On the way back from our mission trip to Ormoc City, we had a ten-hour layover in Seoul. Instead of just sitting out the whole time at the airport, Grace and I decided to avail of the free Korea transit tours offered travelers like us. We chose the five-hour tour.
One of the places we visited was the Gyeongbokgung (“Palace Greatly Blessed by Heaven”). It is a whole complex of buildings first constructed in 1395 as the main palace of the Joseon Dynasty. Twice it was destroyed, the latest being in the early 20th century when Imperial Japan invaded Korea. Currently, the palace is still in the process of restoration.
Our tour guide showed us some pictures of the foundations that remained of the destroyed buildings that were still to be rebuilt. He told us that the existing foundations are helping the rebuilders in their effort to restore the structures in the way that they should. Then, in the course of the tour, he pointed out a building that looked very much like some of the other buildings already restored. But the tour guide made the interesting comment that that particular structure was a “meaningless building.”
He explained that the building was built out of materials similar to the other structures in the palace complex. Even the design resembled the other structures. But it was not erected on any of the known foundations of the original palace, and was not a reconstruction of any of the buildings that were destroyed. The building was based on the current builders’ “creativity” rather than the original design of the palace. In other words, it was meaningless because it did not accomplish the reason of the whole project: restoration of the original palace.
We often do the same in the realm of Christian life and service, don’t we? We build our lives and ministries based on the blueprint or standard of our own creativity and preferences, but do not really consult God’s plan and purpose. And the foundation on which we erect our life and ministry is on something other than the one secure and stable foundation. “Remember, there is only one foundation, the one already laid: Jesus Christ” (1 Corinthians 3.11 The Message).
Now that which we build may look like Christianity. But it would only be appearance, not reality. If we build on the wrong foundation, and base our building on some other design or plan other than what God has revealed, what we will have may seem impressive to some. But, ultimately, it will be nothing but a meaningless building. Not useful to the cause of Christ.
—Keith Y. Jainga