Monday, 1/27/20 – Pressing on…

Builders and Architects

The Sagrada Familia, “Church of the Holy Family,” in Barcelona, Spain is among the top architectural feats of humankind. It was designed by the famed architect Antonio Gaudi, and its construction which began in 1882 is still ongoing today! The thing is HUGE! Its costs are unimaginable! Yet, the Barcelona city officials and historical society are determined to one day see its completion.

One glance at the Sagrada Familia and you know that some great mind was behind it. Though it’s construction has and yet will employ many “builders,” few minds would be capable of being its “architect.” There is a difference between being a builder and being an architect!

Builder = “a person who constructs something by putting parts or material together over a period of time.”
Architect = “a person who designs buildings and in many cases also supervises their construction.”

In the book of Hebrews we read,

“For every house is built by someone, but God is the builder of everything.” (Heb. 3:4)

The Greek words “built” and “builder” in this passage are one and the same: κατασκευάζω, pronounced: kat-ask-yoo-ad’-zo. Not surprisingly, it means more than to just construct, like one might construct a model kit. Rather, it means “to prepare thoroughly, to create, ordain, prepare.”

That God is both Architect and Builder of all things is made clearer too when we jump ahead to Hebrews 11. This, as you may know, is the great “Faith” chapter. In it are listed those great heroes of the faith. Note what it says about Abraham:

“By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going. By faith he made his home in the promised land like a stranger in a foreign country; he lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise. For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God.” (Heb. 11:8-10)

Abraham was content to live in tents in this world because he had his eyes on another world, a world where a great City awaited, a City “whose architect and builder is God.” (v. 10).

Christian, this is the City, this is the Church, this is the Temple that God is building — building in Eternity, building in His Church, and building in You! Surrender yourself to His blueprints. You will be amazed at what He can build!

More tomorrow…

To hear Pastor Andrew’s complete message, go to the Lincoln Baptist Church website and look under ‘Sermons Online’ for the Jan. 26 message.