Cambridge SDA Church

A PILLAR OF GOD

by Lemuel Niere

“Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord…” 1 Corinthians 15:58.

Have you ever looked at someone and thought, Wow, that person is such a rock! What does it mean to you when you think of someone as a “rock”? That’s a strong statement, so it would be well worth our time to think it through and decide what characteristic makes a person a “rock” to you, to someone else, or to a church, business or organization.

The word “stedfast” in our text has several meanings:

• It means to be stationary, such as something that sits in one place for a long, long time.
• It describes something that is firm and steady.
• It was frequently used in connection with foundations or support structures in buildings.
• It portrays something that is strong, unbendable, unbreakable, and permanent, such as a well-built foundation for a large building or a strong column that holds up a roof.

So when Paul urges us to be “stedfast,” he’s calling on us to be totally reliable—not shaky or undependable. We should be stationary in the roles God has called us to fulfill in the Body of Christ. We shouldn’t be quickly shaken or easily lured to some other place or some other task. We must be pillars, foundations, or supports in the house of God.

What is the purpose of a huge stone pillar in a building? Its purpose is to support the roof or some other important section of the building. What would happen if you suddenly jerked that pillar out of its place? You’d find out very quickly that the pillar had been essential to holding up the place! Remove it and the entire building would collapse into a heap of rubble.

When God tells you to be “stedfast,” He is asking you to be a “rock” in His house—like a pillar that faithfully stands in its place and helps hold things together. He wants you to be so dependable that people lean on you, counting on the fact that you’ll always be there to help keep things together. And when events occur that shake up everyone’s world a bit, God wants people to look to you as one who isn’t easily excited, shaken, or affected.

Are you such a kind of person? Oh, that our church were filled with such dependable, reliable people “pillars” to keep the church strong and steady even in troublous times!