What Lies Beneath
The most important things in life aren't seen
I initially published this newsletter a few months ago but realized it needed a little fine-tuning. Now that we’re approaching the new year, I think it’s an opportune time to repost.
While my husband and I were dating, we browsed house plans online and visualized our dream home. We window-shopped beautiful homes and spacious floor plans, envisioning how we would decorate each space. But like most dreamers, we didn’t think about the unimportant details like prices and maintenance. No, we enjoyed delulu land in peace.
Well those that can’t buy, live vicariously through the homebuyers featured on the hit show Fixer Upper. As I watched, I observed how carefully every detail was chosen to transform dilapidated houses into dream homes. Now it wouldn’t be good tv or a true renovation without a few setbacks, but in the end no task was too hard for the beloved Chip and Jo. When an issue arose the design plans were tweaked to accommodate the unexpected expenses and the final reveals were always spectacular.
What I learned while watching Fixer Upper, is that “any job worth doing, is worth doing right.” Nevertheless, this quote doesn’t only apply to home renovations. I consider how often we pay more attention to the “fixtures” in our lives than the foundation. How greater importance is placed on the seen things of the world than the unseen things of the Kingdom. However, we must ask ourselves what will it profit us to gain the whole world at the cost of our souls?1
I would be remiss not to point out the fun and enjoyment of choosing the fixtures, especially in comparison to building the foundation. After all, my favorite part of Fixer Upper was watching the big reveal to see how all the final details came together. Now let me insert the big BUT… no matter how incredible the reveals were, what’s seen is never more important than what’s unseen.2 If we care more about fixtures than foundations, we’ll end up with a beautiful ticking time bomb for a home.
At its core purpose, a house provides shelter and protection. If a house is blown away in a storm, its inhabitants are left endangered to outside hazards. A beautiful home with a weak foundation provides ZERO security. Are we so conformed that we value beauty over security? Fixtures like fame, fortune, and following will all pass away, but only a house built on the foundation of Jesus Christ will remain.3
So what type of foundation have you been building on? Here are two key indications that you’ve been building on a firm foundation:
1. You obey the Word.
It’s impossible to build a firm foundation in disobedience. A true follower of Christ won’t tolerate compromise or sin. A person that despises the Word despises God because He is the Word.4 Therefore, we prove that we truly love God by obeying His commandments.5
2. You store treasures in Heaven.
It’s foolish to place our hope in anything that can be lost or stolen. If you’re seeking the Kingdom first, this means you regard obedience and faithfulness to God over pursuing wealth and worldly influence.6
The world may esteem the things that are seen but as believers — we are called to value that which is unseen. If you’ve realized that you’ve been building on a weak foundation, now is the time to reorient your focus. Are you willing to sacrifice the “fixtures” to build a firm foundation? Or will you settle for earthly treasures and empty promises?
Let’s Pray
Heavenly Father, thank You for helping me see the value in what can’t be seen. May I fix my eyes on You so that I’m not distracted by what’s happening around me. I want to build my house on a firm foundation so that even when storms beat up against it, it will remain standing. Renew my mind so that I’m not conformed to the standards of this world. In Jesus name. Amen.
For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Mark 8:36
So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. 2 Cor. 4:18
Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash. Matt. 7:24-27
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. John 1:1
If you love me, keep My commands. John 14:15
(Matt. 6:33, Col. 3:1-2)