What do you need to build a house? Where do you start? The building of a structure first requires the laying of a foundation. When it comes to spiritual houses we get the best foundation possible, Jesus (1 Cor. 3:9-11). However, what we take from time into eternity depends on what building material we use on this foundation. How we build is tied to how we invest our time.
A couple of decades ago now Andy Park wrote a song called ‘We Will Ride,’ calling us to join Jesus in His purposes in the earth. The lyrics are at the end of this post. The question for us to consider and hold before Him as we read, is this, ‘Are we riding with Him?’ How much of our time is being directed by Him will tell us how well we are riding.
A good friend stepped from time into eternity on December 10, 2016. She used to say, “If God doesn’t have your wallet He doesn’t have your heart.” I believe that is true yet let me share another idea. There have been efforts made over the years to create a perpetual motion machine. While I think it has been unsuccessful in the realm of engineering and physics it has been very successful in terms of busyness in western culture. The majority of us are always moving about and striving. Rarely taking time to just sit with Him. Perhaps a fulfillment of what Daniel prophetically declared?
4 “But you, Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book until the time of the end; many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall increase.” Daniel 12:4 (NKJV)
I have said many times over the years that we live in a culture gorged on knowledge and starving for wisdom. So, in this hour I think a concept to add to the wallet one is, “If God doesn’t have your calendar He doesn’t have your heart.”
A good scriptural example of a people who embraced their agenda instead of Jesus agenda were the believers in Corinth. Corinth was a very cosmopolitan city of about 700,000 people famous for its vices. A reading of 1 Corinthians will reveal a group of believers who focused on their agendas, were selfish, and excelled in spiritual gifts. Out of concern for them and seeking to correct their focus Paul warned them about the lives they were building and how it affected their eternal destiny.
11 For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, 13 each one’s work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is. 1 Corinthians 3:11-13 (NKJV)
The reality is that our agendas, like the Corinthians, are producing wood, hay and straw or gold, silver and precious stones. Paul says that a fire will reveal what building material we have used, what we have invested our lives in. The source of the fire coming to test our lives is revealed in scripture.
11 Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war. 12 His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns. He had a name written that no one knew except Himself. 13 He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. 14 And the armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on white horses. 15 Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations. And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron. He Himself treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. Revelation 19:11-15 (NKJV)
Jesus will examine our lives and the fire of His gaze will consume all the wood hay and straw so that the gold, silver and precious stones will be revealed. We all have some wood, hay and straw but none of us want to step from time into eternity and discover we have built almost nothing on the foundation He provided. So, how are we responding to His call to ride with Him and take up His agenda? Are we building with precious things in how we use our time?
We Will Ride https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DV99E2_7cBc
He has fire in His eyes and a sword in His hand
And He’s riding a white horse across this land
He has fire in His eyes and a sword in His hand
And He’s riding a white horse across this land
And He’s calling out to you and me
“Will you ride with me?”
He has fire in His eyes and a sword in His hand
And He’s riding a white horse across this land
And He’s calling out to you and me
“Will you ride with me?”
We say, “yes, yes Lord, we will ride with You”
CHORUS:
We say, “yes Lord, we will ride with You
We will stand up and fight
We will ride with the armies of heaven
We’ll be dressed in white, we’ll be dressed in white”
We say, “yes, yes Lord, we will ride”
He has a crown on His head and he carries a scepter in His hand He’s leading the armies across this land
And He’s calling out to you and me
“Will you ride with me?”
We say, “yes, yes Lord
We will ride with You”
That fire in His eyes is His love for His bride
And He’s longing that she be with Him
Right by His side
That fire in His eyes is His burning desire
That His bride be with Him, right by His side
And He’s calling out to us right now,
“Will you ride with me?”
Yes Lord, yes Lord, yes Lord, yes Lord
The first of our money and the first of our time- Amen!
Amen!
Ann, you have managed to summarize a long post in 12 succinct words! I echo your Amen.
This is so encouraging (and challenging) . . . I know God is up to something in me/with me. . . this has been a rough season. The past 2 weeks, I thought might break me. . . but it was “just” the fire, this I know. I am grateful for His mercy and grace, that He is not waiting until that one day when He comes on His horse, that we have the chance to walk through fire in this life so we can see what we have been building with and see the opportunity to switch building materials. Amen.
Yes, we need to present our life before Him, better to do it now.