God’s Solid Foundation Stands Firm

By Joe Chesser       Among the last words written by the beloved Apostle Paul are found in 2 Timothy 2.19: “Nevertheless, God’s solid foundation stands firm, sealed with this inscription: ‘The Lord knows those who are his,’ and ‘Everyone who confesses the name of the Lord must turn away from wickedness.’”     Our world is unstable. The economy is always in a state of flux. Our national confidence could crumble at any time. Job security is a thing of the past. Health? Morality? Friendships? Even our family relations are at risk.     But regardless of what is happening in the world around us, one thing has always remained constant ... and it always will: “God’s solid foundation stands firm!”     The context of Paul’s statement to Timothy is reassuring even for us 2000 years later. The point here is not to establish the trustworthiness of God. That is firmly established in other Scriptures (Heb. 13.6,8; Isa. 41.10; Prov. 30.5; 1 Thess. 5.24; Deut. 7.9, 32.4; Psalm 111.7). The point is that because God is so solid and sure, we can trust that what God began cannot be destroyed no matter what happens in the world around us, or even among ourselves in the church! Jesus built the church, and not even Satan can destroy it (Matt. 16.18)! Godless chatter and false teachings can spread like gangrene, causing some to wander away from the truth (2 Tim. 2.16-18). Nevertheless, God’s solid foundation stands firm! That’s why each of us needs to do our very best to be approved by God by handling accurately His word of truth (2 Tim. 2.15). God and His truth will never change, but we certainly may.     Wrong ideas about God, His truth, and His church are circulating all around us. They always have. They always will. That’s why it is so important to consistently trust the source of truth instead of what others say about it. “The Lord knows those who are his” (2 Tim. 2.19). People are confused about who are Christians and who aren’t, but God is not! If we study accurately what God says about how to be saved, we don’t have to be confused either. The same principle is true about the church Jesus built, about how to live as God’s people, about how to worship, about marriage and family, about ethics ... about everything pertaining to life and godliness: “His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence” (2 Peter 1.3 emphasis mine). That was written in the 1st century, and is just as true in the 21st century as it was the day it was written. God has made sure we have all we need to become His children and to live like His children. Where there are doubts, God and His words are a solid, unchanging foundation to discover and on which to rely. People with slick tongues and great sounding arguments will try to lure you away from God and His truth (2 Tim. 4.1-4). Don’t fall for it. Examine things yourself by examining truth (2 Cor. 13.5).     The Lord knows who belongs to Him. He knows who we are, where we are and what we need. Why trust anyone or anything other than Him and His truth?

- Joe Chesser preaches for the Fruitland Church of Christ, Fruitland, MO.  He may be contacted at joeandareva@yahoo.com