And lay thy foundations with sapphires

I have not much to think about these few days, or weeks. I have been reading a bit, listening to mp3 sermons, praying but the mind is not quite geared for much analyses. In short, I have nothing much to write about - proven by the great amount of pictures and photos posted here lately.

Spurgeon is always here though, to the rescue. Today's reading really encouraged me:

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Evening, December 15

“And lay thy foundations with sapphires.”
Isaiah 54:11

Not only that which is seen of the church of God, but that which is unseen, is fair and precious. Foundations are out of sight, and so long as they are firm it is not expected that they should be valuable; but in Jehovah’s work everything is of a piece, nothing slurred, nothing mean. The deep foundations of the work of grace are as sapphires for preciousness, no human mind is able to measure their glory. We build upon the covenant of grace, which is firmer than adamant, and as enduring as jewels upon which age spends itself in vain. Sapphire foundations are eternal, and the covenant abides throughout the lifetime of the Almighty. Another foundation is the person of the Lord Jesus, which is clear and spotless, everlasting and beautiful as the sapphire; blending in one the deep blue of earth’s ever rolling ocean and the azure of its all embracing sky. Once might our Lord have been likened to the ruby as he stood covered with his own blood, but now we see him radiant with the soft blue of love, love abounding, deep, eternal. Our eternal hopes are built upon the justice and the faithfulness of God, which are clear and cloudless as the sapphire. We are not saved by a compromise, by mercy defeating justice, or law suspending its operations; no, we defy the eagle’s eye to detect a flaw in the groundwork of our confidence—our foundation is of sapphire, and will endure the fire.

The Lord himself has laid the foundation of his people’s hopes. It is matter for grave enquiry whether our hopes are built upon such a basis. Good works and ceremonies are not a foundation of sapphires, but of wood, hay, and stubble; neither are they laid by God, but by our own conceit. Foundations will all be tried ere long: woe unto him whose lofty tower shall come down with a crash, because based on a quicksand. He who is built on sapphires may await storm or fire with equanimity, for he shall abide the test.
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It brings relief to the soul to be reminded that we have a definite hope in the Lord, and what he is doing in our lives is setting the foundation right. So in times when we are having it easier would only mean he is giving us some breathing space, because much time will be spent with him disciplining and correcting us, so that we stand strong in Him.

Indeed, "he who is built on sapphires may await storm or fire with equanimity, for he shall abide the test." It is a norm that as we grow older, life seem harder. It only means we are maturing. I have done away with wishing that I am still a kid, with no worries of life, because being a kid your whole life is just unnatural.

Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain. (1 Cor 15:58)

pearlie