Check Your Foundation, Part One
On Christmas Eve, my niece received the game of Jenga as a gift. For those of you who are not familiar with the game, it consists of a tower built by crisscrossing rows of three blocks. The object of the game is to remove one block at a time (from level four and down) without causing the tower to topple. It is a game for steady hands and nerves of steel, so as you might imagine, I don’t play. Nope! Just watching the game that took place on Christmas Eve caused my blood pressure to rise and my heart to race.
Jason and my two nieces sat in the floor of my parents’ home and played the longest game of Jenga I’ve ever seen. At every move, we were certain the tower would fall, yet amazingly, after a bit of wobble, it would right itself, and everyone would breathe a sigh of relief (everyone, that is, except for the person whose turn was next). As I watched and cringed, I was reminded of how important it is to have a good foundation (which their tower definitely did not by that point in the game). With that in mind, I could think of no better way to start off the new year than by checking in to make sure we have a solid foundation built on the truth of God’s Word. To that end, I’d like to pose two questions–one of which we’ll deal with today, and the other, we’ll deal with tomorrow, Lord willing.
Question One: Have You Build Upon the Solid Rock?
You don’t have to be a carpenter, mason or architect to know you need a solid foundation before starting a building project. No matter how thick or tall the walls, if they are built on a weak foundation, it won’t be long before they topple and fall. That being said, let’s check our foundation.
The Bible makes it very clear that without Christ, we can do nothing. Nothing! If you do not have a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ, you may as well quit now, for you’ll never find the peace and joy for which you are searching outside of Him. He is joy! He is peace! And if you want freedom, you can only find it at His feet. I’m not talking about religion. I’m talking about a relationship with the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. If you don’t know what that means, allow me to explain.
Long ago, God created the world, and in it, he placed a man named Adam and a woman named Eve. Despite having everything they could want or need, the couple disobeyed God and ate the forbidden fruit of the garden in which He had placed them. This act of disobedience brought sin into the world, and everyone that has existed since that time has been born with a sin nature. Whether you feel you’re a “good person” or not doesn’t matter. The fact is we are all sinners, meaning we are all guilty of some wrong, whether it be lying, stealing, being proud or whatever. We are all guilty!
But that created another problem because God wants us to dwell with Him in Heaven when the time comes for us to die or for Him to take us home, but there is no sin in Heaven. It isn’t allowed, which means, we aren’t allowed. That is, not unless there was a way to cleanse us from our sin. Fortunately, there was, but that way cost God’s Son, Jesus, His life. He died in our place and took our sins upon Himself in a gruesome display of love and compassion. And because of His sacrifice, everyone now has the opportunity to join God in Heaven. Notice I said everyone has the opportunity, not that everyone will go. Why? Because God has given each of us a choice. We can accept Jesus as Lord of our lives and be saved, or we can refuse His great gift, failing to acknowledge our need of a Savior. It’s up to us, but I warn you there is a horrible fate awaiting those who refuse this offer.
If you don’t know Jesus, and you would like to accept Him and His great sacrifice, God has made it as easy as A-B-C.
A ― Admit you’re a sinner and in need of a Savior. It’s impossible to be saved from something if you won’t acknowledge you need saving. Romans 3:23 tells us, For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God. In other words, we can’t get to Heaven on our own.
B ― Believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, who came willingly to die on the cross to pay the debt for our sins and then rose again to return to Heaven, awaiting the day God will call all His children home to live with Him for all eternity. Because of His sacrifice, we can have eternal life. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16)
C ― Confess that Jesus is Lord of your life. The Bible tells us that even the devils believe and tremble. Belief is a vital step, but you must put that faith into action by surrendering your life and your will into God’ hands. Give Him control of everything you have and everything you are. That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. (Romans 10:9)
If you’ve never heard the salvation message, I’m sure this sounds complicated and confusing, but I assure you it isn’t meant to be. Still, if after reading this you feel you don’t understand what it means to have a personal relationship with Christ, please contact me through my website, DanaRongione.com. I would love to talk with you and walk you through the process. Whatever you do, don’t skip this step. This is the most important decision you’ll ever make, and it will determine the rest of your life. Please, choose Jesus today!