The Firm Foundation

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“What will the righteous do?” (Psalm 11:3)

The prophet Isaiah gave us these immortal words, spoken directly from the mouth of Almighty God – “Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste” (Isa 28:16). This Foundation Stone is none other than Christ Jesus Himself. And Paul affirms this in the New Testament: “For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ” (1Co 3:11).

Followers of Jesus down through the Centuries up to this present day each hold to an unwavering confession, penned by William Bradbury long ago. "On Christ the Solid Rock I stand; all other ground is sinking sand!" You want to know what the righteous will do when all other foundations are destroyed? They will stand firm upon Christ the Solid Rock!

Jesus Himself said, “Then everyone who hears these Words from Me, and does them, I will compare him to a wise man who built his house on the rock; and the rain came down, and the floods came up, and the winds blew, and fell against that house; but it did not fall, for it had been founded on the rock. And everyone who hears these Words of Mine, and who does not do them, he shall be compared to a foolish man who built his house on the sand; and the rain came down, and the floods came up, and the winds blew and beat against that house; and it fell, and great was the collapse of it.” (Matthew 7:24-27)

Those who place their faith in Jesus have an anchor that holds in the stormiest of gales. Their hope is unflinching, the faith undaunted, and their lives unshaken. They shall, in the words of the prophet, “not make haste.” In other words, they do not panic; they are neither disturbed nor anxious, and shall not be disappointed nor ashamed.

The Message puts it this way, “But the Master, GOD, has something to say to this: "Watch closely. I'm laying a foundation in Zion, a solid granite foundation, squared and true. And this is the meaning of the stone: A TRUSTING LIFE WON'T TOPPLE.” (Isaiah 28:16).

Perhaps the old hymn, written by John Rippon in 1787, says it best:

“How firm a foundation, ye saints of the Lord, is laid for your faith in His excellent word! What more can He say than to you He hath said — to you who for refuge to Jesus have fled?

“Fear not, I am with thee, oh, be not dismayed, for I am thy God, and will still give thee aid; I’ll strengthen thee, help thee, and cause thee to stand, upheld by My gracious, omnipotent hand.

“When through the deep waters I call thee to go, the rivers of sorrow shall not overflow; for I will be with thee thy trouble to bless, and sanctify to thee thy deepest distress.

“When through fiery trials thy pathway shall lie, My grace, all-sufficient, shall be thy supply; the flame shall not harm thee; I only design thy dross to consume and thy gold to refine.

“The soul that on Jesus doth lean for repose, I will not, I will not, desert to his foes; that soul, though all hell should endeavor to shake, I’ll never, no never, no never forsake.”
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