S17P9 – When Jesus walked in: a new foundation

Matt. 7:24-27

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. 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.

We live in a world in which everyone seems to have a platform. Whether it is environmental preservation, animal rights or educational reform, there are many causes behind which armies of loyal proponents have formed. Some people devote all they have and all they are to a singular cause. And while there are many noble causes one can support, we must be careful not to allow them to form our foundations. A believer’s foundation cannot be made of that which will pass away, even if it pleases God in the moment. The foundation must be rooted in Jesus Christ himself.

Jesus is the chief cornerstone of the believer’s foundation [Matt. 21:42]. In a foundation, all other stones are laid in reference to the cornerstone. This means that a properly placed cornerstone will allow for a sound foundation, while an inadequate stone or an inadequate position will bring a weak foundation at best. Having Jesus as our cornerstone does not mean that we cannot have other stones in our foundation, causes for which we stand and work that we do to honor God. It does mean, however, that none of those things can be the source of our stability. When we build on good deeds, God-honoring labor or even ministry, we build on sand. Those things do not save. We are saved only by faith in the completed work of Jesus Christ.

If we pile all the grains of a good man’s good works for the span of a lifetime, it is still only a mound of sand. That mound of good works cannot compare to the rock that is Jesus Christ. Those grains will move at the slightest touch of a child. They cannot be relied upon to remain firm but can be expected to shift and conform to greater forces placed upon them. The rock of Christ, however, forever stands firm. No power is its equal. When we build on him, we build on an eternal foundation built around a perfect cornerstone. Let the winds roar and the waters rage; we will care not. Jesus the anchor of our faith will not waver. Father, help us to keep Jesus Christ as the cornerstone of our foundations, the stone by which all other stones are measured and placed, so that we will stand firm in the winds and the waves as stalwarts of the faith.