Building Houses 11.25.07

2 Chron 6:2 I have surely built You an exalted house, And a place for You to dwell in forever."

Due to the downturn in the housing market, we are seeing record low numbers in housing-starts in the U.S. these days. If no one is buying, there is no point in building. In our own local community, there are probably hundreds of unoccupied houses right now.

But God has promised to occupy any house which is built for Him. Not many people believe that anymore, and it is tremendously unfortunate for our city, our county, our state, and our nation – let alone the world.

Not many even attempt to begin to build or remodel a house for the Lord…too much planning…too much faith required…too much up-front investment, and a lack of belief in the certainty of a return on the investment.

And so our nation is in a greater state of disrepair all the time. People continue to live in their old houses, and despite some effort, (works,) those houses ultimately fall because they are built on weak foundations, and because a painted exterior cannot stop the unseen rot which is occurring within.

I grew up in the Washington, D.C. area. When we used to visit inner-city D.C., we would see many hundreds of row-houses that looked awful. Whole areas of the inner-city were depressed, and the thought of putting any investment into those houses seemed a huge waste of time, money, and effort. It had been 100 years or so since major areas of the city had any maintenance whatsoever. Large parts of the city were ugly, depressing, and crime-riddled. (At that time Washington was the murder capital of the U.S.)

But then something wonderful began to happen. An investor with faith here. An investor with faith there. An isolated house on this block or that block. It was puzzling that anyone would take the risk, but the results were amazing. It seems once one house on a block was remodeled and made new, then others would follow. Rather than the new house being destroyed by the ugliness and crime present, the new houses inspired the owners of the old houses in disrepair to fix their houses to bring them up to the standard of the newly remodeled and beautiful homes. Soon, whole neighborhoods were converted, crime was driven out, and the inner city became one of the most sought-after areas to live, and one of the areas of greatest return on investment.

All it seemed to take was one house on a street, or in a neighborhood, to kick off a whole round of renewal and restoration. David first, and then Solomon knew this about Israel. They knew the difference building a house for God could make for Jerusalem and for the nation. Now, what about the street you live on?
- Pastor Bill