Standing with Christ

God's throne has a foundation:

Psalm 97:2 "...Clouds and thick darkness surround Him; Righteousness and justice are the foundation of His throne..."

God laid the foundation of the earth:

Job 38:4 "...Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Tell Me, if you have understanding,..."

Zechariah 12:1 "...concerning Israel. Thus declares the LORD who stretches out the heavens, lays the foundation of the earth, and forms the spirit of man within him,..."

Hebrews 1:10 "...YOU, LORD, IN THE BEGINNING LAID THE FOUNDATION OF THE EARTH, AND THE HEAVENS ARE THE WORKS OF YOUR HANDS..."

Solomon laid the foundation for the first temple:

2 Chronicles 8:16 "...Thus all the work of Solomon was carried out from the day of the foundation of the house of the LORD, and until it was finished. So the house of the LORD was completed..."

Zechariah 4:9 "...The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this house, and his hands will finish it. Then you will know that the LORD of hosts has sent me to you..."

Zerubbabel laid the foundation for the rebuilt temple:

Ezra 3:10 "...Now when the builders had laid the foundation of the temple of the LORD, the priests stood in their apparel with trumpets, and the Levites, the sons of Asaph, with cymbals, to praise the LORD according to the directions of King David of Israel..."

Jesus is, and has always been, the true foundation:

Matthew 13:35 "...This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet: "I WILL OPEN MY MOUTH IN PARABLES; I WILL UTTER THINGS HIDDEN SINCE THE FOUNDATION OF THE WORLD..."

1 Corinthians 3:11 "...For no man can lay a foundation other than the one which is laid, which is Jesus Christ..."

1 Peter 1:20 "...For He was foreknown before the foundation of the world, but has appeared in these last times for the sake of you..."

Do we choose where we stand, how we build, and therefore our final outcome?

Luke 6:46-49 "...Why do you call Me, 'Lord, Lord,' and do not do what I say? "Everyone who comes to Me and hears My words and acts on them, I will show you whom he is like: he is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid a foundation on the rock; and when a flood occurred, the torrent burst against that house and could not shake it, because it had been well built. "But the one who has heard and has not acted accordingly, is like a man who built a house on the ground without any foundation; and the torrent burst against it and immediately it collapsed, and the ruin of that house was great..."

1 Corinthians 3:12-15 "...Now if any man builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each man's work will become evident; for the day will show it because it is to be revealed with fire, and the fire itself will test the quality of each man's work. If any man's work which he has built on it remains, he will receive a reward. If any man's work is burned up, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire..."

1 Timothy 6:17-19 "...Instruct those who are rich in this present world not to be conceited or to fix their hope on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly supplies us with all things to enjoy. Instruct them to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, storing up for themselves the treasure of a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is life indeed..."

Are we a reflection of the same foundation laid down by Christ?

Righteousness and Justice - proper and correct with a genuine respect for all people.

Radical Forgiveness - to pardon, to cancel a debt, to wipe the slate clean, even for the "unforgivable".

Radical Love - unconditional, sacrificial concern for another, even the "unlovable".

What happens when foundations are damaged?

Psalm 11:3 “...If the foundations are destroyed, What can the righteous do?..."

* Scriptures from the New American Standard Bible