Sure Foundation

Revelation 21:9-14 One of the seven angels who had the seven bowls full of the seven last plagues came and said to me, “Come, I will show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb.” 10 And he carried me away in the Spirit to a mountain great and high, and showed me the Holy City, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God. 11 It shone with the glory of God, and its brilliance was like that of a very precious jewel, like a jasper, clear as crystal. 12 It had a great, high wall with twelve gates, and with twelve angels at the gates. On the gates were written the names of the twelve tribes of Israel. 13 There were three gates on the east, three on the north, three on the south and three on the west. 14 The wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.
 
WHEN a liberating army cleanses a city of evil oppressors, the good, victorious soldiers will take time to reassure the newly freed citizens. “It’s over. You’re safe. This is a new beginning. Peace has come.”
   This is the heavenly scene on the Day of the Lord. One of the angels who has led the war against Satan is now a peace messenger. He takes John to the glorious scene of new beginning. The Husband Jesus joins with His bride – the New Jerusalem. With precise dimensions, the four-walled city is complete. The new city of inexpressible glory will be the church’s eternal home. God’s entire church dwells with God and he with them.
   Unlike the warring visions of devastating earthquakes, violent seas and consuming volcanoes, this city will be unshaken and unshakeable, built on the foundation of the apostles’ teaching: Ephesians 2:19 Consequently (as you believe), you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God’s people and members of God’s household, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. 21 In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. There is eternal joy in the Bride of Christ.
   When you think about belonging to a church, do you consider the wonder of God’s gift? Are you joyful he has welcomed you into his eternal home, built on the apostles’ foundation? Or is it just another organization that requires you to fulfill certain obligations?
   Sadly, surveys tell us that the majority of church members do not consider the Bible as the absolute foundation of God’s Word. For too long, false teaching has pointed to self-determination. We reject God’s sovereignty over our lives because we’ve been told, “He loves you just where you are.”
   If that were true, why would he come to die on a cross? Why would he preach, “Repent!” if he loves you in your sin?
   In its desire to welcome the world, the church has become as the world. “Come as you are and stay as you are.” headlines the outreach efforts. Silent we stand against the culture’s sins, for fear of being labeled, “Judgmental.”  
   How different would your church be if all the church believed and lived in the foundation of the apostles’ teaching? Would you be prepared for the wedding?
 
Prayer: Open our eyes, Lord, to see the eternal gift you have given to each one who confesses you Lord and Savior. Amen.