A right foundation requires labour.
There is that which would come between us and the Rock Christ Jesus! EARTH! Oh how plain is the picture. Luke puts it this way. “He is like a man which built an house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock,” Luke 6:48. He dug until he came to the rock! We must come to Christ and not be content with no less!
Perhaps we can illustrate it by looking at the account of the rich young man who came to Christ most earnestly. “And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?” Matthew 19:16. He was anxious about a most important manner. However, he was not prepared for the “digging away of the earth” that was required of him by the Lord. “Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me. But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions,” Matthew 19:21-22. He liked the clay that stood between him and the Saviour and eternal life and he decided to he was NOT ready to “dig” it away.
Is that the case with many? I have known men who turned their back on Christ and heaven because of a cigarette! They were not prepared to give up smoking if that was required of a Christian.
Do you understand now just what this digging away of the clay in order to get to the rock means and entails?
Remember Christian in “pilgrim’s Progress”. He closed his ears the cries of friends and family when they try to have him turn back from seeking salvation. He was determined to dig down until he reached the rock!
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