“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.” Isa. 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).
THIS is what God tells us about the foundation stone of His house.
God says of His foundation stone, it is a tried stone, a precious stone, a sure foundation.
But God does not mean a real stone: nor is there a real building that has taken so long to build.
This verse explains what is meant by “a sure foundation.”
“Other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ” (1 Cor. 3:1111For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. (1 Corinthians 3:11)). God’s foundation stone is the Lord. Jesus: and, because of what He is and has done, God forms this building. He tells us what He thinks about His foundation stone: the Lord Jesus is so precious to God, that, even when He was here in this world, He said of Him, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”
Where do the stones come from of which this building is composed? First let me ask you, What do you think of God’s foundation stone? “What think ye of Christ?” Do you believe that He is a sure foundation? And is He, oh! is He precious to you?—for all the preciousness is unto you which believe. Do you rest your soul on God’s foundation stone? I hope you do, for then “Ye also, as lively (that is, living) stones, are built up a spiritual house.”
What is the building for? The. Apostle Paul says, “In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: in whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit” (Eph. 2:21, 2221In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: 22In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit. (Ephesians 2:21‑22)). This house is God’s habitation—the place where He dwells. We cannot see Him, but His Spirit is here on this earth, and God dwells, by His Spirit, in His house.