Boasting in Confident Foundations

Hebrews 3:1-6 English Standard Version (ESV)

Therefore, holy brothers, you who share in a 
heavenly calling, consider Jesus, the apostle 
and high priest of our confession, 2 who was 
faithful to him who appointed him, just as 
Moses also was faithful in all God's house. 
3 For Jesus has been counted worthy of more 
glory than Moses—as much more glory as the 
builder of a house has more honor than the 
house itself. 4 (For every house is built by 
someone, but the builder of all things is God.) 
5 Now Moses was faithful in all God's house 
as a servant, to testify to the things that were 
to be spoken later, 6 but Christ is faithful over 
God's house as a son. And we are his house 
if indeed we hold fast our confidence and our 
boasting in our hope.

I must confess and apologize to my community of faith for my late post having just experienced what snow storms will do to Chicago flight connections. I just returned from Venice, Italy, where my wife Cheryl and I, along with close friends Joni and Steve Rankin, experienced the awesome sights of the Basilica of Saint Mark. When we speak of art in worship and the power of artistic expression to connect us with the mystery of God, there is none greater in my opinion than this house of worship. Every kind of stone, wood, glass, tile, precious metal and jewel worked by thousands of artists with great skill and time was on display. The church is truly indescribable! The church is also sinking and slowly falling apart.

I do not want to imply any lack of appreciation for the reverent sacrifice made in the creation of the Basilica of Saint Mark nor the wonder and glory of this expression of worship, but the very point of creating it illustrates what it cannot adequately do—fully represent the glory of the house of God built in Jesus Christ. Jesus is the builder of all things and the artisan of who we are—our author, builder, and perfecter. We are the precious materials of His glorious work still in progress. We are designed to be more than the expression of the very nature of God but the dwelling of His presence if we hold fast to that purpose whose foundation was laid unsinkable and without decay in the cross. What a hope; what a purpose; what a confident foundation!

Martin Rude is the director of outreach ministries at Southwestern College.