Keep Building!

A new house has been going up across the street from our church building. I remember when the foundation work first began. The area was dug out, the forms for the foundation were set up, rebar was put in place, the concrete was poured into the forms, and then the forms were removed. The foundation was then ready for building to take place according to the blueprint prepared. But what would I have thought if, once the foundation was prepared, the builder again laid a foundation? What would the people having the house built have thought if the builder continued to work on the foundation, but never began building upon it? Can you imagine one returning to lay foundation after foundation after foundation? The EXPECTATION was for a house to be built once the foundation was in place. That does not mean the foundation is not important or should cease to exist, but the foundation is a first step toward further building.

The Hebrew writer rebuked his readers for a lack of progress in spiritual growth. ( Hebrews 5:11-14) There was much he wanted to say, but they were not ready for it. There had been a foundation laid, but they apparently kept relaying foundation rather than moving on to maturity. They were still in need of basic principles. ( Hebrews 5:12)

The writer of Hebrews exhorted his readers…
“(1) Therefore let us leave the elementary doctrine of Christ and go on to maturity, NOT LAYING AGAIN A FOUNDATION OF REPENTANCE FROM DEAD WORKS AND OF FAITH TOWARD GOD, (2) and of instruction about washings, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment.” (Hebrews
6:1-2 ESV)

It was not that these things ceased to be important. They stood as a foundation for the building up of their lives. In fact, a spirit of repentance must be maintained. However, the things repented of when they first turned in faith to God were not to be returned to. Instead the Hebrew writer exhorted them to continue growing up in their faith to maturity in Christ. And the elementary truths they had been taught were to remain in place as they moved on to deeper truths relating to Christ, Christian living, and worship.

We do need to be careful how we build, but the EXPECTATION is for building to take place. May we continue to practice the word of righteousness so as to be able to have proper discernment between good and evil. In this way we will be enabled to steadily grow on toward maturity in Christ.

Have a great day CONTINUING TO GROW UP IN CHRIST.
Carl

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