Clay bricks and living stones

Walking to our Co-Op supermarket this afternoon I spotted this house extension going up. I've been watching it over the last few weeks as it's grown from the foundations to the point where the roof timbers are being put in place.

Building an extension

Like any building it consists of a number of components that have to be planned in advance and put together in the correct sequence.

The foundations are dug, filled with concrete, and the blocks and bricks laid. Frames for doors and windows are fitted. Steel joists go in to support wide openings and lintels support brickwork over smaller openings. Roof timbers will be followed by felt and tiles.

It would be no good starting with the roof!

The foundations are hidden when the work is finished, but they are essential because they transmit the weight of the remaining structure into the ground in a safe way.

The same is true for organisations such as businesses, schools, and governments. The essentials are often hidden but safely support a massive superstructure. You can't just start operating, first you need the legal framework, the physical infrastructure, training programmes, governing bodies and so forth.

It's also true in biology, a tree can't have branches without a supporting trunk and anchoring roots and the necessary flows of water and nutrients through the entire structure.

And in the spiritual realm it's just the same. Jesus rightly said that a firm foundation is essential if storms are to be weathered (Matthew 7:24-27). He himself is the foundation and there is no other up to the task. Only he can support the building. Church is a temple built of living stones. Jesus is not only the foundation, but he is also the builder. He builds on himself and requires us to do the same.

(If you liked this you might also like Journeys of heart and mind and Quote me on this.)