Building a House

 My father was a contractor. Evidence of his years of labor can be found all across Hamblen County, and also around the southeast as he transitioned from being a residential contractor to that of a commercial builder across the mid-south landscape. I believe it would be safe to say that there wasn't one home or building that Joe E. Carter constructed where the cornerstone to the foundation didn't receive precise attention. If that pivotal starting point was not set with attention to detail, then the whole foundation would be out of square and thus increase the possibility of the building collapsing. So, without really saying it, ensuring the foundation is set correctly was an early indicator that the structure would be able to withstand the storms of nature that would inevitably place stress and pressure from every side. Whether you are a builder or not is uncoincidental, yet setting your foundation by the cornerstone of faith, is critically important as you live, learn, and grow. 

 

There is a classic children's book titled "The House That Jack Built" where whimsical event after event  occurs is traced back to the house that Jack built. In much the same way, our goal in life should be that each decision we make, every plan we devise, and our life choices that follow all relate back to the cornerstone of our faith. When our life's decisions are out of square with the Chief Cornerstone, we risk seeing our plans crumble and eventually fall. 

 

Jesus shared a parable in Matthew 7:24-27 in which he stresses the importance of building on the "rock" or cornerstone in life. “Therefore, everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.” Basically, we have two choices build our faith on the sand of this world which has no consistency or strength and eventually watch your faith crumble and fall, or we can choose to build on the firm foundation of the Rock, which is Jesus the Cornerstone of life eternal. 

 

As you make your own personal decision of where you will build your faith, I believe it is advisable to look to the Carpenter on choosing your building site. Choose the Rock and from there ensure your life is squared and aligned with the Cornerstone of our faith. The winds may blow, the earth may quake and the storms will come, but through it all, we can rely on God who set the original Cornerstone in place to create our firm foundation! 

Coach Carter