Getting Down to the Foundation

 During my morning and afternoon commute to work I pass by a construction site where a new automotive dealership is being built. The property is a commercial lot that previously housed a hotel complex, so the land was fully constructed for use by the public for decades. By that I mean electrical service, water and other power lines were in place, and the lot was completely paved for public access. When this new construction process started it was obvious that the hotel would have to be demolished to which the construction company completed in a very timely and proper manner, yet what I did not anticipate was what happened after the existing structures were cleared. 

More recently, I was surprised when I drove by the area and the heavy equipment on site was busy removing the asphalt and digging down what appears to be an additional 3-4 feet below surface. I suppose I was taken aback by the depth of work being done to create a new foundation for the car lot, especially since there was already what appeared to be a solid base in place. What I didn't take into consideration was the damage that the former structure created for the foundation as it was. The breakdown of the original asphalt and concrete created an unacceptable base for the new business and its purpose. For this property to effectively support the needs of its new tenants, the old had to be removed before the new can be installed. 

Does that sequence of events sound familiar in your own life? Have you ever wanted to "turn a new leaf" and get a fresh start on life? That idiom originated from the 16th century where pages of books were referred to as leaves. When you wanted to start afresh, you would turn a new leaf, signifying that you had turned the page from your former ways and wanted a blank slate on which to start a new chapter of life. We are invited to do the same in our walk of faith. Just like the business site example above, there is a time when we will realize the life we are living isn't the life we want to live. We will see that our plans are not His plans, and we will come to understand that we must be willing to do away with things in our life that may be holding us back from becoming what God purposed us to be, "... to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness." Ephesians 4:22-24. 

As any athlete will attest, there are habits that inhibit us from becoming the stellar athlete we want to become. In the verse above shared with us by the Apostle Paul, athlete or not when we make the choice to follow and serve God, there are things that will hinder us as well if we don't clear them out of the way. Our own self-centeredness must be removed, taking down things that we idolize have to go, and doubts or fear have to be submitted to our Lord and Savior as Jesus instructed us, "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I  will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." Matthew 11:28-30. Just as the future car dealership lot had to be taken down and a new foundation had to be created, we too must be willing to dig deeper and remove the parts of our lives that distract or hinder us from becoming who God created us to be. 

The former Westside Inn hotel site started out in the 1950's as a Howard Johnson Inn, a staple travel choice as travelers began to vacation across the country. Years later it was purchased and given the name Westside Inn, the name it carried until the Kia automotive dealership purchased the site. The land could not serve the dealership in the state the land was, even after removing the hotel complex and office structure. Removing the old structure provided a base, but not a firm foundation. Hence, the current state of the property where the bulldozers and excavators are creating a new foundation that will serve the new owners well. God wants that same new foundation for us as well. He invites us to turn away from the former, "turn a new leaf", and from that blank page fill our lives with God's plan for the life He has purposed us to live. Romans 12:2 urges us "Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is - His good, pleasing and perfect will." Are you ready to be transformed, do you want to become what God truly created you to be? Each day I want to be more, I want to have my life be less about me and all about God and His plan for the life He gave me to live. Are you ready to dig deeper and find that new foundation on which God can create a vessel He can fill and then pour out for His Kingdom's sake? Dig deeper and build back stronger! 

Coach Carter