MY VISION: THE FOUNDATION
I am standing. Looking
at a slab of cement. I am trying to
figure out what I am seeing. A woman,
dressed as if she is an angel in a play, appeared at my side. “Amazing,” she said. “Absolutely amazing and it will change the
world.”
I looked at the empty slab of cement again. What am I missing? The woman called it amazing. Why? And where had she come from? Maybe I
needed to get a step closer. It looks
the same and I cannot get closer without stepping up onto the cement. Turning toward the woman, “What am I missing?
It looks like every other slab of cement
that is ready to build on.”
“For now, instead of stepping on the slab of cement, try
walking around it. Be observant,” she
replied.
I tried to walk around it, but it seemed to grow. Every time I got to a corner, the corner
moved. It is not possible for solid cement
to move.
“Why have you stopped?” she asked. “Keep going.
You will figure it out.”
Eventually, I was out of breath and sat down. From there, I looked closely at the corner …
And then I knew …..
Consequently, you are no longer
foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also
members of his household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets,
with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. In him the whole building is joined together
and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord.
And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in
which God lives by his Spirit.
Ephesians 2:19-22 NIV
I knew I was standing beside the foundation of the church. Turning toward the woman, —- I looked behind
me, to the left, and to the right. The
woman was not there. The slab was just
cement to some. BUT, as I stepped upon
the slab, I knew I was stepping onto the foundation upon which God’s church is
being built. As I stepped upon the
cement, I saw them – the apostles and prophets and believers -- and realized
why the foundation corner had kept moving.
The corner moved to make room for all believers who were part of his
church.
THE CHURCH
Our pastor has been working through a series: What is the
church? My answer? The church is God’s Hope. His hope that the church will change the
world, because Jesus is now the cornerstone of the church’s foundation.
Last Sunday we celebrated a risen Christ. Jesus did not sit down, at the right hand of
God, and say, “Well, my job is done. They
are on their own now.”
No. No. A risen Christ did not return to his Father
and leave the believers helpless. He
left his disciples to go forth and teach.
He left his disciples and, those that began to follow them, to grow his
church into a fellowship of believers. Christ
said he would always be with them. He
gave them and all believers the gift of the Holy Spirit.
I think Jesus sat down, at the right hand of God, and said,
“You sent me the best disciples. They
listened and learned. They will receive
the Holy Spirit and will feed your children.
They will withstand the evil that will come to them and rely on your
power to stand strong.”
I think God will tell his Son, “Well done, good and faithful
servant! You are the cornerstone of my
church. The church is my hope for the
world.”
We are the church! We are God’s hope for the world!
SCRIPTURES REFERENCED:
Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven
and on earth has been given to me. Therefore
go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father
and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I
have commanded you. And surely I am with
you always, to the very end of the age.”
Matthew 28:18-20 NIV
After the Lord Jesus had spoken to them, he was taken up into
heaven and he sat at the right hand of God.
Then the disciples went out and preached everywhere, and the Lord worked
with them and confirmed his word by the signs that accompanied it.
Mark 16:19-20 NIV
“I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay
in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.””
Luke 24:49 NIV
Jesus said, “Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet
ascended to the Father. Go instead to my
brothers and tell them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God
and your God.’ ”
John 20:17 NIV
Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in
the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy
Spirit. The promise is for you and your
children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.”
Acts 2:38-39 NIV
They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to
fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe at the many
wonders and signs performed by the apostles.
Acts 2:42-43 NIV
His master replied, “Well done, good and faithful servant!
You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many
things. Come and share your master’s
happiness!”
Matthew 25:23 NIV