Fort Scott homes: Some are built on rock

For the next several weeks, we (the 15th and Crawford Church of Christ) will be stating several Bible principles and asking the questions: Have you heard? Do you agree? Do you follow? Would you like to know more, giving everyone the opportunity to hear and believe (Romans 10:17). It is also an opportunity to learn (Acts 8:30-35). If you would like to write in, email any questions, or responses to be answered or published, feel free to do so.

Today's principle: Three rock-solid building blocks

Have you ever noticed all the old homes around Fort Scott built with rock foundations? Most have been standing well over 100 years. It's a lesson to us all. Rock will survive and physical man will perish. Over the years man as figured out the latter. Man's years are few and they need a way to speed things up. Voila, "Concrete." Man is always looking for a shortcut. When you can't stand in front of a microwave and wait 20 seconds for a hot dog to warm, you are in a hurry. Concrete was just that. Improving the speed at which man can build. Plus you can form it anyway YOU want it, with YOUR form. Guess what? There is a sermon in that.

Jesus said it was His way, or the highway to destruction. (Matt. 7:24-25) "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 he who does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand ... and great was its fall." Just before this He had warned in Matt. 7:21, "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven." To some He would say, "I never knew you; depart from Me ..." (Matt. 7:23).

Building Block No. 1: Know Jesus Christ. Jesus makes clear that there are many who think they have favor with God but don't, for one simple reason: They don't know Him. To really know Jesus is to have a personal relationship with Him. It's not about merely making an appearance at church and going through the motions of doing religious things. It's a personal, intimate friendship with Jesus. That is the first building block that lasts.

Building Block No. 2: There is stability in Jesus Christ. We know how critical laying a strong foundation is to the stability of a building. Life is no different. You and I must dig deep into the bedrock of Jesus Christ if we are to weather the storms. Jesus said, know His word and then do what we know. You will never fold with Jesus as your foundation. That's block No. 2.

Building Block No. 3: There is eternal life in Jesus Christ. You must understand that you were built to live forever. At the same time, you must realize that your physical life is but a vapor and that you will spend infinitely more time in eternity than you spend on this earth. This knowledge will lead you to live for eternity and to prioritize your life based on that truth. Guess what? You have put in place building block No. 3.

Is your home built on the Solid Rock of Jesus Christ? This is just a preview to Sunday morning's sermon. I invite you to worship with us this coming Lord's Day morning, where we will be studying "Building on The Rock" further. Bible study is at 10 a.m., and worship 10:50 a.m. For more information, write in or a visit the Church of Christ, 1423 S. Crawford, Fort Scott, Kan., 66701.

For any other comments or questions, please email me personally (Minister Mike Chipman) at mikeychip@sbcglobal.net or by phone at (620) 224-6681. Thank you for your time and God bless.