Meditation
 
THE FIRM FOUNDATION Dr. Joseph Stowell
 
But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil. Hebrews 5:14
 
Foundations are everything. Whether in buildings or relationships or in families, the foundation is what secures, stabilizes, and anchors us when the storm clouds gather. Biblical doctrine is the foundation of the church. Today more than ever we need the sure footing of the church that checks the drift caused by false thinking and teaching in a deceptive world. Lest, as Paul wrote, we be “tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming” (Ephesians 4:14).
 
We’ve all heard people say, “The problem with doctrine is that it’s so divisive. But that’s not the problem with doctrine. That’s the problem with how we have handled doctrine – how we have elevated lesser beliefs to the level of core fundamentals.
 
Doctrine legitimately divides truth from error. That is a divisive element we desperately need in our culture. Hebrews 5:14 describes spiritually mature believers as those who “have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.” Good doctrine, well understood and well applied, help us differentiate between the deceit that is inherent in this world and the rock-solid realities that form a firm foundation of truth. We must always remember that Satan started the avalanche of sin’s damage when he undercut God’s word in Eve’s heart and mind.
 
The worst danger is not for those of us who have witnessed the demise of doctrine in our day. It is for the next generation – those who have been called to the practices but have never understood the foundational principles.
 
According to Christ, the wise man built his life on the solid rock of Christ’s teachings. The foolish man also built a house, but one without a solid foundation. Only one house stood when the floods came (Matthew 7:24-27). We need lives that are firmly and uncompromisingly planted on the truth that undergirds our faith.