The Certainty of God's Foundation by George I. Butler

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Mar 23, 1911

The Certainty of God's Foundation

By George I. Butler

GEORGE I. BUTLER

True wisdom demands certainty in its hopes and aims. It is the greatest folly to devote our life to laboring for uncertain objects. The world is full of such unwise examples. Lives devoted to unattainable ends, to utter disappointment at last, are a dead failure; they are nothing less than consummate folly. Such are all merely worldly lives, ending in anguish and despair, hopes wrecked and blighted forever.

Inspiration presents a better ending: “Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.” 2 Tim. 2:19.

By reading the connection we learn that in the wonderful apostolic church there were those who left the truth of the gospel. “But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness. And their word will eat as doth a canker: of whom is Hymenæus and Philetus; who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already; and overthrow the faith of some.” Then comes the assurance of the certainty of God's “foundation” for the salvation of men. These had taught false doctrine, and carried off disciples after their heresy. Paul speaks of Hymenæus and others, in his first epistle to Timothy: “Of whom is Hymenæus and Alexander; whom I have delivered unto Satan, that they may learn not to blaspheme.” 1 Tim. 1:20. By the words “delivered unto Satan,” we may understand Paul to mean casting them out of church fellowship, having thus withdrawn from them the indorsement and sympathy of the church because of heresy. Paul speaks of others who had withdrawn from the church. “Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world.”

The beloved John had also to meet the unreasonable opposition of selfish professors in his time. “I wrote unto the church,” he says, “but Diotrephes, who loveth to have the pre-eminence among them, receiveth us not. Wherefore, if I come, I will remember his deeds which he doeth, prating against us with malicious words: and not content therewith, neither doth he himself receive the brethren, and forbiddeth them that would, and casteth them out of the church.” 3 John 9, 10. This course of ill treatment of John, the last of the twelve, is astonishing. We see, therefore, that all were not faithful in the apostolic church, to which all Christians look back with deepest respect.

One sad truth we shall ever find in this world of sin and imperfection, connected with even the true church,—there will be tares among the wheat, false professors among the true believers. It was so when Israel came out of Egypt. It was so in the early church of Christ our Lord. There was a Judas among the twelve; Ananias and Sapphira were numbered among the early believers; Hermogenes, Alexander, Philetus, and Demas flourished during the apostle Paul's experiences, and Diotrephes in the time of John's labors.

But what if there were? In the parable of the sower, representing in figure the proclaiming of divine truth, there were the stony-ground believers, who accepted with quick and great joy the truth, but did not long endure; also the thorny-ground believers, who accepted, but permitted the love of the world to choke the good seed, so that no fruit was manifested. Only the good-ground believers brought forth thirty, sixty, and a hundredfold. So it will ever be in this world. We must endure to the end, in order to be saved.

But let us more closely notice the certainty brought to view by the apostle.

Though Hymenæus and Philetus proved unworthy, “nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his.” What is the “foundation” which God laid for the salvation of mankind?—Christ is that foundation. He is the Rock on which his church is built. “There is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” He is the “Rock of Ages.” We are to hide in him. God laid that foundation. He is like the great rock in the mighty current of the stream of time. The rock stands firm; the currents have to turn aside in order to pass on. Christ's words have come down through the ages, strengthening, illuminating, refreshing, upholding; they are light, and they are life. They stand more fast than the mountains of earth. Those who cling fast to him and his cross can never be moved. Those who trust in him will be as Mount Zion above. The time will come when the greatest earthquake this world has ever felt will shake down every man-made structure, yea, every island of the sea, and the very mountains themselves will move out of their places. The surface of the earth will be reduced to its original chaos, without form and void. The mountains will skip like rams, and the little hills like lambs, as the mighty words of God go forth. But the foundation God laid at the beginning for man's salvation will stand sure as the throne of the Almighty. Those who cling to Christ, the foundation laid on which to base our faith, can never be moved. It is the only sure thing in this world of change.

But God in his infinite tenderness goes a step further in his statement. This great truth of the sure foundation has a seal attached to it as a still more comforting assurance. The seal is considered an all-important feature in all legal documents. It is an evidence of proper authority. Every justice of the peace, every governor of a State and national court, has his seal. Every law of the United States goes forth with the great seal of the United States attesting its validity and showing its genuineness. So the certainty of God's foundation has this seal attached, “The Lord knoweth them that are his.”

It is said of some most famous generals that they personally knew every soldier in their army. But more encouraging than such a thought is the statement that the God of heaven knows personally every true believer. The name of every one is written in the Lamb's book of life. God has forgiven the sins of every one. His eyes are over those who serve him. He loves them as “the apple of his eye.” His Son died for them on the cruel cross. He knows every trial, every weakness. He hears their earnest prayers, and sends answers of peace.

Mansions of glory more beautiful than palaces of earthly monarchs are being built for every one of God's children in the capital of the universe, the New Jerusalem. Christ himself said so just before he left this world. John 14:1-3.

“Knoweth them that are his”?—Yea, verily, God the Father knoweth every one of his children here on earth. He sees us struggling with difficulties, temptations, besetments, and many sorrows. He sends angels who excel in strength to help us meet every obstacle. Can the devil wrest any soul out of the Father's hand who will steadfastly cling to God?—No, never. Before he would permit such a soul to be torn away, God would send every angel from heaven to prevent it.

But, says the poor doubter, how, then, are so many believers lost to the cause?—They are lost because they do not cling to God, because they become careless, welcome Satan's temptations, become lovers of this present world, and give way to appetite and evil passions. They do not endure to the end. Our faith will be tested. All heaven is interested in us; Christ pleads for us. Strength awaits the earnest prayer of faith, it ever has and ever will. But we must be earnest, obey God, keep his commandments, and trust in Christ as our ever-living, ever-loving Saviour. We must put a great discount on doubts, and a large premium on faith and confidence and trust in God.

Yea, verily, “the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.” Again I say, There is nothing in this world so sure as the Christian religion; nothing so certain as the Christian's hope. All worldly plans and schemes will end in the saddest disappointment. Millions in the end will wring their hands in agony to see how cheaply they have sold themselves to the god of this world.

Bowling Green, Fla.