If the Foundation Be Destroyed

Activity: Sunday Sermon

Anchor Scripture: Psalm 11: 1-2, Matthew 7: 24-27

Reference Scriptures: Eccl. 3: 1-9, Joshua 24: 1-31

Introduction
Basically, every structure must have a foundation. Foundations are so central to structures such that they determine the survival or otherwise of the structures which they carry. Whatever we may want to build, it is the foundation that will carry it. This accounts for the reason so much time and resources are often  committed into building SOLID foundations.

Foundations are the building blocks of everything. Seconds are the foundation of minutes, minutes are for hour, hours are for day, days for week, weeks for month and months for year. Foundations, the building blocks,  often determine the final outcome. For example, a student who failed to be present in the school during the first week of resumption would definitely miss the course contents and the necessary course introductions. Little as this may sound or look, they often matter to serious students. I pray the Lord grant us divine understanding in Jesus Name. Amen.

Body
In the Gospel according to Saint Matthew, chapter 7: 24-27, our Lord and saviour spoke of two men who built their houses; one on a rock, the other on sand. Verbatim: Matthew 7:24-27
"24 Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: 25 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. 26 And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: 27 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it."

The excerpt above underscores the importance of foundations to buildings. The rain, floods and winds are the trials of faith and the sometimes unavoidable calamities of life which no one whose foundation isn't strong enough would be able to withstand.

As men, and especially as we are starting a new year, our building blocks at this beginning would so much determine how far we would go; physically, financially and spiritually. It would also determine our tensile strength to withstand or otherwise, the wiles of the enemy of our souls, the devil.

Let me tell you, brethren, this is yet another marathon; we have 355 kilometers right in front of us. It is not a dash at all. As such therefore, things would happen; great, awesome and terrible events would take place at various points in the year. It therefore behoves of us to ensure that our building blocks are nothing, but the Word of God. God says  "Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away (Mark 13:31, Matt. 24: 53). That is to tell us that even this year, like other past years shall pass away, but the Word of God SHALL STAND.

Brethren, the principle of electroplating is to superimpose a corrosive element with a noncorrosive element in order to preserve the properties of the corrosive. Whether we believe it or not, beloved, our lives are corrosive, ditto all the "other things" we run after. To therefore preserve these corrosive elements, we need a more stable element, THE WORD OF GOD! When our lives and daily activities are wrapped and superimposed with His Word, then, we may sail through the year without a loss (Exodus 15: 26, Deut. 7: 15), and at the end count our blessings (Joshua 1: 8-9).

At a point, Joshua told the Israelites to "choose whom ye will serve." It was a time then for them to make a lifetime choice. Almost all of us pray for both the wealth and wisdom of Solomon, but never looked at Solomon's foundation. 1 King 3: 3 tells us the foundation of Solomon's wealth and wisdom. It reads: "And Solomon loved the LORD, walking in the statutes of David his father: . . . ."  Beloved, that exactly was the foundation of Solomon's wealth and wisdom, keeping the word of God.

At the onset of Jesus Christ's earthly ministry, Satan withstood Him, but He overcame the evil one by the Word of God saying: "it is written" repeatedly. The book of Revelation 12: 11 reads: "And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death." In Isaiah 55: 8-11, God emphasized the importance of His Word saying that it will accomplish what He had sent it for. Psalm 118: 2 says that God exalts His Word above His names. Psalm 119: 11 says it is only the Word of God that could keep a man from sinning against God. Hebrew 4: 12 says that the Word of God is quick and can cut anything and search the souls.

Conclusion
Acts 5:38 says "And now I say unto you, . . . if this counsel or this work be of men, it will come to nought:" Also, Proverbs 3: 5 warns thus "Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding." Brethren, what else could we say? The Word of God supersedes every other words. His actions supersede other actions. So, this year right from the onset now, don't walk in any man's counsel. Make the Word of God your watchword and the foundation of your journey in 2017.

Finally, make God's Word the lamp to your feet and a light to your ways this year that you stumble not this year (Psalm 119: 105).

Till we meet again, keep keeping on in Him!

Our best wishes are for you this year and beyond.