For every house is built by someone, but the builder of all things is God.
– Hebrews 3:4
The last few years we’ve been tearing into our aging log home to give it some new life.
Raising five children took its toll on the place, and it’s been looking tired. But there’s one thing I know: it may be looking worn in places, but it’s solid right down to the foundation.
How do I know that? Because I know who built it. My dear carpenter husband poured that foundation himself, and he builds things to last.
He made the foundation walls especially strong because he knew we were going to build a log home on top of them. He made sure the logs had the support they needed to stay together through the storms, winds, and weight of the roof. He envisioned the result and built the house to fit those specifications.
I know another carpenter, too.
This builder doesn’t work with wood. He works with flesh, heart, and spirit. He doesn’t build houses. He builds lives.
Since He’s a great designer, too, He envisioned the result before He ever started and set a foundation lasting forever. How appropriate that when He came to earth, He took the form of a carpenter’s son!
His foundation is cemented in the forgiveness He won for us through His sacrifice on the cross. Hewn into the solid rock of eternity, it’s upon this place we build our house of faith.
“Now if any man builds upon the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each man’s work will become evident; for the day will show it because it is to be revealed with fire, and the fire itself will test the quality of each man’s work.”
-1 Corinthians 3:12-13
The materials may differ, but each person who has chosen to accept Jesus Christ into his life is building a living temple. Our souls are the altars upon which we daily offer the sacrifices of a broken heart.
Here we give our dreams, hopes, and desires to Him. From here our prayers rise like sweet incense in the holy place. Here the veil is torn between the place God dwells and the outer court.
Here, man walks with God once again.
