LAYING A FIRM FOUNDATION


Precisely a week ago, I was invited to join a “Christian Writers and Bloggers” WhatsApp Group.  In my one week membership to the group, we have exchanged/shared so much to the extent that I feel like the group has existed for more than a year.  Earlier, a close friend had asked me if I could open a blog where I could share some of the inspiration messages that I have been sharing occasionally with her and other friends in my network.  My friend did not know that I had opened a blog over 5 years ago, but it had been inactive for some time.  Whereas this message is meant to bless and minister to all who access it, it is dedicated to Anne Mureithi, my dear friend and, Jane & Mugure, the administrators to the “Christian Writers and Bloggers” WhatsApp Group.  Thank you dear ones for stirring me up to activate my Blog – Karibuni!  Let’s be refreshed by the word of God together.

I am currently reading the book of Job in the Bible.  What stands out for me from the beginning of this book is the importance of a strong foundation.  Whether one is building a house, going through an education programme or starting a family, the foundation they lay for the undertaking determines its permanence and longevity as well as the ability to bear roughness of whatever sort.

Our Christian foundation is no different.  What informs our foundation as believers – is it the prestige of the church (assembly) that we go to every Sunday?  Is it the Pastor or Bishop? Is it material blessing? What are the materials that constitute the foundation of a believer?  Job in the bible was a “blameless man of complete integrity.  He feared God and stayed away from evil” (Job 1:1).  Besides, he was a very wealthy man.  He however had calamity befall him and in a very short span of time, he lost all his children and all the wealth.  Yet, “In all this, Job did not sin by blaming God” (Job 1:22).  In fact when his wife asked him to curse God and die, Job replied to her, “Should we accept only good things from the hand of God and never anything bad?” (Job 2:10).

What is it that Job held on that his wife didn’t know that which caused him not to curse God even after the loss of his children and his wealth? Whereas we later learn that Job asked many hard questions as a result of his suffering, he never cursed God.  He never doubted God.  He believed in God.  His foundation in faith was God – He was blameless, a man of complete integrity, and he feared and stayed away from evil.  This was a constant for Job, whether he had children or not, whether he had wealth or not.  He was still a man of integrity. He still feared God.  Is it a wonder then that God himself had such faith in him to the extent of allowing Satan to test him?  Is it a wonder that God restored to Job all that He had lost in double portions?

Let us consider our foundations as believers – what have we anchored our faith in?  What truths do we embrace that cannot be faltered whether in good or bad times?  Truths that can cause us to be identified as men and women of integrity, men and women who fear God and stay away from evil. 

In this era of microwave “stuff”, there are many fake materials that can be used to lay foundations.  And still even when some are not fake, they are not robust, nor are they long lasting.  In Luke 6:46-49, Jesus taught about a solid foundation.  Essentially his main point was that if anyone calls him (Jesus), Lord of his/her life, then he/she ought to listen and obey his commands.  This way, his/her foundation as a believer is firm and can withstand any amount of pressure from whatever source – may it be relationships, finances, work related or any other kind of pressure. 

When a believer listens and obeys the Lord, their foundation is secure.  This listening and obedience is based purely on the word of God.  This is the core material, the core ingredient that forms our foundation as believers.  So, lets us intentionally and confidently search the word of God and align ourselves with the incorruptible truths and promises therein.  Let us embrace these as anchors that secure our lives at all times.  Let us lay a firm foundation for our faith in God. 

Great blessings,
Rose Kainda.