As I am typing this blog post it sounds like World War III is taking place in my front yard. Plants that once neatly lined my landscape are stretched out on plastic tarps like dead bodies. My home is middle aged and much like its middle-aged owners, things have been sliding out of place. My walls are showing visible signs of aging and I am trying to see each very expensive metal pier, as a shot of Botox. Actually, from what I hear the cost is about the same. My walls should be better soon but Jim is going to have to live with the fact my face won’t have the same “lift” my foundation will enjoy. I’m OK with that. I was amazed at an 84-year old former model who told her interviewer that “if her roof was falling in she would do the necessary repairs. Why shouldn’t the same be true of her face?” The whole time she spoke, the entire top half of her face didn’t move! I’m not sure how much Botox she has in her system, but I think maybe she’s had enough. That woman has a smooth forehead and in a little while I hope to have a smooth set of walls. I LOVE my house – but it needed a firmer foundation. Now it will have one and we can too. (And ladies, I’m not referring to Spanx here!) If your spiritual life is slipping, there are things you can do to achieve a firmer foundation. First, do you view God as you should? The Psalmist described God like this: “Your arm is endued with power; your hand is strong, your right hand exalted. Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne; love and faithfulness go before you. Blessed are those who have learned to acclaim you, who walk in the light of your presence, O Lord.” (Psalm 89:13-15) God is seated on a throne which is upheld by righteousness and justice. God can NEVER be wrong and God can NEVER be unfair. But I can’t say that it will never feel otherwise. When a diagnosis or difficulty causes your faith to slip, know that God is perfect and perfectly able to lift you back up. Think about the perfection of God and the imperfections of this life seem less significant.
Second, God is providing you everything you need to know so that you can, one day, enter heaven, fully blessed. Isaiah said, “The Lord is exalted, for he dwells on high; he will fill Zion with justice and righteousness. He will be the sure foundation for your times, a rich store of salvation and wisdom and knowledge; the fear of the Lord is the key to this treasure.” (Isaiah 33:5-6) I had never noticed these words before: God is “the sure foundation for our times.” He is in charge and circumstances will either be good – or He will redeem them for the good, if we are called to his purpose. (Romans 8:28) He is the source of our salvation, our wisdom and our knowledge. The key: Do you “fear” God, view him with reverent awe? If so, He will be your treasure. Picture someone’s face who discovers a huge chest of buried treasure, opens the lid and finds riches galore. Is that how you feel when you approach the God of the universe?
Finally, make certain you are building your mansion in heaven on a firm foundation. Paul was training Timothy to take over his ministry. Paul taught Timothy to: “Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.” (1 Timothy 6:18-19) I’m blogging from home today because I needed to be here during these repairs. I’ll be glad when the foundation of my home on earth is “firm.” But this isn’t the home that matters most. I’ve got that beach-front bungalow in heaven I’m working on. (Do you think it is OK to use this blog to give God some “hints?” Don’t answer that Jim!”) Anyway…my point for the day: I hope you have a great life on this earth – but spend more of your energy on your eternal life, that is truly life. God is building your mansion in heaven on that foundation. Are you sending him a lot of high quality materials to work with? Do good – be rich in good deeds and you won’t have to put up with foundation repairs in heaven. That is important – these repairs are NOISY!!!!
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