Forks Of Cypress Mansion ~ A "Type" Of Our Eternal Life?

Today on Facebook, a hometown Friend posted in the "Remember Tuscumbia" profile page an article telling the story of an iconic home standing in my hometown area of the Shoals of Alabama when I was a young boy.  It was the Forks of Cypress, built in 1830 and destroyed by a lightning caused fire in 1966. 

Over the years I have seen photos of the Forks of Cypress as it once stood in glorious splendor, photos of the fire that destroyed the beautiful 1830 mansion, and photos of the brick columns still standing today as a symbol of resilience.

Reading the article and looking at the photos of the Forks of Cypress today made me think of an issue often debated in Christian circles - Eternal Security.  

When, by grace through faith, we become believers and followers of Jesus Christ, adopted children of God - can anything we, or anyone else, do cause us to lose that eternal security given to us when we were adopted into the family of God?  Or will we live eternally in the glorious presence of Jesus Christ? 

For me, this Scripture passage clearly answers those questions:

1 Corinthians 3:10-15, "According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I have laid the foundation, and another builds on it.  But let each one take heed how he builds on it.  For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 

Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each one's work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one's work, of what sort it is.  If anyone's work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward.  If anyone's work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire."

In all questions regarding our Christian faith, we must always go to the sole authority, God's Written Word, the Bible.  And those photos of the Forks of Cypress immediately made me think of that Scripture passage found in 1 Corinthians 3:10-15, particularly verse 15:  "If anyone's work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire."

When you look at the photo below of the of the solid foundation and the brick columns still standing after the horrendously destructive fire - what does that tell you?  It tells me that, when we have a firm foundation, the wood and and weaker materials forming our lives may burn - but that solid foundation will still be standing.  For we who have put our faith in Jesus Christ, He is that Firm Foundation - which can never be destroyed.

1 Corinthians 3:10-11, "According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I have laid the foundation, and another builds on it.  But let each one take heed how he builds on it.  For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ."

That is the sense of eternal security - the sense of peace, even when the world around me is burning, that I was reminded of when I saw the brick columns of the Forks of Cypress standing in the photo.

This is the article which reminded me today that I am a Child of God, secure in His family:

Forks of Cypress (Mansion)
By Kayla C. Scott, University of North Alabama http://www.encyclopediaofalabama.org/article/h-3867

Built for Irish immigrant James Jackson and completed in 1830, the Forks of Cypress mansion was situated on a plantation that encompassed 3,000 acres. Jackson purchased the land for his home from Cherokee chief Doublehead and would later gain renown for importing and breeding race horses.

The mansion was one of the earliest Greek Revival homes built in Alabama. It was designed by noted architect William Nichols who also designed the state capitol building in Tuscaloosa, Tuscaloosa County, and the University of Alabama's original campus. It was located just west of present-day Florence, Lauderdale County, between the forks of Big and Little Cypress Creeks.

The building was a tourist attraction as well as a museum for a number of years but burned in 1966, leaving only 24 brick columns.

The Forks of Cypress house, completed in 1830, was built by planter and horse breeder James Jackson outside Florence, Lauderdale County.  The home was unusual for being surrounded on all sides by a colonnade. 

It burned as a result of lightning in 1966 but had been fully documented in photographs and diagrams by the federal Historical American Building Survey in the 1930s. Those plans were later used to re-create the home as a bank building in Florence in 1982. (Courtesy of the Library of Congress, Historic American Buildings Survey)

My Friend, I pray that when you look at this Forks of Cypress collage you, too, will have that sense of eternal security in Christ - given to you the moment you received Him as Lord and Savior (John 1:12).

If you do not have that eternal security peace, if you have not yet surrendered your life to Jesus Christ - please, do it today.  For tomorrow is promised to none of us, today is our day of eternal life. 

There are no confusing hoops you must jump through, no great works you must do to receive His FREE gift of eternal life.  These Scripture passages, in sincere faith, can guide you into eternal peace and a life in Christ.

John 3:14-16, "And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but HAVE eternal life.  For God so loved the world (you, me, all people) that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but HAVE everlasting life."

Ephesians 2:8-9, "For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast."

Ephesians 1:13, 4:30, "In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of Truth, the Gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise,  .  .  .  And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption."

John 1:12, "But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name."

Many folks say a prayer we call the Sinner's Prayer to receive Christ - but remembering that a prayer is really just a conversation with God - in your own words, in your own prayer - acknowledge Jesus Christ as YOUR personal Lord and Savior, ask Him to send the Holy Spirit to live within you for the rest of your life.  When you sincerely do that, YOU are a Child of God, permanently adopted into His Family.   Welcome to the Family of God.

God bless, have a wonderful, blessed day,

Bill 

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