The One True Foundation

On October 31, Reformation Day, we remember something which took place many years ago. Does the Reformation still have a mandate in this present time? Many will say, “No.” That is why it is easily overshadowed by the heathen custom of Halloween. In order to understand that October 31 has a mandate in this present time, we must see the similarities between then and now.

Then it was dark. The Word of God had lost its place in the theology of that time. But how is it today? Again the Word of God is being set aside. In brute denial man says, “Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die.” We compromise more and more what our forefathers held sacred. That is why we deem it a blessing that as a people we may observe the day on which we remember how the Lord has preserved His truth for us, how our forefathers gave their lives for that truth, and how blessed we are that we may still have the truth.

Thinking of the truth, we are reminded of the words of the above text as spoken by Paul. Especially when we think of the Reformation, we are reminded how eager man is to lay other foundations. How important it is that by the grace of God no other foundation is laid than that which the Lord makes known in His Word. Then all of man must be laid aside, that Christ may be all, for He alone may be our hope and our glory. In the life of those living stones built upon this foundation, many trials, many temptations, many fiery darts from hell, many dark nights, and much bondage must be endured. Why is this? It is that we may be prevented from adding one stone by our hands to this spiritual building.

It is the wonder of God's grace when eyes may he opened to see a foundation laid outside of themselves in Jesus Christ.

A foundation is very important. Most of it usually lies deep in the ground, hidden from the natural eye. So it is also with the foundation mentioned in our text. The natural eye does not see it, and the world does not need it, but the Lord will always have a people whose beginning was of God. They were stopped upon their mad dash to eternity. Their eyes were opened, and there they saw what they had never seen before. They saw that under the heavy burden of sin and guilt they were sinking to the very bottom of hell. Then the publican's prayer was awakened within: “God be merciful to me a sinner.”

How can God ever show mercy to such wretches as we are? It is the wonder of God's grace when eyes may be opened to see a foundation laid outside of themselves in Jesus Christ. There then comes a desire and a love for the truth that explains this foundation. There are times when the spiritual eyes may look to that foundation, and they may repeat the words of David, “Lead me to the rock that is higher than I.” How essential it is that we as a people may beg the Lord that the sound of the trumpet may give a clear sound in making known this only foundation and how the Lord brings them as living stones to be built upon this foundation.

In the dark Middle Ages man had lost that knowledge. There in enmity and foolishness many laid another foundation, uniting God's one-sided work with the works of man. That was a totally false foundation. It was missing God's light and God's Spirit. The walls upon that false foundation rose higher and higher. They were beautifully constructed, but they missed the foundation laid, which is Christ. There was no master-builder. In God's time, in a new, sweeping reformation, the Lord washed away their carefully constructed building. Why? How?

The Lord gave men who, by the grace of God, might point out that the building of their hope and faith was resting upon a false foundation. These men pointed to the only foundation laid in Christ. Does the Reformation then have a mandate today? Yes, in this 21s t century, we need to stand still with the request within us, “Lord, may the sound of the trumpet today give a clear sound among us.” Why be so concerned? It is because in these latter days the devil has all his forces out in the field seeking, if at all possible, to take that truth from us. The world is always willing to replace the truth with something that will prove to be lies. Then that evil heart within us is also always willing to follow those leads where the truth is not found.

But the wonder is that the Lord has laid a foundation, and upon that foundation He continues to build His church. An earnest question must therefore be laid in our hearts personally. Is that truth being blessed in my life? No, not only must I have a knowledge of what the truth is, but do I stand firm for the truth? There are still many people who have a knowledge of what the truth is, but does that truth humble my heart, bringing me to the knowledge of my deep fall? May I now, as a poor, needy beggar, plead for a glimpse of that only foundation, Jesus Christ?

Paul has said that no one can lay another foundation than that which is laid. No one can do so. God the Father cannot, for He is the unchangeable One. He says, “My counsel shall stand, and I will do all My pleasure.” Only upon the foundation laid from heaven can He save your soul.

No one can do so. God the Son cannot, for He is the only Mediator. Only His blood and righteousness can be a hiding place for a lost and needy sinner. Only standing upon this foundation can He call to them, “Come unto Me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” It is only because of His drawing that the sinner cries out, “Lord, show me the way unto that foundation.”

No one can do so. God the Holy Ghost cannot, for He is the Work-master from heaven. The only thing He gives is what God the Son has obtained. The only ones He can give it to are those known by God the Father in that eternal covenant between the Father and the Son.

Oh, what a glorious truth that is! It is something that must be made known over all the world, that from all the corners of the earth those may be gathered whose names are written in the book of life. Then the eternal God calls and sends men to blow the trumpet, and the sounds of that trumpet make known law and gospel, death in Adam and life in Christ.

Oh, what a glorious truth that is! It is something that must be made known over all the world, that from all the corners of the earth those may be gathered whose names are written in the book of life.

There stood Martin Luther. It was the Lord who awakened him to a new spiritual life. It was the Lord who gave him to sound the trumpet of God's truth. There he stood with his ninety-five questions at the door of the chapel of Wittenberg. World, are you listening? The trumpet is being sounded as to what must be known unto salvation. There he stood by the mighty structure of a church that missed God's foundation. God would bring it down. Why? It was because He is ever faithful in maintaining His truth.

Throughout the ages God has sent men to blow the trumpet and continued to send them. True, they were but men, but by the grace of God they may sound the trumpet of His blessed Word and make known what must be known shall it be well for the soul. Those of us who may have heard it for so many years, what are the fruits of it in our lives?

Paul pointed to an only foundation, saying, “Which is Jesus Christ.” There, in those heavenly regions, the Father spoke, saying, “Who will be the foundation for My church? Who will be the resting ground for My people?” There the Son spoke, saying, “Father, send Me.” And in the fullness of time He, the holy Son of God, came. He came upon this sin-cursed earth, carrying the mandate of His Father. He suffered and died upon Golgotha's cross. There He cried, “It is finished.” The foundation is laid, “which is Jesus Christ.”

The apostle tells us, “Other foundation can no man lay than that is laid.” It is after the Lord has stopped the sinner, after He has opened his heart and eyes to know something of Jesus, that he is so apt to come with material the Lord will not use. Paul said that it is like gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble. One spark of the wrath to come will burn it so that there is nothing left. How blessed you are when the Lord has opened your eyes, and now as a poor, needy sinner you may cry for mercy. How blessed are you when the Lord has opened your eyes and you may have a glimpse of the foundation which is Jesus Christ. How blessed you are when, seeing that foundation, you may weep to possess it and to know the power of His blood and the covering of His righteousness.

Paul says, “There is no other foundation,” and those people do not want another foundation.

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