Building with God's Word
Introduction. Successful projects of great magnitude have two integral parts. First, they have a wise architect to create structural integrity, perfect function, and eye-catching form. Second, they have a builder who will follow the blueprints without deviation. Whether it be a space vehicle, skyscraper, massive bridge, or new computer, it will always be successful when the architect creates a perfect drawing and the builder creates the exact reality of the architect.
This is all God has ever wanted from his people. God is the great architect and designer. Everything he planned and built was perfect and flawless (Gen. 1-2). God called man to build with him and share in his glory, but like the builder above, it can only happen when we follow HIS plans. Those who add their own “special touches” are doomed to failure.
We MUST trust God with all our heart and never lean on our own understanding (Pr. 3:5-7). We can only create a perfect life when we follow his plans exactly. This is the fellowship of the architect and builder. God designed the ark and Noah built it to God’s specifications. “Thus Noah did; according to all that God commanded him, so he did” (Gen. 6:22). When it was time to build God’s tabernacle, this is what God warned Moses to do: “According to all that I show you, that is, the pattern of the tabernacle and the pattern of all its furnishings, just so you shall make it” (Ex. 25:9). God sought a king “after his own heart” and so David ruled God’s people well.
When builders lean on their own understanding, terrible failures arise. The choices of the ten spies, Korah, Saul, and Jeroboam all ended in disaster when they leaned on their own wisdom instead of trusting the architect, God. Have we learned from them?
When we trust God with all our heart and faithfully build with God’s blueprints, a wonderful working product results from this perfect fellowship. If we seek to “improve” or modify with some “new and wonderful” addition devised in our own heart, it will always fail.
Since the writing of the NT, God has withdrawn just far enough to watch, but close enough to protect, answer prayer, and providentially guide. Today is our turn to build. We can choose to build our life, family, and church exactly as God designed it or we can modify his perfect plans. What is our goal? Do we seek to build as closely as possible, earnestly desiring to get it exactly as God planned? This was God’s eternal purpose for man (Eph. 3:10-12) and those who do so will spend eternity with God in heaven and continue to build upon His flawless plans forever and ever!
There are several key concepts God established as absolutes. First, we must have full confidence in the blueprints: “ALL SCRIPTURE IS INSPIRED BY GOD AND IS PROFITABLE...” (2Tim. 3:16).
Does this have our full confidence and trust? All 66 books of the Bible are the inspired blueprints. The old covenant is for “our learning and example that we might have hope” (Rom. 15:4). The New Covenant is for building on the rock by “hearing his words and doing them” (Mt. 7:22-27). Do we have full confidence in them? Do we trust every word was written by the Spirit of God? As we read, do we know we can understand it exactly as those who revealed it did. If we don’t, we are only building on sand! If we do, we are building on solid rock: “how that by revelation He made known to me the mystery (as I have briefly written already, by which, when you read, you may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ)” (Eph. 3:3-4).
Do we have an unwavering confidence that God has protected his word by his mighty providence ever since it was written as he promised? Note the capitalized words below: Do they have our full confidence?
Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the spirit... having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the WORD OF GOD which LIVES AND ABIDES FOREVER, 24 because “All flesh is as grass, And all the glory of man as the flower of the grass. The grass withers, And its flower falls away, 25 But THE WORD OF THE LORD ENDURES FOREVER." Now THIS IS THE WORD WHICH BY THE GOSPEL WAS PREACHED TO YOU. 1Pet. 1:22-25.
God promised his word was incorruptible and would abide forever and Jesus had full confidence in this truth. He used the tense of a verb to prove the resurrection (Mt. 22:29-33), and echoing Peter’s words he affirmed: “Till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass away from the law, till all things be accomplished” (Mt. 5:18). Jots and tittles are similar to the dotting of an “I” or the crossing of a “T.” This is how carefully God preserves his word.
Scripture is incorruptible! Grass can wither, but God’s word abides forever. God has cared for his word through the centuries and there should be no doubt in our mind the blueprints are still perfect.
This leads us to a very important decision. The writers were confident it was the truth (Jn. 17:17), once for all delivered to the saints (Jude 3), and giving us all things that pertain to life and godliness (2Pet. 1:3).
Conclusion. There is no doubt we still have God’s perfect blueprint. We possess the perfect pattern for life, marriage, family, morals, the church, doctrine, worship, salvation, and every spiritual thing. God himself is the architect and designer, and each of us can join him by building with his plans.
This is all God has ever wanted from his people. God is the great architect and designer. Everything he planned and built was perfect and flawless (Gen. 1-2). God called man to build with him and share in his glory, but like the builder above, it can only happen when we follow HIS plans. Those who add their own “special touches” are doomed to failure.
We MUST trust God with all our heart and never lean on our own understanding (Pr. 3:5-7). We can only create a perfect life when we follow his plans exactly. This is the fellowship of the architect and builder. God designed the ark and Noah built it to God’s specifications. “Thus Noah did; according to all that God commanded him, so he did” (Gen. 6:22). When it was time to build God’s tabernacle, this is what God warned Moses to do: “According to all that I show you, that is, the pattern of the tabernacle and the pattern of all its furnishings, just so you shall make it” (Ex. 25:9). God sought a king “after his own heart” and so David ruled God’s people well.
When builders lean on their own understanding, terrible failures arise. The choices of the ten spies, Korah, Saul, and Jeroboam all ended in disaster when they leaned on their own wisdom instead of trusting the architect, God. Have we learned from them?
When we trust God with all our heart and faithfully build with God’s blueprints, a wonderful working product results from this perfect fellowship. If we seek to “improve” or modify with some “new and wonderful” addition devised in our own heart, it will always fail.
Since the writing of the NT, God has withdrawn just far enough to watch, but close enough to protect, answer prayer, and providentially guide. Today is our turn to build. We can choose to build our life, family, and church exactly as God designed it or we can modify his perfect plans. What is our goal? Do we seek to build as closely as possible, earnestly desiring to get it exactly as God planned? This was God’s eternal purpose for man (Eph. 3:10-12) and those who do so will spend eternity with God in heaven and continue to build upon His flawless plans forever and ever!
There are several key concepts God established as absolutes. First, we must have full confidence in the blueprints: “ALL SCRIPTURE IS INSPIRED BY GOD AND IS PROFITABLE...” (2Tim. 3:16).
Does this have our full confidence and trust? All 66 books of the Bible are the inspired blueprints. The old covenant is for “our learning and example that we might have hope” (Rom. 15:4). The New Covenant is for building on the rock by “hearing his words and doing them” (Mt. 7:22-27). Do we have full confidence in them? Do we trust every word was written by the Spirit of God? As we read, do we know we can understand it exactly as those who revealed it did. If we don’t, we are only building on sand! If we do, we are building on solid rock: “how that by revelation He made known to me the mystery (as I have briefly written already, by which, when you read, you may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ)” (Eph. 3:3-4).
Do we have an unwavering confidence that God has protected his word by his mighty providence ever since it was written as he promised? Note the capitalized words below: Do they have our full confidence?
Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the spirit... having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the WORD OF GOD which LIVES AND ABIDES FOREVER, 24 because “All flesh is as grass, And all the glory of man as the flower of the grass. The grass withers, And its flower falls away, 25 But THE WORD OF THE LORD ENDURES FOREVER." Now THIS IS THE WORD WHICH BY THE GOSPEL WAS PREACHED TO YOU. 1Pet. 1:22-25.
God promised his word was incorruptible and would abide forever and Jesus had full confidence in this truth. He used the tense of a verb to prove the resurrection (Mt. 22:29-33), and echoing Peter’s words he affirmed: “Till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass away from the law, till all things be accomplished” (Mt. 5:18). Jots and tittles are similar to the dotting of an “I” or the crossing of a “T.” This is how carefully God preserves his word.
Scripture is incorruptible! Grass can wither, but God’s word abides forever. God has cared for his word through the centuries and there should be no doubt in our mind the blueprints are still perfect.
This leads us to a very important decision. The writers were confident it was the truth (Jn. 17:17), once for all delivered to the saints (Jude 3), and giving us all things that pertain to life and godliness (2Pet. 1:3).
Conclusion. There is no doubt we still have God’s perfect blueprint. We possess the perfect pattern for life, marriage, family, morals, the church, doctrine, worship, salvation, and every spiritual thing. God himself is the architect and designer, and each of us can join him by building with his plans.
- Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, handling accurately the word of truth. 2Tim. 2:15
- Moses was divinely instructed when he was about to make the tabernacle. For He said, "See that you make all things according to the pattern shown you on the mountain. Heb. 8:5