The Foundation

“... built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure is joined together and grows into a holy temple in the Lord; in whom you also are built into it for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.” Verses 20-22.

The Jewish builders rejected Him whom God had made the cor­nerstone in the building. The prophets prophesied beforehand and the Apostles testified afterward concerning the coming of the Cor­nerstone into the world. But the religious builders of that day did not realize that this Jesus of Nazareth, the son of a poor carpenter, was someone to be esteemed—much less someone worthy of being placed as the chief cornerstone in God’s plans. No, it never oc­curred to them that such a great and almighty God would employ such lowly means. Surely this cornerstone—if He was going to be a human being at all—at the very least would come from a “good family.” Surely he would be found among the learned, among the scribes, among those who were highly esteemed, one in whom peo­ple could delight.

Little did they suspect that God would act in such a totally unex­pected way, thus confounding their soulish, preconceived ideas. And yet our Lord Jesus Christ is the Chief Cornerstone in God’s building, and the prophets and Apostles who point to Him and testify about Him in what they write and say have received that hon­orable place of being stones in the same foundation where their Master is the Chief Cornerstone.

We can never be the foundation, but we can be built upon it. The foundation bears us, not we it. Just as God was in control when the foundation was to be laid, He is likewise the One in control of the construction of the building upon the foundation. He has gathered the materials for this most unusual temple from all different kinds of people down through the ages.

A house stands firm when one has dug deep and laid the foundation upon the rock. But if the rock splits, that’s the end of the house. The house that God builds is a spiritual house put together by God’s Word. It will remain standing when the elements burn with fervent heat; it is even written that it will stand when the first heavens and the first earth pass away and the sea is no more. (Revelation 21:1.) Blessed is the one who has all his interests and all his investments in this house and who is personally a part of the house! No one can lay another foundation. Everything that is built on another foundation will be burned with fire. Just as each of the saints grows individually, so the whole temple also grows. We are knit together and built up together with the others into a habitation of God in the Spirit.

One often hears people say (especially when they have become offended about something or other) that they can “go it alone.” But God says that we shall be built up together with the others. He can’t use stones that have not allowed themselves to be fit together with the others. Since the foundation itself cannot remain alone but supports everything that is built upon it, neither can we re­main alone. We need the others’ support; they, in turn, need ours.

“... from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by every joint with which it is supplied, when each part is working properly, makes bodily growth and upbuilds itself in love.” Ephesians 4:16. To grow as a body is something we can’t do alone, any more than a hand or foot can grow by itself, separated from the body. Indepen­dence does not exist in a body; it exists only in one’s carnal imagi­nation. In a body, every single member is put to use on behalf of the other members; and the more that member serves others, the more necessary and indispensable it is. The one who would be great does not think in terms of going it alone, but rather of serv­ing the others in the body as much as he can.

Who had a better opportunity to remain alone than Christ, the One who was the Father’s delight before the world ever was? But He didn’t wish to remain alone; His delight was in the sons of men. Didn’t Moses have an opportunity to remain alone as the son of Pharaoh’s daughter? He chose instead to suffer hardship with the people of God. It might seem that Joseph had every reason to re­main alone with all his Egyptian glory, considering the treatment he received from his brothers. Perhaps, but he did not remain alone. He had a more noble mind than that; he became a savior for his whole family. Never think about going it alone. If you are tempted to get offended, conquer it by God’s power, for it is our glory as saints to overlook an offense. (Proverbs 19:11.)

There is one situation in which you must remain alone: that is when you are to bid farewell to everyone inside the camp whom you know and hold dear, in order to go out to Him outside the camp, bearing His reproach. But once having come there—outside the camp—you will never remain alone with Jesus, because He Himself is not alone. He walks in the midst of the seven golden lampstands, which are the seven churches.

We are never happier than when we are together with Jesus Christ and with one another. If you come to Jesus alone because you are offended at someone, He won’t want to have you with Him alone. This is why He says, “Go and be reconciled to your brother.” Jesus came to make us one in Him, just as the Father and Son are one. Think about this when you are tempted to go it alone. Let the cross break down the enmity so that you and the others may become one in Him who loved us and gave His life for us all.