Rest and Peace through Jesus Christ, Part 1: Christ the Foundation

One day Sherry and I hosted a barbecue for our Bible fellowship on the crystal white sands of Guam’s Uruno Beach. Later, a few of us ventured out for a swim, and I made it to the top of the reef.

But I had not accounted for the swiftness of the tide. Suddenly, I found myself trapped on razor-sharp coral with the choice of being thrown out to sea or back onto the jagged shelf. I tried for what seemed like an hour to get enough leverage to go over the reef top, but each attempt ended with cut hands, legs, and feet.

Finally, nearing exhaustion, I ceased from my labors. At that point, thanks in large part to the prayers of those on shore, the sea picked me up and deposited me safely within the reef.

Jesus Christ, the Foundation of Our Lives

While on the reef, my hope was to gain a solid foothold back on shore. I longed for rest and comfort. The same was true spiritually in my life many years ago. I had tried Roman Catholicism and then Eastern religion like Zen Buddhism. But I was constantly tossed to and fro by life’s challenges and woes. I had no peace within, and I longed for a solid rock on which to stand.

Matthew 7:24-29:
Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: 
And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. 
And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: 
And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it. 
And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at his doctrine: 
For he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes. 

Jesus Christ taught with God’s authority, and the people recognized that. He painted two scenarios that both begin with those who “heareth these sayings of mine.” It’s not enough to just listen. In one case, those who do what they hear are on a solid rock.  In the other, those who don’t do what they hear are on the sand.

It may seem silly to us to think that someone would actually build a house on a sandy foundation. But in Jesus’ culture both a stone and sand foundation were possible. During torrential desert rains, swiftly flowing waters form river beds. As things dry out, they become arid ravines with flat, sandy bottoms.

If a sheep should wander into one of these dry river beds, it can be disastrous—they could starve or be eaten by hyenas or other wild animals. That is what “the valley of the shadow of death” is in Psalm 23.

So a lazy or foolish builder could see such a flat “foundation” and decide to build there. But when the rains descend and the floods come and the winds blow and beat upon that house, it will have a great fall. In contrast, an industrious and wise builder will avoid such a pitfall. It will take an effort to do the “right work” and build upon a solid foundation. But the work is well worth the effort.

Ceasing from Our Own Works

So what is the right work that we must “hear and do” of Jesus’ sayings? Jesus was once asked this question, and responded: “This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent” (John 6:28,29). It is that simple, we believe on what Jesus Christ has done for us. That is the rest given to the “people of God.”

Hebrews 4:9-16:
There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God. 
For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his. 
Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief. 
For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. 
Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do. 
Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. 
For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. 
Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. 

Just look at these amazing points about what our savior has accomplished for us:

• God has given us a lasting and remaining rest.
• When we go God’s way, we cease from our own works and attempts (just as God ceased His efforts after six days of creation).
• The way to labor into that rest is the opposite of “unbelief”—it is to believe what God says.
• The reason we trust and believe God is that His Word is alive and energetic, it divides the issues of soul life and spirit life, and it can judge the very thoughts and emotions of our hearts.
• We can’t hide anything from God; He knows everything about us.
• God’s Son, Jesus Christ, has passed into the heavens, and we should hold fast to something that we “profess.”
• Jesus was touched with every infirmity that we have to face, and every time he was tempted to sin, he kept the sweet fellowship he had with the Father.
• Because of what Jesus Christ did for us (through God’s grace and mercy), we can come boldly to the throne of grace when we need help.

One of the above points says we  are to “profess” something. According to the context here, this profession includes ceasing from our own works and believing God’s Word. But what specific word do we believe?

Doing the Work of God: Salvation in Christ

Romans 10 has that specific word for us. Paul had a great desire for those of his time who had been raised in the Judean religion to understand that their long-awaited Messiah had come. This was their true hope of salvation.

Romans 10:1-4:
Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved. 
For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge. 
For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God. 
For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.

Once again, we see the great truth that we must cease from our own works and accept God’s work in Jesus Christ, our lord. Many people today have a “zeal” for God, but either lack or refuse to believe the “knowledge” of what Jesus Christ has done for them. Since they don’t understand God’s righteousness through Christ, they try to establish their own self-righteousness by works. But Christ is the end of the law for righteousness—when we believe!

Romans 10:8-10:
But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; 
That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

Just as Jesus Christ himself said in John 6:29, the “profession” we make is to “believe on him whom he hath sent.” When anyone confesses with their mouth that Jesus is lord, and believes in their heart that God raised him from the dead—they are saved. They have God’s righteousness, not their own. They have God’s true salvation.

Romans 10:11:
For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed [disappointed].

Whosoever believes on Jesus Christ will not be disappointed. Where does the scripture originally make this promise? We go back to the only true foundation on which to build our lives.

Isaiah 28:16:
Therefore thus saith the Lord God, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste [be excited or anxious].

Anyone who believes on God’s foundation stone will not be anxious or disappointed. Who is that tried and precious cornerstone providing a sure foundation? It is he who was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. He has been tried, and proven to be sure and faithful. In Jesus Christ, we have all the blessings of God’s work for us. We are complete in Christ and have God’s rest and peace.