Dundee Home Page
What you don’t see…
Recently, we have been getting some work done on the house. Things seemed to be fairly straightforward. The plans had been drawn up, submitted and approved. Load bearing walls had been identified and so it would be a simple task to add on the necessary structure to create an extra room. Or so it seemed.
Things turned out to be a bit different when the boarding was taken off one of the load-bearing walls. It turned out to be poorly specified and not fully up to the task. Extra work was required to support the roof while weak walls were replaced with a full load bearing structure.
Although the building had stood for many years since previous dormer extension work had been done, there was no doubt that the structure was not as robust as it should have been. Not only that, but on closer inspection, things did not lie as square as they should have done. Whether the structure would have withstood really severe weather conditions could be questioned.
What might we take from this little experience of life?
Seeing Things Differently
The first point could be “Don’t take things at face value, look beneath the surface.” In the real world, of course, that is almost impossible without the right tools. We are used to the idea of ultrasound, x-rays and CAT scans being used by doctors to look under the surface – tools which overcome the limitations of human vision. This makes me think of what was said to Samuel the priest when he was sent to identify the next king for Israel
But the LORD said to Samuel, "Do not look at his appearance or at the height of his stature, because I have refused him. For the LORD does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart."
1 Samuel 16:7
Clearly our insight is not the same as God’s. We need a tool to help us see more as God sees – we will not perceive to the same extent as God, but it will help us to see more from His point of view. The tool has been made readily available to us – it is the Bible. Here are two verses that give us an insight:
"The heart is deceitful above all things, And desperately wicked; Who can know it?
Jeremiah 17:9
"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. John 3:16
Simply put, if we listen only to ourselves, we will be the complete opposite of what God wants us to be. Despite that, God has prepared a way for us to be reconciled to Him. To believe in Jesus means to know him and to understand the meaning of his life and death – all of this explained to us in the Bible.
This made me think of the words of Jesus. He spoke about building houses…
Be Sure of the Foundations
Another point we might take from our ‘building experience’ is that we should be sure of the foundations before developing the structure.
Jesus told a parable to underline the point that not everyone would be given a place in his kingdom. Here is what he said:
"Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock. But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall."
Matthew 7:24-27
The point he was making is that outwardly, and possibly for a long time, our lives (represented by the house) can appear good and strong, but when things get tough, the unseen foundations are found to be completely unsuitable. We have to seek out the right foundation.
The right foundation
The words of Jesus are not the only ones that direct us to the right foundation. The apostle Paul when writing to the Christians in Ephesus (in modern day Turkey) said:
Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, in whom the whole building, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord…
Ephesians 2:19-21
The cornerstone, or foundation stone, was the reference point for the rest of the building. The example set by Jesus in his life, showing complete obedience to God’s will, should be the reference point for our lives.
Building on the Foundation
We might think that we can leave it to ‘the church’ to determine what is right and wrong, but the Bible make it clear that we each carry the responsibility to build well on the right foundation. Here are some more words from the apostle Paul:
For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each one's work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one's work, of what sort it is. If anyone's work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. If anyone's work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire. 1Corinthians 3:11-15
Finally, we have are warned not to be taken in by people who appear religious, but their actions are self-centred – one might call it religion that is made acceptable to the people.
But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: for men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away!
2Timothy 3:1-5
Finally, to be sure of our foundations, we must use God’s insight on our lives – an insight that we get from reading our bibles for ourselves. Try it!
Free Introductory Reading Plan
Send for a free introductory reading plan, complete with helpful notes to guide you as you start to read the bible for yourself in a systematic way.
Please give full details of your name and address and mentioning this newsletter, from any of the contact points below (FREEPOST address does not require a stamp or any other details):
Dundee Christadelphians
5 Rattray Street
DUNDEE DD1 1NA
or
FREEPOST CHRISTADELPHIANS
or
e-mail: christadelphians@21blake.freeserve.co.uk
|
