A House Divided...the Wayfarer 10/3/16

A House Divided
10/3/16

Mark 3:25

King James Version (KJV)

²⁵ And if a house be divided against itself, that house cannot stand.

The very existence of any people, any nation, any state, city, social group, in fact, family is dependent upon the unity of that group, just as surely as is the demise of that same unit when division reigns within that unit.

The foundation of a house, once cracked and broken is a weakness that cannot be overcome unless and until that foundation is repaired or replaced altogether.

Without that repair, or replacement, the collapse of that house is assured.

The same holds true in regard to foundation of faith, and foundations on which lives are being built.

Foundations, worn away by seeping water that works its way into small cracks later freezing and expanding those cracks destroys the foundation of houses, often unnoticed until the damage is so great that repair becomes impossible, that same seeping water rotting the joists placed on the foundation further weakening an already weak structure until the floors no longer support either walls or roof of that structure.

Attention and inspection given to the foundation and components throughout the life of that building are critical, if that life is to be prolonged, and the building to be of any value to its owner as time progresses.

Weaknesses must be shored up, infestations stopped before irrevocable damage is done, drainage assured before the seepage even occurs if the building is to continue to exist.

All begins, however, with the initial foundation, and its ability to withstand the inevitable erosion of the elements arrayed against it over time.

Matthew 7:24-27

King James Version (KJV)

²⁴ Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:

²⁵ And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.

²⁶ And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand:

²⁷ And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.

House, nation, individual lives are all built on an initial foundation, a foundation that either repels the onset of the storms to be faced, or succumbs to those same storms.

It is that foundation that requires constant inspection, attention, and choice of the materials used both in original construction and in maintenance of that foundation, any lesser material only further weakening that foundation, and any lesser material used in repair of the components further weakening the structure itself.

Neglect of either the foundation, or the structure, are a certain way to assure the complete destruction of both building and life as well as the structure of nation, social group, and family as well.

Shoddy material and shoddy workmanship must either be accepted or rejected.

Once accepted shoddy material and workmanship only decrease the value of the end product, and the life of that product.

It becomes a division that will not withstand the test of time, will not withstand the storms that are inevitable.

The time has come for inspection of the foundation on which we build, and inspection of the material used to build with.

If the original foundation is built both, on, and with, as well as within the rock that is the cornerstone of that foundation…Christ Jesus, no storm can prevail, and that foundation and the structure placed upon it remain safely secure requiring only the maintenance of the Master Himself.

If built on less than that rock, with less than the material provided by Him without regard to the expense that was already given, both the erosion of the ever present stream of water seeking to divide the foundation will prevail, the infestation of termites unchecked will  permit the rot to extend to the point of collapse that is inevitable.

Unity, rather than division strengthens that house, only if that unity exists with the original foundation.

The question to be asked by each must be is how firm is that foundation?

1.    How firm a foundation, ye saints of the Lord,
Is laid for your faith in His excellent word!
What more can He say than to you He hath said—
To you who for refuge to Jesus have fled?

2.    “Fear not, I am with thee, oh, be not dismayed,
For I am thy God, and will still give thee aid;
I’ll strengthen thee, help thee, and cause thee to stand,
Upheld by My gracious, omnipotent hand.

3.    “When through the deep waters I call thee to go,
The rivers of sorrow shall not overflow;
For I will be with thee thy trouble to bless,
And sanctify to thee thy deepest distress.

4.    “When through fiery trials thy pathway shall lie,
My grace, all-sufficient, shall be thy supply;
The flame shall not harm thee; I only design
Thy dross to consume and thy gold to refine.

5.    “The soul that on Jesus doth lean for repose,
I will not, I will not, desert to his foes;
That soul, though all hell should endeavor to shake,
I’ll never, no never, no never forsake.”

Those who have built and continue to build on the foundation of what was given us by Christ Jesus recognize the value of both foundation and structure, rejecting both shoddy material and shoddy workmanship!

Inspect both foundation and material carefully. Once chosen it will determine value for far longer than the present!

2 Timothy 1:12 King James Version (KJV)

¹² For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.

Amen and Amen

the Wayfarer