Years ago in a farming town near Winnipeg, Manitoba in Canada, the ground under a grain elevator suddenly began to settle. This huge elevator, which was filled with wheat, slowly began to tilt—5, 10, 20, then 25 degrees. Would it stop, or would it topple over, spilling its contents and possibly causing damage or injury in the surrounding area?
Experts were called in to see if there were an answer to the proem. They found that the elevator was built on a “floating foundation.” This means the foundation was a large concrete “mat” built to spread the load over a wide area of soil. Since the bedrock (solid rock) in this area was 50 feet down, the construction company that built the elevator had chosen this method of construction. Although it had been used before, this time it did not hold the tremendous weight of a loaded grain elevator. The soil held for some time, but then it could no longer bear the great weight.
A company skilled in difficult engineering problems was hired to fix it. After much work they were able to bring the elevator back into position. It did not rest on a “mat” foundation anymore, but on concrete piers sunk down to the bedrock 50 feet below the ground level.
Although the event in Winnipeg was serious, there are many other things built upon “floating foundations.” Every day men, women, boys and girls are building their hopes of reaching heaven on things just as unreliable. The Lord Jesus said they are just like a foolish man who built his house on sand. It is quite likely that the house was carefully constructed, perhaps even nicely decorated. But a time of testing came: “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.” Matthew 7:2727And 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. (Matthew 7:27). Then the owner must have realized that what matters most in building houses is not what it looks like, but its foundation. However, it was too late—the storm had done its damage.
There is one Foundation you may safely build on that will stand firm. God says, “Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation.” Isaiah 28:1616Therefore 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. (Isaiah 28:16). He is talking about the Lord Jesus Christ. “Other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.” 1 Corinthians 3:1111For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. (1 Corinthians 3:11). Have you accepted Him as your Saviour? This is what is most important for your foundation. Do not rest on the good life your are living, or going to church, or on anything else. If you do, your foundation is only a “floating foundation.” Then when the storm breaks you will find your foundation completely broken up, and you will be lost in your sins forever.
If you will ask the Lord Jesus to forgive your sins, He will be your firm foundation forever. You can be happy and secure knowing no storm will ever crack or even shake this foundation. This foundation is solid rock!
ML-05/30/1982