In ancient times, people built walls around their towns for the same reason we lock our doors at night — protection. God revealed to the prophet Ezekiel the wall of righteousness protecting the people had been destroyed, and the nation was in trouble. The same is true for Bulgaria. After five hundred years of Islamic rule and fifty years of communism, the wall of righteousness guarding Bulgaria is in shambles.
A small stone wall in our village needs to be rebuilt. Over the years, it slowly has fallen apart. Now it’s more a pile of stones than a wall; it needs to be restored. For those of you who haven’t had the privilege, building a stone wall is neither a quick nor an easy task. (I think this is one of the reasons most houses in the United States don’t feature stone walls.)
The most important part of any stone wall is the foundation. Without a solid base, the wall will eventually topple. However, foundation work is the most unsatisfying part of the job. No one will ever see it. It is both the most important and the most underappreciated.
The foundation of a wall and the foundations of faith have similar characteristics: underappreciated, often overlooked, and vital to stability. Perhaps this lack of attention to discipleship has led to crumbling walls of faith among us.
In Bulgaria, the minute someone makes a profession of faith or shows interest in growing in the faith, he begins a Discipleship Essentials course with a mature believer in the church. A shallow foundation of faith has only one outcome, and it is never good. The main question is how long we want our wall of faith to stand. In this area of Europe, I have seen strong, effective walls dating back to when North Carolina was still inhabited by the Catawba Tribe, and no European had ever planted corn. I’ve also seen some modern walls that last only until the next heavy rain.
Discipleship — foundational work — is neither quick nor easy. Honestly, at times I get discouraged. The hard work of discipleship is often unseen and far from glamorous. Yet, one day I hope someone will pass by a wall of faith in someone’s life for which I have helped set the foundation.
On that day, I hope they have the same feeling I have when I see an old stone wall that has stood the test of centuries. I stop in amazement, awed by the discipline and tenacity it took to build the wall.
Let the walls of faith in the lives of others be our legacy.
About the Writer: Tim and Lydia Awtrey have been serving in Bulgaria for 15-plus years.
