by Shayla Asselin
Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Zion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded.
1 Peter 2:6
Over the past few years, there has been a new decorative trend that seems to have taken Pinterest, Hobby Lobby, and many other places by storm. You probably know it. The washboard that is bought to hang next to a washing machine. Or the “Life is Great on the Farm” sign that is displayed in a house right in the middle of a subdivision. Or the “Fresh Pies Made Here” sign that I love even though I have never made a pie from scratch in my life. Most people call this design style “Faux Farmhouse.” Merriam Webster defines faux as “not real or genuine: made to look like something else that is usually more valuable.” In other words, fake.
I was reading in Luke 6 and reread the story about the builders. One built his house upon a rock and the other built his house upon the sand. We probably all know how the story ends. The one who built his house on a firm foundation was able to withstand the storm and the one who built his house on a faux foundation experienced great ruin.
What I felt like writing about today is nothing new or complex. I just wanted to remind us all to build our lives on the Solid Rock.
Isaiah 28:16 reads, “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.” If you read the rest of Isaiah 28, you’ll find that this verse is God’s response to the scornful defiance by the rulers of Israel. They had become friends with their enemies, and by doing so, they were certain that they were safe. To this scornful and false reliance, God answers with a beautiful explanation of the sure refuge He has provided, set in contrast to the flimsy and faux ones, on which these men built their confidence.
Jesus Christ is the foundation laid for our refuge against every storm. Haven’t we all, like the men in Jerusalem, built our refuges on vain hopes, fading affections, and earthly possessions, that will be easily swept away when a storm comes? We must build up the Firm Foundation that neither sadness, changes, disappointments, challenges, nor loss will ever move. When the rain washes away the lies and pretenses, this Foundation stands sure.
In the original text, we find that this verse tells us that He is “a stone of proof.” Meaning this Stone has been tested and tried and has been found dependable. This Foundation has withstood criticism, doubt, slander, trials, and attacks but has never been shaken. Building upon this Stone is the one safety we have against the storms of life.
The foundation of all our security is Jesus. When we trust in the Lord and anchor our hope in Him, we are safe. That confidence involves the abandonment of all the “safety” this world provides. We have to totally forsake every dependence upon anything else, if we are to trust ourselves to Jesus Christ.
I’m reminded of a beautiful hymn, written by Edward Mote in 1834:
My hope is built on nothing less
than Jesus' blood and righteousness;
On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand:
all other ground is sinking sand;
My prayer for each of us today is that we find the confidence to fully abandon any security or foundation that is not Jesus Christ. Because if we cannot find that confidence, we will not be able to withstand the storms of life.
