Foundation

Foundation means the solid base on which a building is built, usually below ground level. In simple terms I mean how strong or how weak are we in the Lord?

There are a lot of things that we can share as brethren and sisters as we journey towards the Kingdom of God. Many a beloved one has gone astray due to some weakness in their foundation. Before I hit the nail on the head, let us recall Matt 7:24-27 where Jesus is talking about two builders who built their structures using different materials: “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice, is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. As the rain came down, the streams rose and the winds blew and beat against that house, yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose and the winds blew and beat against that house and it fell with a great crash”.

Let us look within ourselves to find where we belong in this passage. Are we like the wise man who built his house on the rock, or like the foolish man who built his house on the sand? If we are a wise man who built his house on the rock then why do we cheapen ourselves with the foolish things of this world, neglecting the work of our Lord Jesus Christ, fighting among ourselves instead of doing what is right, rather than pointing the finger at each other? Jesus Christ is where we can attain the strong foundation because he is a rock that cannot be shaken by any gigantic wind.

Sometimes we may feel that serving God is a waste of time or is toilsome. If so, we should realize that everything we have comes from Him who has chosen us to live, to breath fresh air, and not ever to worship any other gods that can be found in this fleeting life. But we have decided to follow the important things, not the things of this world.

How have we built our foundation? Have we built our foundation on worldly materials or ungodliness? Then we hould know that our foundation is ready for destruction. But if we build on the rock of Jesus Christ, then we are on that which is immovable.

The prophet Isaiah has a vital reason why we should base our foundation on the rock that cannot be blown nor crushed in any forms of destruction because it has passed the test already. “See, I lay a stone in Zion, a tested stone, a precious corner stone for a sure foundation; the one that trusts will never be dismayed” (Isa 28:16). What a lovely and inspiring message from this scripture; when we put our trust in this precious corner stone we will never be disappointed!

Maybe some of our relatives have disappointed us because of our belief, but let us remember that our Lord Jesus Christ was also disappointed (rejected) by his own people, the Jews. Let us hold on to the living God, the Father, through His Son, Jesus Christ. The prophecy is based on Jesus Christ being described as the precious corner stone, which was tested in all forms until he was nailed on the cross for you and me in order that we might be saved. This shows how precious he was, because he remained obedient in all hardships he went through, and when we build our foundation on him we shall never be disappointed.

Another example that we have is found in Paul’s letter to the Corinthians: “By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as an expert builder and someone else is building on it. But each one should be careful how they build. For no-one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid which is Jesus Christ. If any man builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay, straw, his work will be shown for what it is because the day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each man’s work” (1 Cor 3:10-13). This issue is serious for every believer because it would be very shameful and disappointing, if upon being tested our labours were unsatisfactory.

Finally, as we help one another towards the Kingdom of God, we should realise that we maintain our own building on the foundation of the apostles and prophets with Jesus Christ as the chief corner stone. In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by His spirit (Eph 2:20-22). Let us hold on to this truth that we have chosen and use our free time in devoting ourselves to His word. Let us nourish ourselves with the daily food of our soul. Nevertheless, God’s solid foundation stands firm, sealed with this inscription: “The Lord knows who are His”.

Bro Stephen Siamabi (Lusaka, Zambia)