Building a Lasting Foundation
written by Rev. Dr. Scott Paczkowski
“According to the grace of God given to me, like a skilled master builder I laid a foundation, and someone else is building on it.”
In creation, God began an awe-inspiring foundation. We humans have struggled to build on that foundation ever since. In killing Abel, Cain weakened the foundation, but others after Cain strengthened it again. Aaron weakened the foundation with the golden calf, but Moses strengthened it. King Saul weakened the foundation, but David strengthened it. Jesus strengthened the foundation so that nothing could break it.
God called the Christian Church to place another layer upon the great foundation. At times, the Church has been faithful in its history; often, it has not. The Crusades and the Inquisition were not our finest moments. Many in the Church disregarded slavery and, later, the Civil Rights movement. Yet, the Christian Church also had its faithful moments. The same moments of struggle had a remnant of loyal people who were brave in their prophetic call. They stood up to the prevailing culture’s sin. They proclaimed a gospel of love amidst an environment of hate. They taught their young sacred scripture and how to interpret it. They showed compassion and justice to all people. They continued to strengthen God’s foundation.
Today, the Church is called to continue its mission of strengthening the same foundation the skilled master builder laid so long ago. When we are at our best, we work together to fulfill God’s call. More than anything else, what weakens the foundation is disunity. When we create dissension and division, we weaken God’s foundation.
While we have often weakened the foundation, God’s foundation cannot be broken. While the Church frequently falls short of our calling, the Holy Spirit continues to move us forward. Today, prayerfully renew your commitment to God’s Church. Be part of strengthening the foundation of the one true faith. Don’t weaken God’s plan for our world. Focus on the mission of God’s Church and honor God in everything you say and do. Be remembered as a Moses or a David, not a Cain. Love rather than hate, build up rather than tear down. You can strengthen God’s foundation.
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