Let the Master Architect Build You Up

Every time we drive by the Barkman House and the Captain Henderson House I am amazed at how they look. Both were built in the late 1800’s. Still standing and still beautiful they are proof that the right architect building a house will help it to keep strength and remain standing for generations to come. Of course both have been taken well care of, but someone had to start with a plan. Without an architect with a plan it’s hard to conceive of anything that will be worth living in.

That is how it is with the life of a believer. Even though saved, you must still have a plan for your life. Someone has to orchestrate things so that you are built up correctly and can stand the faith test of time.

There are two major architects in the world today. They are satan and God. Both are outstanding builders. Both want your business. Both want to build your house. One wants to lock you in forever, just like a bad mortgage. The other wants you to freely come and go with no burdens to keep you stationary.

Whoever you let build your house is the one that will ultimately decide how you live. The enemy of your soul wants to build the house. He will showcase all the flaws mistakes guilt chains and locked doors. And yet even though he builds on your fears and worries and unbelief, you will get all the blame for the poor workmanship. He won't take responsibility for a thing even though he will kill steal and destroy everything. All the time he is building he will tell you about yourself and your home: no good, not enough, poor quality, reject, impossible, second hand. He will try to build you a false façade but the interior will be gutted and nothing will be there to keep you safe and warm throughout your lifetime.

If God builds the house, there is an entirely different outcome.  He begins with the Perfect Plan, which is His Word. His tools are the Truth of His Word. He builds your interior first by giving you a Savior. 

 Jesus changes everything.  Then He gives you His architectural book, He hides nothing from you. He shows you how your home will be solid as though built on the Rock.  Every room will be pristine for you are washed in the blood of the lamb.  He will guide you into a home full of joy and peace. He will talk to you along the way and remind you that He has made all things new, including you. Perfected, gifted, strong, courageous, invincible, first run. His workmanship will stand the test of your time on earth. And as He is the finest builder in heaven or earth, He will get all the glory. You won’t care that He gets the glory because you know that without the Master Architect you would be nothing.

I don't know about you but I'd rather choose to give God all the glory knowing that His ways are most magnificent. It’s hard sometimes because we are human. We like to take matters into our own hands and do our own choosing. But when we let God choose for us and work through us He creates a masterpiece that will show forth the praises of Himself, for He brings us out of darkness and into the light of His glory and grace.

Oh beloved, maybe you’ve been building on a poor foundation. You may have been trying to build your own house but all your co-workers have left you high and dry. Things are about to fall in. You have been crying in the mess, but it’s time to cry out to the Only One who can fix the foundation, redeem the plan and renew the interior. Jesus will come and together with God the Father and the Holy Spirit, they will work as a team to set your home in order. Your life will be polished with His Word and you will shine God’s glory for the world to see. Others will come in and out of your life to be blessed by the workmanship and you will share that God came in and changed everything. What is breaking your heart right now will be remodeled so that you can live safe and warm with the Lord no matter what.

God loves you and He’s for you and that’s why He will come and help in whatever situation. He will let you know Him like a best friend. He will care for you like a Father. And He will build on the foundation that no man can destroy. Rejoice and let Him start building again as you live in the Light of His Word.

Matthew 7:25 And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and yet it did not fall, for it had been founded on the rock.

Isaiah 28:16 Therefore, this is what the Sovereign Lord says: “Look! I am placing a foundation stone in Jerusalem, a firm and tested stone. It is a precious cornerstone that is safe to build on. Whoever believes need never be shaken.

Ephesians 2:10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.

Colossians 1:11-13 We also pray that you will be strengthened with all His glorious power so you will have all the endurance and patience you need. May you be filled with joy, always thanking the Father. He has enabled you to share in the inheritance that belongs to His people, who live in the light. For He has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of His dear Son. NLT

1 Peter 2:5 you also, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

Reflect His Glory by Abiding in Him

When Danny brought our live tree into the house it was wrapped up tight so that the limbs wouldn’t get broken during travel from the tree farm to the store.  That made it easy to manage from the store to the house as well. But once inside that tree needed to have its bindings removed.  By the time I got home, the tree was looking quite full.

Danny had cut the binding loose, sat the tree in a reservoir stand and positioned it just right.  Throughout the day he had poured water into the reservoir – several gallons by that evening. The tree was not only bound up, it was thirsty. As it took in water it also began to branch out, and display its true splendor.  We thought it looked like a good tree with a straight strong trunk, but you never know how it will look once you get it home.  This tree was beautiful. The care we are giving it, fresh water daily and vacuuming up any needles around, decking it out with all our finest decorations, has given it a truly regal look.

We’re a lot like a store bought Christmas tree. For many, days are spent going from one destination to another. There are ballgames, piano lessons, homework, office management, car repair, vacuuming, dusting, washing, and more. There are issues and problems everywhere. Misunderstandings, misgivings, misappropriations, mistakes and more. More bills, more broken things needing fixed. We find ourselves being tossed around as we go from one problem to another, one appointment to another, one destination to another. Before you know it, we can be bound up as tightly as that Christmas tree. 

But when we come into the house of the Lord, into the presence of Jesus, we begin to unwind. He takes our bound up lives and begins to remove those things that have us so bound up. Just as He laid aside the grave clothes, we too are able to lay aside those things that bind us.  He also gives us living water so that we never have to thirst again, even in the dry days of disappointment or discouragement.  He sets us securely in His Word so that our reservoir of living water never goes dry.

Oh beloved, let God take you into His presence! Let Him lovingly apply the Word to your life so that you can move freely and show all the splendor a child of God can show! You were meant to be lovingly displayed as His precious possession. You were meant to live a full and beautiful life.  All you have to do is let God take the bindings from your heart and life. Let Him love you as you were meant to be loved. Let Him feed you and care for you as only He can. What wondrous love is this that the Lord of Heaven and Earth has picked you and set you securely in His Presence to show His glory all the days of your life! What absolute care is yours as He is your Caretaker. He will never grow tired of you, you will never dry up and be thrown away! For His care is Eternal! You are His beloved and His love and care is your path to true beauty and true rest. Rejoice!

Deuteronomy 14:2 You have been set apart as holy to the LORD your God, and he has chosen you from all the nations of the earth to be his own special treasure.

Psalm 94:18 I cried out, "I am slipping!" but Your unfailing love, O LORD, supported me.

2 Corinthians 3:18 So all of us who have had that veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord. And the Lord—who is the Spirit—makes us more and more like Him as we are changed into His glorious image.

Isaiah 41:9 I have called you back from the ends of the earth, saying, 'You are my servant.' For I have chosen you and will not throw you away.

Psalm 92:12 But the godly will flourish like palm trees and grow strong like the cedars of Lebanon.

Psalm 73: 23-25, 28 Yet I still belong to You; You hold my right hand.  You guide me with Your counsel, leading me to a glorious destiny. Whom have I in heaven but You? But as for me, how good it is to be near God! I have made the Sovereign Lord my shelter, and I will tell everyone about the wonderful things You do.