The Solid Rock

The Solid Rock

Upon returning to Jerusalem after the Babylonian captivity, the very first thing the remnant that returns to Israel does is set up the altar for the sacrifices:

Ezra 3:3 KJV
And they set the altar upon his bases; for fear was upon them because of the people of those countries: and they offered burnt offerings thereon unto the Lord, even burnt offerings morning and evening.

Those sacrifices, which pointed to Jesus’ sacrifice on Calvary, were the foundation of their relationship with God. We need to orient our lives in like manner. Christ has to be the foundation of all we do.

Before the children of Israel restored the temple or rebuilt the wall, they set up the altar. This means before you can have beauty (the temple) or protection (the wall), you must have the blood as your foundation.

In the New Testament, we are told our bodies become the Temple when we accept Christ as our savior (1 Cor. 6:19). This can only happen when we’ve been covered by the blood (Rom. 5:9). Similarly, we are promised protection (Eph. 6:11), but only if our faith is in Jesus.

Therefore, we must be like Ezra and keep Christ, the solid rock, as the foundation of our lives.

Matthew 7:24 KJV
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: