“If The Foundations Are Destroyed…”

 

By Gene Lawley

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“What can the righteous do?”

 

That question in Psalm 11:3 truly is a sobering one, and the time has come to explore the issues and answers. This obviously deals with foundations of faith that righteous people stand on and depend on for their convictions and guidance for living. But who and why would anyone purposely attend to that kind of destructive deviltry? (Oops! I just categorized some folks.)

 

The foundations of biblical faith have been under assault since Satan whispered to Eve in the Garden, “Has God indeed said….” And that origin tells us much about all that has followed over the centuries. Attempts to block God’s plan for the coming Redeemer is a central theme in the history of the Hebrew nation. And Satan did not concede defeat when the Son of God came into human history, was crucified and rose from the tomb.

 

Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 3:11: “For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.”

 

Jesus, Himself, makes the singularly most radical claim of all when He said: 

 

“I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me” (John 14:6).

 

So, it is no wonder that that foundation is always under attack, even indirectly by those who hold the theory that Jesus is not the only way to heaven.

 

It seems if efforts to minimize the uniqueness of Christ’s claim above, don’t work well, then admitting He was a historical figure but just another prophet is the next step. Or, even including Him in God’s plan for mankind, but one who has converted to Islam after His resurrection and will return to convince others or, if not, to destroy them, in keeping with the doctrines of Islam.

 

Mormons also acknowledge Jesus but as the brother of Lucifer, and in the consideration in heaven of the need for man’s redemption, Jesus volunteered to go to earth and provide that salvation for lost mankind. (You likely will not hear this account of their doctrine at your first encounter with them.)

 

Coupled with that attack on the foundation of Christ only, the hope of glory, is the denial that the Christian Bible is the Word of God. The basic canon of holy writ contains 66 books, 39 in the Old Testament and 27 in the New Testament. Someone has pointed out recently that there is an additional book at the end of the New Testament in most Bibles, the “Book of Maps.”

 

Perhaps so, for you can go there and find actual cities and lands which are mentioned in the two Testaments. Actual historical evidence of the people and places is vivid proof of the things written. While Bill O’Reilly stresses that he and his co-author of the book, “Killing Jesus,” were careful not to delve into any spiritual details of the life of Christ, the historical significance of

 

Jesus is well established there for the benefit of this generation.

 

That period in history known as the “Dark Ages” was dark because the Word of God was kept from the common people, kept in a language reserved for the clergy. Many were burned at the stake for producing the scriptures in a common language. Today, the Bible, lying on a school teacher’s desk in many schools in America, will result in that teacher being suspended and fired.

 

Yet, I believe a person could walk into any school, carrying the Koran or the Book of Mormon and have no confrontation with anyone on the issue. And why is that so? There is no threat of eternal judgment for man’s sinfulness in those writings, for salvation in those writings is based on man’s efforts.

 

Paul writes in 2 Timothy 3:16-17:

 

“All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.”

 

The written Word is crucial to the foundation of faith. Notice that when Jesus was tempted of Satan at the beginning of His public ministry, Jesus answered every temptation with “It is written…” against which Satan could not argue (see Matthew 4:4 and following).

 

In the written Scriptures are recorded eye witnesses of His glory and reality. Peter tells of that in his experience on the Mount of Transfiguration, recorded in Matthew 17 and Mark 9. It was later in Peter’s second epistle that he shares the impact of that experience, however:

 

“Moreover I will be careful to ensure that you always have a reminder of these things after my decease. For we did not follow cunningly devised fables when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of His majesty. For He received from God the Father honor and glory when such a voice came to Him from the Excellent Glory:

 

‘This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.

 

read more at Rapture Ready:

 

http://raptureready.com/soap2/lawley49.html