Building On A Firm Foundation

Please read Romans 12:2, “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.”

Why are we not to conform to the patterns of this world?  It is because they are contrary to the Word of God!!  Many of the world’s principles and values are different than ours.  All you have to do is watch some of the TV programs or movies or read some of the magazines or listen to the news or talk to different people to see the difference.  I know there are those that claim to be believers but act so much like the world that you can hardly tell the difference.  But we as believers have no excuse and, if we are honest, many of us have conformed to the world at times and are still conforming, to our shame.  This is the reason Paul admonished the saints in Rome to not conform to the things of this world because in the end it could bring them down and destroy their testimony.

Read what it says in 1 John 2:15-17, “Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world.  And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.”

Think of this, the devil tried to get Jesus to sin using these tactics; the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of life, when Jesus was in the desert forty days and forty nights fasting, but he couldn’t!!  You can read about this account in Matthew 4:1-11.

The Word of God encourages believers to seek His kingdom first; yes, we are in the world but we do not belong to the world.  When we become a believer we become new creations in Christ, the old things have passed away and all things become new.  Does this mean we can’t have anything, or do anything?  No, I think it means that we have to be careful of what our priorities are.  It is a fact that many of us spend far more time on worldly things than we do on spiritual things.  The way we build on a firm foundation is by keeping our minds on the rock of our salvation which is Jesus Christ, the righteous and holy One!!

Read what it says in Matthew 7:24-27 about building a firm foundation, “Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock. But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall.”

Hearing God’s Word isn’t enough, but doing what it says is very important!!  Enough said, may you have a blessed day and may the good Lord bless you and yours!!