For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians 3:11
As we watched the builders working on the construction of a new house across the street, we saw them complete the various major steps along the way, such as erecting the walls, installing the roof trusses, and fitting the doors and windows into place. But before they could reach these stages, they had to complete one valuable step on which the entire project depended; they had to lay the foundation. Very carefully they measured and installed the forms for the footing course. Only when that footing course was complete and inspected could they move on to the actual house construction. And because a good foundation exists, that house can be built, and eventually lived in, with confidence. The same principle applies to the life of every Christian.
Just as before a house can become a house it must have a foundation, so to a person cannot become a Christian until that person has Christ. Salvation is the critical component that brings a Christian into being. Many of those who would call themselves Christians today are merely practitioners of the Christian religion, and the Christian religion, like all other religions, leads to hell. Religion and church membership provide no foundation for anything eternal. Our text makes it plain that one foundation, and one foundation only, is available to us. And unlike the sinking sands of man’s foundations, the foundation that we have as believers is the solid Rock that stands forever. It was Christ as our foundation that brought us eternal life, and it will be Christ as our foundation that we enter into and spend life eternal. Not only is the solid foundation of Jesus Christ the foundation that has saved us, but He is also the only foundation we can offer to others in the spread of the Gospel. And He is the only foundation on which we can build our life as His people.
We hear people around us declaring that they live their lives according to the Golden Rule. That is not a bad plan, if they could only carry through on it. Others say they live according to the values and instruction of their wise parents. Yet others align themselves with various creeds and systems. Many of these sound good and might well provide foundations for a worthwhile life if applied sincerely. For the Christian, our foundation is not a creed or a doctrine nor a set of rules. Our foundation is a Person, a unfailing and faithful Person, a wise and loving Person who is incapable of disappointing us in any way. No wonder that Paul could proclaim, ‘For me to live is Christ’ (Philippians 1:21). Through Him we have access to infinite wisdom and knowledge, available in the nearest Bible. Through Him we have access to the very presence of God, available instantly through prayer. Through Him we have access to sweet fellowship and aid, available through the company of the Lord’s people.
When this pitiful little dust speck of earth has crumbled, our Foundation will stand sure. And we will stand in Him. -Jim MacIntosh