by Mike Benson

The place was Palmer, Alaska and the date was July 21, 1988. There were 288 construction workers waiting for the signal to begin work. It was a contest to see how quickly a house could be built.

They were encouraged by 6,000 spectators and a country music band. The record they set was absolutely incredible. In only 3 hours and 54 minutes, the team of builders had erected an $80K, two bedroom home.

After that, the furniture company furnished the house in just under 4 minutes. An "instant home."

We may have "instant houses", but there are no instant homes. Homes take time to build. They are not built out of brick and mortar, but out of love, hope, patience, and trust (cf. 1 Corinthians 13). There will never be any bands playing, nor crowds of spectators cheering you on. Neither will there be any press releases announcing when you are through and the time that was required for the building. The truth of the matter is that you always find improvements which need to be made.

But with love as the foundation and God as your architect, you can know real joy as you watch your home develop.

"Unless the Lord builds the house, its builders labor in vain"(Psalm 127:1).