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Building on the Sure Foundation

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Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Jun 22, 1911

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 88, No. 25.

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Building on the Sure Foundation

By W. W. P.

In building for time, a good foundation is important. In building for eternity, it is absolutely essential. The Lord intends that Zion shall stand forever, and with this in view he has provided a sure foundation. “Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner-stone of sure foundation: he that believeth shall not be in haste.” It is certain that this sure foundation is Jesus Christ. Here is a scripture which will make this clear: “So then ye are no more strangers and sojourners, but ye are fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God, being built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the chief corner-stone.”
It is also clear that this rock foundation upon which a human temple may be builded which shall stand forever, is the union of divinity and humanity in the person of Jesus, Son of God and Son of man. We are assured of this in our Lord’s own words. After Peter, speaking in behalf of all the disciples, had confessed his confidence that Jesus was “the Christ, the Son of the living God,” our Lord said unto him: “Upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hades shall not prevail against it.” The testimony of the apostle Peter is to the same effect: “The Lord is gracious: unto whom coming, a living stone, rejected indeed of men, but with God elect, precious, ye also, as living stones, are built up a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood.” In giving his only begotten Son to take the flesh, Jehovah has laid in Zion a sure foundation. Resting upon this foundation, the church of the living God will stand forever. Death will not prevail over it, because Jesus, its founder and its foundation, has conquered death. This is the Christian’s hope.
Concerning this foundation it is said, “He that believeth shall not be in haste.” Further light is thrown upon the meaning of this statement by its use in the New Testament. Thus the apostle Peter says: “Behold, I lay in Zion a chief corner-stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be put to shame.” By putting these two readings together, it is evident that the expression “shall not be in haste” and the expression “shall not be put to shame” are equivalent in meaning. The one interprets the other. “The meaning is that those who believe the divine declaration, and thus rest for safety on the foundation here promised, shall feel themselves so perfectly secure that they shall never have occasion to suspect their confidence; or, under the impulse of fear and shame, to betake themselves with speed to another refuge. It is security which can never fail.”
But the inquiry may be raised, With what propriety can it be said that we believe on a foundation? Those to whom this statement was originally made through the prophet Isaiah did not need to ask this question; for to those who used the Hebrew language the connection was apparent. The word here translated “believe” is closely associated with the word meaning “to build.” He who believes on this foundation thereby builds upon this foundation, and he will never be put to shame because of any defect in the foundation. His only care need be that he uses the right kind of material in building. “For other foundation can no man lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. But if any man buildeth on the foundation gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay, stubble; each man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it is revealed in fire; and the fire itself shall prove each man’s work of what sort it is.” We might add, however, that those who really believe on this foundation, who really build by faith, will find that their building will stand. For genuine faith deals only with the Word of God; and “the Word of our God shall stand forever.”
In this time of storm and tempest every one ought to know for a certainty that he is building upon the sure foundation. Those who are building upon anything else than the rock foundation will soon be put to shame.
“O build on the Rock, forever sure, The firm and the true foundation; Its hope is the hope which shall endure,— The hope of our salvation. We’ll build on the Rock, on the solid Rock, On Christ, the mighty Rock.”
W. W. P.