
Each chapter clarifies truths that help you form a solid footing for your walk with Christ. As you study each foundational element, take time to answer the questions and discuss them with another believer or in a group setting.
As we begin, I make two underlying assumptions. First, you have met Jesus Christ and become born again by turning away from your sins and inviting Him into your heart, and second, you have committed to becoming a disciple (disciplined student) of Christ. This means:
1. You set a time each day to read the Bible.
2. You speak with God each day and listen for inspiration.
3. Finally, you devote yourself weekly to a local church and volunteer to serve.
Now that you understand the importance of foundations, let’s get started. Each of the following chapters ends with a series of questions for personal or group study.
