How Can I Have a Strong Foundation?

Over the years we have seen the rise and unfortunate fall of several Christian “influencers.” These individuals have served to celebritize Christian leadership within the body by bringing to themselves a level of notoriety that is unprecedented in our social media driven society. The level of devotion received by their own congregations, and those who follow them virtually, border on, in some cases, a level of idolatry. Our mega-churches were never meant to be entertainment venues.

I’m sure in most cases these individuals do not intentionally choose to become the object of someone’s faith. But because the cross has taken a back seat in many of these places, those who attend are ill-equipped to stand up against the wiles of the devil. Leadership, in some of these places, have opted for a watered down version of the gospel which can neither save, nor sanctify. When any congregation, or individual comes to church to see a personality, rather than hear from the Lord, then something has gone wrong.

“Then Jesus told them, ‘This very night you will all fall away on account of me, for it is written: ‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered’” (Matthew 26:31).

Any time we hear of the moral failure of a church leader, there is cause to pray. Not just for the individual, but for the congregation. If individuals within that congregation have placed that leader on a spiritual pedestal, then those individuals will find themselves becoming distracted and demoralized. A fallen idol cannot be replaced—and indeed, should not be. A congregation who loses their shepherd, is a congregation in danger of being ravaged by the enemy.

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The sad truth is that this truth, spoken by Christ in Matthew, plays out each time a Christian leader or influencer stumbles, falls, backslides, apostatizes, or even renounces their faith in the public light; and we have seen them all over the past several years. As they go down, they will sadly take many with them. These are those who clung to and lived by these influencers’ every word.

The problem is that they had no word of their own; their roots are not secured, and were easily uprooted. They had a weak, faulty, or non-existent foundation. If the foundation is faulty, then everything built upon it will be unsteady, unsafe, and will eventually crumble.

This is why Jesus spoke these words:

“Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash” (Matthew 7:24-27).

Building a Strong Foundation

So, how can we have a strong foundation? In order to have a strong foundation, there are certain things that as a Christian you must believe beyond a shadow of  doubt.

Christ doesn’t ask us to become Bible scholars, or seek out degrees or diplomas in these things, though all those things have their place. He doesn’t even call on us to become proficient in the delivery of these truths. He simply wants us to be fully convinced of His Word, with no doubts in mind whatsoever.

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If you’re going to have a strong foundation, you must believe that the Bible is God’s Word. Here is where it all begins. Before you can have a strong foundation you must first have full confidence in the source of our foundation. All truth flows from His Word, and the centerpiece of this truth is Jesus Christ.

“Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth” (John 17:17).

Not being able to understand a certain portion of the Word does not nullify it. Some who do not believe in the Trinity have done so on the premise that they cannot explain it to their satisfaction. We must take His Word as it is and not do it any violence by trying to disprove what we do not understand. When we set ourselves to read and study, we are to pray, and ask that the Spirit of God, who superintended over each word of Scripture, to open the eyes of our understanding, that we might receive all the riches contained within it. 

“Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15).

The word “study” here means “to be diligent.” As we approach His Word, we are to do so with a mind to uncover all of its riches, not leaving a stone unturned. Whatever the Spirit reveals, we are to read and heed; receive, and believe – this is because the Spirit of God will never lead us into error.

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If you’re going to have a strong foundation, you must believe that Jesus Christ is the only way. I have heard professing Christians say that Jesus Christ is just one of the ways to God. This could not be further from the truth. What else could Jesus mean when he spoke these  words? 

“Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me’” (John 14:6).

Jesus leaves no room for confusion. If you want to go to heaven, if you want to see the Father, you must go through Him. We must be careful not bow down to any of the popular “-ologies.”   

“Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ” (Colossians 2:8).

The world’s philosophies would never tell or advise you that Christ is the only way, because the world’s wisdom is not equipped to do so. Read what James says about the wisdom of the world:

“This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic” (James 3:15).

Believe in Salvation Through Grace

Finally, if you’re going to have a strong foundation, you must believe that salvation is by grace through alone.

If you believe that Jesus Christ is the only way, then you must in turn believe that the salvation He offers is by grace through faith.

“For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9).

Without believing this vital truth, we can plunge our life in Christ into a chasm of legalism and religion. Our works are important, but they did not save us, and surely cannot keep us saved. God’s grace, coupled with our faith in Christ keeps us plugged into the victory He won at Calvary. Praise the Lord!

A strong foundation is contingent upon these three beliefs, all of which are made possible by Christ’s sacrifice on the cross. Believing them strengthens our walk, and grow us in His grace.

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