The House That Jesus Built

Pavement Ends Ministry

This Old House

On April 16, 1978, Deborah and I were married. In 1979 we purchased a house and it has been our home ever since. In this house we have laughed and cried, fought and made up, celebrated and mourned. This is where we live. In this house, we raised our family, and every inch of it is coated with memories. It is our home, but it is not us, it is not our marriage

This house greatly reflects our personalities. We are familiar with all the creaks and pops and every crack in the walls. There is contentment to be found in its every flaw and there is no more comfortable place than our house. But if it is taken from us tonight and if tomorrow we are homeless, we will still have each other. You see this house is our home, but it is not us, it is not our marriage.

All over this land, there are buildings that people call churches. Some are beautiful brick-and-mortar structures, while others look more like metal warehouses. In these buildings church members have laughed and cried. They have fought and made up and they have celebrated and they have mourned. In these buildings, the family of God has grown and they are filled with memories. But we would still gather if all these buildings were destroyed today and we had no place to gather. We would still worship God. These buildings are not the church, they are not our salvation.

The church is the bride of Christ, and Jesus is the Bridegroom. He loves the church and He gave His life for her. But when Jesus said," I will build my Church” He was not talking about brick and mortar. No. He was talking about us. We are His bride, and we are His church God has chosen us to be precious, living stones in the spiritual house that Jesus is building.

One day all these buildings that people call churches will rot and burn. They were never meant to be permanent. However, the church that is the bride of Christ is built on a firm foundation and will never fail. Christ loves the church and gave Himself for us. He has sanctified and cleansed us. One day we will be presented to Him as a glorious church, holy and without blemish. Because we are the Church that Jesus is building.