"If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do?" — Psalm 11:3
Here is a hypothetical question of considerable import. The implication is that if, indeed, the foundations can be destroyed, the righteous will be left defenseless and helpless. And the aim of the ungodly, and the wicked spirit that motivates them, is just that: to destroy the foundations of faith and banish the righteous to oblivion. Could they do so, both God and the godly would vanish from society. In fact, there is a subconscious fear in the hearts of many, sometimes bordering on panic, that the foundations of our faith are in danger of being destroyed. These point to the forces in society and government that carry on, as they always have, a relentless attack on the Truth, and seem to be gaining the upper hand. The result is often a cry of resistance: for the election of certain government officials sympathetic to "our cause," or some public activism aimed at restoring respect for standards once held that are no longer endorsed in the halls of government or the streets of our cities. Well meaning as some of these efforts may be, they manifest a pathetic ignorance of the nature and magnitude of the issue.
Let us first ask, from a biblical perspective, what are the "foundations?" Note that since the word is in the plural, there must be more than one. A careful search of the scriptures suggests that there are, in fact, two.
The first is the Son of God. Through the prophet Isaiah and the apostles Paul and Peter, God revealed the first. "Therefore thus saith the Lord 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. 28:18]." (Paraphrase, "He who believes will not need to panic!") Under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit the apostle Paul declared, "According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation… For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ [I Cor. 3:10-11]." Peter, linking with the same Old Testament prophecy, observes, "Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on Him shall not be confounded {I Pet. 2:6]." The Lord Jesus Christ is the foundation and the chief cornerstone of our faith and the salvation it offers to embattled sinners.
The second foundation is the word of God. To the saints at Ephesus the apostle remarked, "Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and the household of God; And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone… [Eph. 2:19-22]." This "foundation" is the testimony of the apostles and prophets to the person and work of the Son of God, now preserved for us in the word of God, the scriptures. It is worth noting that, in fact, we have not two foundations, but a twofold foundation; the written word of God, and the living Word of God. The scriptures proclaim and confirm the Son of God as the Foundation of God's eternal purpose, and are intended to introduce us into a living relationship with the One who is "able to save unto the uttermost all that come unto God by Him."
These are, indeed, the foundations that are under attack in this "present evil world," by those who "take counsel together, against the Lord, and against His anointed, saying, Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us [Ps. 2:2-3]." But theirs, not ours, is the lost cause. "He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: the Lord shall have them in derision [ v.4]." Christ, as to His person, is a sure foundation, tried, proven and unassailable. And the scriptures are as enduring as He is. Matthew, Mark and Luke all record the Savior's declaration, "Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my word shall not pass away."
The foundations will not be destroyed. Jesus Christ, the Righteous and the sure foundation, is the same yesterday, today and forever. "Unto you therefore which believe He is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the Stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner, And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed [I Pet. 2:7-8]." "Jesus saith unto them, Did ye never read in the scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner: this is the Lord's doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes?… And whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken: but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder [Matt 21:42,44]."
No need to defend the Foundation; just proclaim Him. And live it! (See II Tim. 2:19)
For God's glory,
"Pastor" Frasier
Here is a hypothetical question of considerable import. The implication is that if, indeed, the foundations can be destroyed, the righteous will be left defenseless and helpless. And the aim of the ungodly, and the wicked spirit that motivates them, is just that: to destroy the foundations of faith and banish the righteous to oblivion. Could they do so, both God and the godly would vanish from society. In fact, there is a subconscious fear in the hearts of many, sometimes bordering on panic, that the foundations of our faith are in danger of being destroyed. These point to the forces in society and government that carry on, as they always have, a relentless attack on the Truth, and seem to be gaining the upper hand. The result is often a cry of resistance: for the election of certain government officials sympathetic to "our cause," or some public activism aimed at restoring respect for standards once held that are no longer endorsed in the halls of government or the streets of our cities. Well meaning as some of these efforts may be, they manifest a pathetic ignorance of the nature and magnitude of the issue.
Let us first ask, from a biblical perspective, what are the "foundations?" Note that since the word is in the plural, there must be more than one. A careful search of the scriptures suggests that there are, in fact, two.
The first is the Son of God. Through the prophet Isaiah and the apostles Paul and Peter, God revealed the first. "Therefore thus saith the Lord 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. 28:18]." (Paraphrase, "He who believes will not need to panic!") Under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit the apostle Paul declared, "According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation… For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ [I Cor. 3:10-11]." Peter, linking with the same Old Testament prophecy, observes, "Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on Him shall not be confounded {I Pet. 2:6]." The Lord Jesus Christ is the foundation and the chief cornerstone of our faith and the salvation it offers to embattled sinners.
The second foundation is the word of God. To the saints at Ephesus the apostle remarked, "Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and the household of God; And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone… [Eph. 2:19-22]." This "foundation" is the testimony of the apostles and prophets to the person and work of the Son of God, now preserved for us in the word of God, the scriptures. It is worth noting that, in fact, we have not two foundations, but a twofold foundation; the written word of God, and the living Word of God. The scriptures proclaim and confirm the Son of God as the Foundation of God's eternal purpose, and are intended to introduce us into a living relationship with the One who is "able to save unto the uttermost all that come unto God by Him."
These are, indeed, the foundations that are under attack in this "present evil world," by those who "take counsel together, against the Lord, and against His anointed, saying, Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us [Ps. 2:2-3]." But theirs, not ours, is the lost cause. "He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: the Lord shall have them in derision [ v.4]." Christ, as to His person, is a sure foundation, tried, proven and unassailable. And the scriptures are as enduring as He is. Matthew, Mark and Luke all record the Savior's declaration, "Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my word shall not pass away."
The foundations will not be destroyed. Jesus Christ, the Righteous and the sure foundation, is the same yesterday, today and forever. "Unto you therefore which believe He is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the Stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner, And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed [I Pet. 2:7-8]." "Jesus saith unto them, Did ye never read in the scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner: this is the Lord's doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes?… And whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken: but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder [Matt 21:42,44]."
No need to defend the Foundation; just proclaim Him. And live it! (See II Tim. 2:19)
For God's glory,
"Pastor" Frasier
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