A Proper Foundation

  The area of Canaan is rich in limestone and it didn’t take the Israelites long to being to use this in the construction for their homes when they entered the Promised Land.  Even common people could gather up uncut stone blocks as building material. The problem with these stone building was the weight. Without a good foundation, the homes could sink it the mud and collapse in the rain.

“He is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid a foundation on the rock; and when a flood occurred, the torrent burst against that house and could not shake it, because it had been well built.  "But the one who has heard and has not acted accordingly, is like a man who built a house on the ground without any foundation; and the torrent burst against it and immediately it collapsed, and the ruin of that house was great."

Luke 6:48-49

 Stones were laid in order to provide that needed foundation.   As it always is, the a rich person could afford better stones.  Wealthier homes used carefully cut and dressed stones. Poor folks made due with what they could find.

Then the king commanded, and they quarried great stones, costly stones, to lay the foundation of the house with cut stones.

1^st  Kings 5:17

This knowledge helps to shine a light on the description of heaven in Revelation 21.  In verses 19-20 we read, “The foundation stones of the city wall were adorned with every kind of precious stone. The first foundation stone was jasper; the second, sapphire; the third, chalcedony; the fourth, emerald; the fifth, sardonyx; the sixth, sardius; the seventh, chrysolite; the eighth, beryl; the ninth, topaz; the tenth, chrysoprase; the eleventh, jacinth; the twelfth, amethyst”.

  You see not only is heaven well secured it is made from the very best stones. This description would emphasis to those people that heaven was a place meant to last. It was made from the best material anyone could conceive and made in such a way that makes everlasting. It’s not just a description of great beauty but one of great permanence.

  When we think of heaven, we must realize it will be a permanent dwelling place.  Nothing will break down, nothing will wear out. It is an eternal place meant to last an eternity.