A Construction Like No Other
Just blundering through life without a plan
Is a dangerous route for most any man.
We must have a plan in all that we do
And always to that plan be loyal and true.
God’s Word tells and makes it quite clear;
That God has some plan for each one here.
There’s a time for fellowship and also fun
But let’s just be sure all our work is done.
An oft time complaint, “There’s nothing to do,”
But think it over, that’s not really true.
People need us wherever we go
We may care, but do we let them know?
There are so many hurting and our help they need
We should take notice and be ready to heed.
A plan for our lives we always should see
God has a special plan for you and me.
Think of all the services we could do,
If to that plan we could be every true.
God’s Word tells us and makes it quite clear
That He has a special plan for each one here.
(a poem by my grandfather, George Moir)
Did you know that we are a construction zone? For me, I am realizing that daily, as I walk with God. I’m learning and building on the foundation that was started 40 years ago when I knelt with my mom and asked Jesus into my heart. Without Him my life would be on a shaking and cracked foundation.
My life is now like our new house we moved into. They started with a solid foundation and built up from there. Step after step, as they completed them, a house took shape. “But Christ as a son over his own house; whose house are we, if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end.” (Hebrews 3:6) What does our spiritual construction look like? What steps do we need to take to have spiritual unity in our lives, in our hearts and in our souls?
Foundation
We must take the truths of the gospel into our hearts. Our spirituality goes nowhere when not first putting our faith in Jesus. “For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.” (I Cor. 3:11) He, the Son of God, came down as human man to live and die for our sins. Taking this in, believing on His name, seeking His atonement for our sins, receiving Him into our hearts will build the foundation to our spiritual home. “But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:” (John 1:12)
Framing
When we have the foundation completed (salvation received) then we can grow as Christians. Our walls, doors, windows, roof can be framed in. This happens immediately and continually the moment our salvation is complete (the moment we trust in Him). Our spiritual growth begins and continues. “Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.” (Matthew 5:6) Our spiritual hunger starts the moment we are saved. Those walls we need to protect us from the devil are built when we search the Scriptures and learn of Him.
Forming
As we have been framing (growing spiritually) we must continue to form our spiritual home by growing in knowledge of God’s Word and letting others know what changes we are experiencing. If you’ve ever built a home, you know that each step is exciting and shareable with friends and family. As the floors get installed and the kitchen cabinets are added, we like to take pictures and share them. As we grow spiritually, we need to enjoy sharing not only our testimony of salvation with others but also scriptures that are guiding us. “Declare his glory among the heathen, his wonders among all people.” (Psalm 96:3) Having the opportunity to share with others helps build us up spiritually, as well.
Finishing
We’ve got the foundation laid and the frame put up. We have formed the walls, the floors, the cabinets and now for the finishing. Spiritually speaking, we must live each day as if we are finishing our souls. We must rearrange and fix, repair and decorate through studying His Word. It is a progression that we will not see completed until we step into Heaven.
It is a great and amazing step in our spiritual lives because every day we get to meet with our Savior and thank Him for this beautiful life He has given us. We then can show others the evidence of our salvation by the continual finishing of our souls. Look at what verse 5 in I Peter 1 says, “And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;…” Just as we love to have our friends and family over to show them our earthly homes, we can enjoy now showing them our spiritual homes.
What are you constructing here on earth that will last for an eternity? What hope are you giving others for their spiritual builds? My hope came through Jesus and without Him my spiritual home would have no construction started. The foundation I have is my Savior so without Him I have nothing. Build on Jesus today and see your spiritual home in the light of eternity.
JOY IN GODLY CONSTRUCTION
(My grandfather wrote a book of poetry and I have taken some and added a devotional to match. You can find the book here. I know if he was alive today he would be thrilled his poems are being read and his hope for all would be to see them come to know God.)