A Rock Solid Foundation

Jesus knew a thing or two about building. One thing he knew was that you need a firm foundation, and what it stands on. Our faith is no different. We need a firm foundation and we need it to stand firm. We can only do that with Christ being that foundation. And what we stand on is His words…the truth.

Matthew 7:24-27

“Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock.

“But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall.”

If we have a firm foundation in Christ and when we follow His words, nothing can knock us down. Our faith may waiver from time to time, and storms will come, but Jesus will keep us strong. He gives us the Holy Spirit to keep our paths straight and to guide us through any situation. “I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.” (Philippians 4:13)

2 Samuel 22:2-7

And he said: “The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; the God of my strength, in whom I will trust; my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold and my refuge; my Savior, You save me from violence. I will call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised; so shall I be saved from my enemies.

“When the waves of death surrounded me, the floods of ungodliness made me afraid. The sorrows of Sheol surrounded me; the snares of death confronted me. In my distress I called upon the LORD, and cried out to my God; He heard my voice from His temple, and my cry entered His ears.

2 Samuel 22:47

“The LORD lives! Blessed be my Rock! Let God be exalted, the Rock of my salvation!”

David knew who to turn to in distress. When times are good or when times are bad, the Lord is our strength. He will guide us, and strengthen us and provide for us and protect us. He is God Almighty who is all-powerful and promises to take care of us. And most importantly He forgives us. That is why Jesus came to this earth, who died and rose again. He is our strength. And we (the church) have been built on Christ so that we can stand no matter what is thrown at us.

Matthew 16:15-19

He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter answered and said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”

Jesus answered and said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”

Jesus here substantiates who He is and starts the church. Jesus calls Simon Peter (Petros), which means little rock, or stone. He is commissioning him to lead the early church. But The Rock (Petra) is Christ, who will be the foundation of the church. Our foundation is not on any person on this earth, but it is on Jesus Christ, our God and our Redeemer who came to this earth to save us.

1 Peter 2:4-10

Coming to Him as to a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God and precious, you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. Therefore it is also contained in the Scripture,

“BEHOLD, I LAY IN ZION A CHIEF CORNERSTONE, ELECT, PRECIOUS, AND HE WHO BELIEVES ON HIM WILL BY NO MEANS BE PUT TO SHAME.”

Therefore, to you who believe, He is precious; but to those who are disobedient,

“THE STONE WHICH THE BUILDERS REJECTED HAS BECOME THE CHIEF CORNERSTONE,” and “A STONE OF STUMBLING AND A ROCK OF OFFENSE.”

They stumble, being disobedient to the word, to which they also were appointed.

But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy.

Jesus is that cornerstone in which we build upon. He is our foundation. We are strong because of who Jesus is. We will never fall because He holds us up. We have security in Him.

Romans 8:35-39

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written:

“FOR YOUR SAKE WE ARE KILLED ALL DAY LONG; WE ARE ACCOUNTED AS SHEEP FOR THE SLAUGHTER.”

Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Paul gives us these words of encouragement so that we know that with Christ, nothing or no one can separate us from His love. We have eternal life in Jesus Christ and He gives us abundant life here on earth and in heaven.