LEAVING THE FIRST PRINCIPLES -- Tomorrow:
"Therefore, leaving the discussion of the elementary principles of Christ, let us go on to perfection, not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, of the doctrine of baptisms, of laying on of hands, of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment. And this we will do if God permits." (Hebrews 6:1-4, NKJV).
Devotion 8 of 24
LAYING THE FOUNDATION AGAIN
Although it may not be "user friendly" to speak in this manner, it is necessary to do so. Jesus declared that a person coming to Him must consider the cost. In Him, the whole matter hinges on finishing, not on beginning! "For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it? Lest haply, after he hath laid THE FOUNDATION, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him, saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish" (Luke 14:28-30).
I am going to wax bold and declare this is not a popular word in our day. To hear the average appeal to sinners, you would think the most important thing was getting in the race, not finishing it. But this is a total misrepresentation. Jesus said, "No man, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God" (Lk 9:62). That has to do with not building on the foundation. Putting your hand on the plow is laying the foundation. Moving forward without looking back, is building upon it. Again, Jesus spoke solemnly when He said, "Remember Lot's wife!" (Lk 17:32). That also has to with building on the foundation. Leaving Sodom is laying a foundation. Getting into Zoar is building upon it.
Here is an aspect of the heavenly kingdom that is virtually unknown in our time. " . . . not LAYING AGAIN the foundation . . . " The foundation cannot lie idle without deterioration setting in. If nothing is built upon it -- if men do not go on to perfection -- they will revert to a condition worse than before they ever had a foundation. This is the meaning of Christ's warning. "When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest, and findeth none. Then he saith, I will return into my house from whence I came out; and when he is come, he findeth it empty, swept, and garnished. Then goeth he, and taketh with himself seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter in and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first. Even so shall it be also unto this wicked generation" (Matt 12:43-45). A house that is emptied, but has nothing new in it, is like a foundation that has no superstructure upon it.
The foundation is knit with the building, and is made for the structure. It cannot exist independently of the house intended to be built upon it. That is precisely why those who do not go on to perfection must again have the foundation laid. Thus it is written, "For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you AGAIN which be the FIRST PRINCIPLES of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat" (Heb 5:12).
I do not know how often a person can go through the procedure of laying the foundation AGAIN. But I will tell you it is on the part of wisdom to avoid the repetition altogether. It is one fraught with danger and eternal jeopardy.
PRAYER POINT: Father, in the name of Jesus, help me to build upon the foundation, moving on to perfection so I do not have to go back again to the starting line. I know Your Son may come at any moment. I do not want to be found lingering near the beginning of the race at that time.