Several years ago we did some work on our house. We were very surprised to find out that the simple remodeling we wanted to do required extensive engineering, permitting, and most of all, enormous amounts of concrete to reinforce the foundation.
I don’t know what the building permit process was like in ancient Jerusalem; I don’t think it was all that complicated. If you’ve been following along in the Story, you know that King David has conquered his enemies and set up Jerusalem as his capital. To his great disappointment, God told David that while he could design it and raise the funds for the temple, he was not the one to build it.
This week we get to see how David’s son Solomon did as a king and as a builder. By most accounts he was pretty impressive. Even the Bible says, “And the Lord made Solomon very great in the sight of all Israel and bestowed on him such royal majesty as had not been on any king before him in Israel. (1 Chron. 29:25) People came from far and near to marvel, not just at the awe-inspiring temple Solomon built, but also at his wisdom and “royal majesty”.
But the real test for a builder is not how he looks in a crown and a robe, it is how his creation stands up under pressure and over time. When the next earthquake hits, I’ll be glad I poured those extra yards of cement under my house. The same is true with life. We’ve got to constantly reinforce and renew our lives on the solid foundation of a relationship with God.
Here’s how Jesus put it. “Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.” Matt. 7:24-27
Read chapter 13 in the Story or 1 Kings 1-12 and 2 Chron. 6-9. Spoiler alert! Yes, you’ll see if the temple stood or fell, and how Solomon ended up. We’ll also celebrate the Lord’s Supper together.
In Christ,
Kurt
P.S. Some of you have followed our building permit story with the city of Cupertino. We’re VERY close to having everything signed off on both our tennis courts and our solar energy system!