Deuteronomy 27

Therefore it shall be, when you have crossed over the Jordan, that on Mount Ebal you shall set up these stones, which I command you today, and you shall whitewash them with lime. And there you shall build an altar to the LORD your God, an altar of stones; you shall not use an iron tool on them. You shall build with whole stones the altar of the LORD your God, and offer burnt offerings on it to the LORD your God. You shall offer peace offerings, and shall eat there, and rejoice before the LORD your God. And you shall write very plainly on the stones all the words of this law."

(Deu 27:4-8)

I love the way the Israelites were to start their life in the Promised Land: A monument to the word of God, and an altar to remind them of their need for a sacrifice. As they entered this new phase of their life as a nation, they were to begin by acknowledging their foundation. Without God’s Word, without His law, His promises, and His covenant; these people were nothing. They had no hope; they would merely be strangers in a strange land. But with the Lord on their side, all of His promises and the covenant He had made with them, they had hope without measure.

When we begin a new phase of life, whether it is a new school year, or a move to a new location, or just the passing of another year; we need to examine our foundation. What are we building on? What are we basing our life and the decisions we make upon? Is it The Lord, His sacrifice and His Word? Or are we basing everything on ourselves? This is what the nation of Israel was faced with; they were challenged to make sure that as they entered this new season in their history, they were building upon the foundation the LORD had established.

Jesus asked us all to examine our lives, and see what foundation we build on. Are you the wise man today, building your house upon the rock of Jesus Christ? Or, are you the fool, building your life on the shifting sands of this world? If you are building on the sands of this world, I pray today would be a day where you choose to enter into a new season of life, building on the solid foundation God has provided.