THE BUILDING MATERIALS OF A BELIEVER’S LIFE

A Closer Look

The building materials of any construction work are first and foremost dependent on the use of what is being constructed – it could be a house (semi-permanent or permanent), a school, an estate, a mall – it could be really any construction work including bridges or roads, or a fence.  The quality, cost and value of the materials are also to be highly considered.  What this means then is that in consideration of the building materials, one has to determine the end from the beginning. 

With the believer’s foundation laid in Christ, the building of their faith does not just come automatically.  It has to be intentionally built up.  The bible puts it very clearly that, believers must continue to build their lives on the foundations of their holy faith.  Jude, brother of Jesus, puts it so plainly in Jude 20:

“But you dear friends, must continue to build your lives on the foundations of your holy faith” (Jude 20).

The intentionality in building our faith cannot be achieved if a believer has not fully identified himself/herself in Christ.  Determining one’s identity in Christ helps to secure a believer’s walk of faith.  The truths here below affirm a believer’s identity in Christ!

The fact that one is born again (not physical but spiritual birth), and bought with the precious blood of Jesus Christ;
The fact that one is redeemed and accepted in the family of God;
The fact that a believer is counted righteous not on their own standing but because of Jesus’ death and resurrection;
The fact that they have been translated from the kingdom of darkness to the kingdom of light, even the kingdom of God’s dear son, Jesus Christ.

Identifying and affirming one’s identity is therefore a critical component that aids a believer in not only building their faith life, but also critically choosing the materials to use in building.  Without this critical consideration, a believer lives a life oblivious of the cost of his/her salvation.  As a result, they may not also be quite alert and clear on the end result of their Christian faith.

Before proceeding on, let us determine our end result as believers. 

Eternity With Christ

The most profound scripture in the bible, and really the essence of salvation is John 3: 16, thus; 

“For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.”

This scripture presents the end-result of a believer’s life – eternal life with Christ Jesus and God the Father.  What a pleasant joy it is to know that though the building process may take long, though the building materials may be costly, the result is an overwhelming, an unending and everlasting joyful life with God the creator, and Jesus Christ, the Saviour. 

In this regard, we now fully understand why the bible further brings out very clearly the fact that all who believe and accept Christ, the Word of God, have been given the right to become children of God.  Why?  So that as children of God we can grow in Him and into Him, day by day, step by step, as we build our lives in Him in preparation to our spending eternity with Him.