Introduction: A Time for Inventory
When we look at the world around us, it seems like everything is shaking. Financial systems wobble, governments falter, cultural values shift like sand in the wind. Even in our own personal lives, we face disruptions—whether health scares, broken relationships, or unexpected changes at work. And yet, in the midst of instability, the Word of God reminds us that there is a foundation that cannot be shaken.
Acts 17:28 declares, “For in him we live, and move, and have our being.” These words, spoken by Paul in Athens on Mars Hill, were delivered to people surrounded by idols, uncertainty, and false philosophies. The Athenians had erected an altar “To the Unknown God” because they feared leaving someone out. Into that confusion, Paul boldly proclaimed that the true foundation of life was not found in idols, not in philosophy, not in power or wealth, but in the living God who made the heavens and the earth.
Today, we face a similar challenge. We are surrounded by idols of success, fame, technology, and self-sufficiency. But as believers, our call is clear: to stand firm on the only foundation that will endure—God Himself.
1. What Does It Mean to Have God as Our Foundation?
The 1828 Webster’s Dictionary defines “foundation” as “the basis or groundwork of anything; that on which anything stands, and by which it is supported.” Think about a building: no matter how beautiful the walls or impressive the design, if the foundation is weak, the whole structure is at risk.
The same is true in our lives. Without God as the basis of all we do, everything else crumbles when pressure comes. Jesus made this point vividly in Matthew 7:24–27, contrasting the wise man who built his house on the rock with the foolish man who built on sand. The storms came to both houses. The difference wasn’t the weather—it was the foundation.
To have God as our foundation means:
- Identity: Knowing who we are in Christ, not in achievements or failures.
- Direction: Letting His Word guide our steps instead of being swayed by culture.
- Strength: Drawing resilience from His promises rather than human resources.
2. The Attacks on Our Foundation
The adversary knows the importance of foundation. If he can shake what we stand on, he can topple the structure of our lives. That’s why so many attacks are aimed not at the surface but at the core—our beliefs, our faith, our convictions.
- Doubt: “Did God really say?” was the serpent’s first question in Eden (Genesis 3:1).
- Fear: When fear takes root, it erodes our confidence in God’s goodness.
- Distractions: The world bombards us with noise, pulling us from prayer and the Word.
Paul warned in 1 Corinthians 3:11, “For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.” Anything else—whether human wisdom, wealth, or religion—will fail. The enemy’s strategy is to lure us into building on lesser ground.
3. Building on the Rock: Practical Steps
Jesus Christ is the foundation, but we are called to build wisely upon Him (1 Corinthians 3:12–15). Here are four practical steps:
- Daily Renewal in the Word
Romans 12:2 calls us to be transformed by the renewing of our minds. Just as a building needs maintenance, so does our spiritual life. Scripture isn’t decoration—it’s reinforcement. - Cultivating a Prayer Life
Prayer connects us to the source of power. Daniel stood firm in Babylon because his foundation was built on daily prayer (Daniel 6:10). - Walking in Love
Ephesians 3:17–18 says we are “rooted and grounded in love.” Love is not an accessory—it’s bedrock. Without it, our witness collapses. - Community and Unity
We were never meant to build alone. Like Nehemiah’s wall-builders, we strengthen one another. Unity in Christ reinforces the structure of God’s people.
4. No Middle Ground
Foundations leave no room for neutrality. Either you build on the rock or on the sand. Jesus said in Matthew 12:30, “He that is not with me is against me.”
This may feel uncomfortable in a culture that celebrates compromise, but truth demands clarity. Paul didn’t mince words on Mars Hill. Surrounded by idols, he proclaimed one true God. Likewise, we must boldly declare that only Christ is the foundation—there is no middle ground.
5. When Foundations Are Tested
Think back to moments in your life when the ground seemed to crumble beneath you—an unexpected job loss, a health crisis, or betrayal by a friend. Those moments reveal where our trust really lies.
David faced such a test when fleeing from Saul. In Psalm 11:3 he cried, “If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do?” His answer was clear in verse 4: “The Lord is in his holy temple, the Lord’s throne is in heaven.” Even when earthly foundations crack, God remains unshaken.
6. Living with Confidence Because of Our Foundation
When God is our foundation:
- We can face fear without being paralyzed. Jesus told Jairus in Mark 5:36, “Be not afraid, only believe.”
- We can face opposition without shrinking back. Romans 8:31 reminds us, “If God be for us, who can be against us?”
- We can live fully without distraction. Colossians 3:2 directs us, “Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.”
Confidence doesn’t come from the absence of storms but from the certainty of the foundation beneath us.
Conclusion: An Invitation to Build
Every one of us is building something with our lives—whether we realize it or not. The question is not whether storms will come; the question is whether what we have built will stand.
Paul’s declaration on Mars Hill still echoes today: “In Him we live, and move, and have our being.” That is the invitation—to build not on shifting sand, but on the unshakable foundation of Jesus Christ.
So let’s take inventory. Are we standing on Him as our everything? Are we reinforcing our lives with prayer, Word, love, and unity? If not, today is the day to rebuild. Because when Christ is our foundation, we can face a shaken world with unshakable confidence.
Rev. Ronald Wright
