A Firm Foundation

My hope is built on nothing less
Than Jesus’ blood and righteousness.
I dare not trust the sweetest frame,
But wholly lean on Jesus’ Name.

On Christ the solid Rock I stand,
All other ground is sinking sand;
All other ground is sinking sand.

What beautiful words of truth are found in this old hymn! The songwriter poetically rephrases a precept where the Bible instructs us to build our lives upon the Rock, Jesus Christ. In Luke 6:47-49, we read the story of two houses that were built using two different types of foundations. We know that the house built on the rock, which Jesus used to symbolize His Word, is the house that withstood the storm.

When we are constructing our lives upon the Word of God, there is no way we can go wrong, for this foundation is the only one which will stand the test of time. II Timothy 2:19 tells us that, “…the foundation of God standeth sure…” The problem arises when we begin to build upon something other than the solid and true Word of God. I Corinthians 3:11 says, “For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.”

We cannot improve upon this foundation that God has given us, nor can we build some other foundation and still succeed. The only sure thing upon which we can found our lives is the Rock of Christ Jesus and His Word, which John 1:1-14 tells us are one and the same. John explains that the Word is God, and the Word or God became flesh in the form of Jesus Christ; therefore, the Word of God and Jesus are one. So if I am building my life on the principles found in the Bible, then I am actually building my life upon Jesus Christ himself.

In the second chapter of his letter to the Ephesians, Paul writes that the people of God are “built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;” There is no safer and surer place to be than that!

Psalm 62:6-7 reads, “He only is my rock and my salvation: he is my defence; I shall not be moved. In God is my salvation and my glory: the rock of my strength, and my refuge, is in God.” This brings to mind the words of another great hymn, which says in part,

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,
You, who unto Jesus for refuge have fled?

Yes, the only place of safety and refuge in this life is in that Rock of Ages, the stone which the builders rejected. May we not follow in their folly, but fully lean on Jesus' name, for He truly is our firm foundation.

--J.D. Sutter


All Scripture references are the King James Version.

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