Foundational Adjustments

A marvel of engineering for its day, the Tay Bridge in Scotland was looked to by many as a feat in modern construction as it carried trains across the River Tay during the later part of the 19th century. However, during a violent storm on December 28, 1878, the central section of the bridge collapsed while a train was making its way across the bridge. The ultimate cause of the collapse was that the bridge’s foundation and design were insufficient to withstand high winds and elemental forces that would continue to come in that area. Additionally, construction material and design shortcuts summed up to a recipe for disaster.

The truth is, cutting corners doesn’t work in construction, but it also doesn’t work for our faith journey. The foundation that we build our faith on is critical to the journey we will have. Many throughout history have followed this preacher or that and missed some foundational truth along the way. This is an issue with humanity, not the modern world. We see signs of it throughout Scripture. In the early days of the church, people began to hold the early disciple higher than the gospel message as if they could be saved through Paul. The Apostle Paul was quick to correct the people in Corinth by saying What, after all, is Apollos? And what is Paul? Only servants, through whom you came to believe—as the Lord has assigned to each his task. I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow. So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. The one who plants and the one who waters have one purpose, and they will each be rewarded according to their own labor. For we are co-workers in God’s service; you are God’s field, God’s building. By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as a wise builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should build with care. For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 3:5-11 NIV).

Paul continued to push the understanding that it was only God, through a foundation in Jesus Christ, that could save us. Not some preacher. Not good living. Only in Jesus. If we try to build a life or a faith without that foundation, then when the winds come and the storms press on we may find ourselves on the eventual verge of collapse. But what if we did this year differently? To go through the next few days and examine the structure of our faith. Are we building on the firm foundation of Jesus Christ? Are we studying the truth of the gospel for ourselves? Not what someone tells us or teaches us on Sunday, but spending time with God daily through prayer and Scripture study. To go into this new year and say that I will build my life upon Your love. It is a firm foundation. And I will put my trust in You alone and I will not be shaken (Pat Barrett, Build My Life).

There’s a new year ahead of us. What better time to inspect the faith that we’re building and make those critical foundational adjustments.