Supported by your prayers, I was sent to a church in Amagasaki to speak to the people there. Now, this morning, I am standing here again to speak to you with the words of God.

A few days ago, I happened to be watching a certain t.v. program that featured a family that was travelling all over the world. There were a few children in this family, and because of their adventure, they were not going to school. It's true! They cannot go to any school while visiting various places in the world. But, certainly, they have learned and are still learning many things. What surprised me most in watching this was that one of the children told a reporter that she had found a real food called "manna" in Mongolia, and then she suddenly started talking about the story of how God fed the Israelites manna in the wilderness. "God gave them food called 'manna'" she said, and wanted to continue, but the reporter looked embarassed, I think because he did not know the story. Of course, this is a well-known story among Christians, but to non-Christians, it can be a brand-new story. Hearing her tell this famous Bible story, a thought occurred to me, "Maybe these people are a Christian family, or maybe their children once went to a Sunday School.." I also learned that this girl had being storing up the words of God without fail. I learned it from a little girl. And this happening reminded me of yet another story; the story of the wise carpenter and the foolish one..

We can't tell what will happen to us, even in the near future. [And, it is frustrating, isn't it!] As you know, no one could predict the great earthquake that we experienced in Kobe [Hanshin] a couple of years ago. Of course, in the case of this kind of disaster, there's very little we can do. We can't stop it from happening, but we can learn how to react effectively against it, or how to accept its reality when it happens. We should know and be aware of certain remedies in these unexpected occurences. Jesus told us that there's no point in making fusses over some events, but that we should be prepared. After the earthquake in Kobe, specialists have been studying the strongest foundations for buildings. Yes, we are to dig all the way down to the bottom in building foundations.

In 1 Co.3:10-11, Paul also said that Jesus was coming back. If our foundation that is in Him remains, even through fires, floods, and earthquakes, in that time when Jesus returns, and if He finds that our firm foundations are left, then we are regarded as wise carpenters. See Mt.24:35. Though living in this material world (see also 1 Co.7:31), the visible will pass away. We firmly fix our eyes on what we can see [and Shido is currently debating with a young man in the USA about what is not visible], but all of those things will be gone someday. Nothing in this world is eternal: 1 Pe.1:23-25.

We became children of God with the blessing and grace of God's imperishable words. In the Book of Ecclesiastes, King Solomon strongly criticized the vanity of this world. But, if we keep standing on the firm and imperishable foundation of God and His words, we will never fall. In the beginning, we are told, it was all chaos, and then with God's words, "Let there be light!" God created the world [we have more or less today]. You know our foundation of life even has the power of creating.. This strong power of God's words is way beyond the trial of Satan. We have various problems in many places; in families, schools, and our society itself. They are all breaking down. They are not operating orderly. However, these powerful words of God have created what we can see: He.1:3

Just think about the universe; there are thousands of stars and planets which are staying perfectly in their correct places. If the earth were even one mile closer to the sun, it would not exist the way it does now!

I wonder if you know of any Christians living in China; they can't confess their faith publicly. They have been gathering secretly to worship God and have been underground for a long time. Not everyone among them has their own bible. They are in great need of bibles. Lots of them can't read the bible or even see it for very long times. But, they share the words one to another, and feel joy inside when receiving each word of the bible. They long for the words of God. Are we really like them? I know that they have a firm foundation in God's words.

Our church, which has a foundation in God's words, will last in this place until Jesus comes back -- this I am very certain of.

Let us be ones who long for the words from God.

Translated by Junko Okamoto - Edited for the Net by Shido
For another sermon see: Oita Evangelical Christ Church
For all sermon indicies see: cHaPeL nOaH sErMoN iNdEx