Lessons from theHeart
Life's foundation
By Pastor Chuck Compton

Compton

Alittle over 150 years ago, in the hills of western Virginia, Robert, a tall, gangly, 19-yearold, with dark curly hair was united in marriage to Amanda, an attractive dark haired 17- year-old, attired in a stylish wedding dress she had made. Her father, a cobbler, had prepared them for life together by making them stylish and durable shoes. His father, a potter, gave them a covered wagon, a yoke of oxen, a plow, a potter's wheel, and a cast iron Dutch oven.

Robert and Amanda were very proud as they walked west. Each could read and write a little. Whenever they found good clay, they camped and made a supply of plates, mugs, crocks, pitchers, and jugs. This pottery was exchanged for molasses, corn meal, and salt. Meat and fish were provided by Robert's hunting and fishing skills. Robert and Amanda seemed to have everything they needed and would be able to provide security for themselves and their children as they were born.

Then a Civil War, war injuries, disease, and imported dishes destroyed their security. Life became very difficult for Amanda and their four children while Robert was a prisoner of war. After Robert came home, wounds that wouldn't heal and disease continued to make life hard.

Robert and Amanda, my great-great-grandparents, found out the hard way that neither our abilities nor any of the promises of this world can provide true security in our lives.

Where do we find a solid foundation for our lives that will last forever? God spoke these words through His spokesman, Isaiah: "When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze." (Isaiah 43:2) God has told us that we do not need to fear anything, because He is personally involved in our lives, has offered to renew our lives and has called each of us by name.

The reality that God was there for Robert andAmanda in everything that their family experienced and that God was there in my life amazed me. I didn't think that I was worth caring about, and it amazed me that Jesus Christ cared enough about me to die on the cross in my place, the price for all that I had done wrong.

Psalm 20:7-8 records the thoughts of the psalmist as to whom or what should be the foundation of his life. "Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God. They are brought to their knees and fall, but we rise up and stand firm." There is only one solid foundation for our lives that will last forever, Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior!

Chuck Compton is pastor of Flora Presbyterian Church.