A giant sinkhole opened up in Schmalkalden, Germany, about 98 feet across and about 65 feet deep that swallowed a car, part of a garage and house. Yet, it was small compared to the sinkhole that opened up in Guatemala City in 2007. Reportedly, residents heard rumblings for weeks but no one knew why. In one day, almost instantly, a perfectly round plot of earth disappeared and left a hole more than thirty stories deep!
Experts suppose that sinkholes appear because of the movement of earth beneath what we see everyday. The problem can be caused by the movement of water, flooding or changing weather patterns. Sinkholes occur when there is literally no ground under the ground, and everything pays the price for the lack of foundation, especially what’s on the surface.
There are some Christians who are like those sinkholes; they have no foundation under the surface. When circumstances are right, their lives “cave in” and cause damages that no one would have believed or expected. Spiritual sinkholes occur because of lack of knowledge in the word of God (Heb. 5:12-14). Spiritual sinkholes occur when someone fails to act on their faith (cf. Matt. 7:24-27; 2 Pet. 1:5-11).
How does a person guard against erosion of their faith? Second Peter 1:5-7 teaches that the guard is a solid foundation of faith, virtue, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly kindness, and love. “These things” repeated in verse 8, verse 9, verse 10, verse 12, and verse 15 are the surest way to solidify the foundation of faith. The promise is that one who “abounds in these things” will not be “unfruitful” or “barren,” “shortsighted,” and “will never stumble.”
Spiritual sinkholes can be avoided if there is more examination of self and examination of faith (Phil. 2:12; 2 Cor. 13:5)! Are our lives vulnerable to spiritual sinkholes brought about by lack of a firm foundation? We would all do well to thoughtfully and prayerfully make sure that we are building only on the solid foundation of Jesus Christ and His word (Matt. 7:24-27).
Andy Baker – Graeber Road church of Christ Rosenberg, TX
Out of love for one another…….
We are currently requiring everyone attending the Sunday morning worship assembly and Wednesday evening Bible study to wear a mask in keeping with the Health Departments guidelines. We thank you for your consideration of and care for others. Masks are available if you need one.
“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” (John 13:34-35 ESV)
Scripture of the Week
“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world, and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” ~~ Ephesians 6:10-12
Something to Smile About
History According to Schoolchildren The following excerpts are actual answers given on history tests and in Sunday School quizzes by children between 5th and 6th grade ages in Ohio. They were collected by two teachers over a period of three years.
Moses led the Hebrew slaves to the Red Sea where they made unleavened bread, which is bread made without any ingredients. Moses went up on Mount Cyanide to get the ten commandos. He died before he ever reached Canada but the commandos made it.
Socrates was a famous old Greek teacher who went around giving people advice. They killed him. He later died from an overdose of wedlock which is apparently poisonous. After his death, his career suffered a dramatic decline.
It was an age of great inventions and discoveries. Gutenberg invented removable type and the Bible. Another important invention was the circulation of blood. The Greeks were a highly sculptured people, and without them we wouldn’t have history. The Greeks also had myths. A myth is a young female moth.
Beethoven wrote music even though he was deaf. He was so deaf that he wrote loud music and became the father of rock and roll. He took long walks in the forest even when everyone was calling for him. Beethoven expired in 1827 and later died for this.
Julius Caesar extinguished himself on the battlefields of Gaul. The Ides of March murdered him.Think About It
―”The strength of a man consists in finding out the way in which God is going, and going in that way too.” — Henry Ward Beecher
―”Faith is the strength by which a shattered world shall emerge into the light.” — Helen Keller
―”To know the Word of God, to live the Word of God, to preach the Word, to teach the Word, is the sum of all wisdom, the heart of all Christian service.” — Charles E. Fuller
―”Is prayer your steering wheel or your spare tire?” – Corrie ten Boom
