“For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.” (1 Corinthians 3:11, KJV)

Christ built His church on a solid rock. We live in a time of spiritual storms. We are called to be lights. We shine from Christ, the base of our faith. Our job is not just to teach. We must create strong faith. We guide people to find safety in Christ. This is a holy job. God gave us this work. It asks for our hearts. We give them to the One who saved us. “For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.” (1 Corinthians 3:11, KJV) and “And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone.” (Ephesians 2:20, KJV) These verses show that Christ is the center of the Church. “The church is God’s fortress, His city of refuge, which He holds in a revolted world. Any betrayal of the church is treachery to Him who has bought mankind with the blood of His only-begotten Son.” (Testimonies to Ministers and Gospel Workers, p. 19) and “The church is the agency which God has ordained for the salvation of man. It was organized for service, and its mission is to carry the gospel to the world.” (The Acts of the Apostles, p. 9)

THE CHURCH’S TRUE FOUNDATION: CHRIST ALONE

To say the Church is built on human ideas is like building on sand. Christ said in Matthew 16:18, “And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against¹ it.” (Matthew 16:18, KJV) The “rock” is not Peter. It is Christ. Peter said, “Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded.” (1 Peter 2:6, KJV) Sr. White said, “The church is built upon Christ as its foundation; it is to obey Christ as its head. It is not to depend upon man, or be controlled by man.” (Desire of Ages, p. 414) To think otherwise limits God’s plan. J.N. Andrews warned, “The church of all the ages is the church of Jesus Christ. He is the world’s only Redeemer… Those who shut themselves up to the New Testament and have the foundation of the church laid at the resurrection, or at Pentecost, are building too narrow a structure.” We must lead people back to Christ. “And did all drink the same spiritual drink: For they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.” (1 Corinthians 10:4, KJV) and “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” (John 14:6, KJV) These verses show Christ is our only source. “Christ is the foundation of the church. The experience of the past has shown that if the church is to stand, it must be built upon Christ as its foundation.” (Review and Herald, August 7, 1888) and “The church is to be built upon Christ, the rock, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. The truth of God is to be the foundation of the church, and the Holy Spirit is to be the power by which it is built.” (The Signs of the Times, April 14, 1887)

THE THREE ANGELS’ MESSAGES AND THE CHURCH’S MISSION

Revelation 14:6-12 tells us about the Three Angels’ Messages. They are a final warning. They tell of the gospel, Babylon’s fall, and the mark of the beast. These messages call us to choose God. Sr. White said, “In a special sense Seventh-day Adventists have been set in the world as watchmen and light bearers. To them has been entrusted the last warning for a perishing world.” (Testimonies for the Church, vol. 9, p. 19) Our pioneers knew this was important. Uriah Smith said, “The design of the three great proclamations of Revelation 14 is, first, to give warning of coming judgment; second, to set the people of God upon their watch-tower; third, to gather in one body the scattered saints; and, fourth, to restore the commandments of God to His people.” We are messengers. We prepare people for judgment. “And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.” (Matthew 24:14, KJV) and “Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.” (Revelation 14:7, KJV) These verses show the message is for the whole world. “The message of the third angel is the last message of warning to be given to the world. It is a message that is to be proclaimed with a loud voice, and it is to go to every nation, kindred, tongue, and people.” (Testimonies for the Church, vol. 6, p. 14) and “The three angels’ messages are to be our great study. No other subject is of so great importance as to engage our attention. The present truth, the message of the third angel, is to be proclaimed with a loud voice, and it is to work like leaven in the hearts of the people.” (The Review and Herald, January 19, 1905)

HOW DO THESE CONCEPTS REFLECT GOD’S LOVE?

God loves us. He wants to save us. He stays with His Church even when it makes mistakes. Sr. White said, “The church is very precious in His sight. It is the case which contains His jewels, the fold that encloses His flock.” (Acts of the Apostles, p. 11) His warnings are kind. He wants us to be safe. Judgment is an invitation. God wants us to come to Him. God’s love is like a shepherd finding a lost sheep. It is like a father waiting for his child. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16, KJV) and “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8, KJV) These verses show God gave His Son for us. “God’s love is an unselfish love. It is a love that seeks not its own, but the good of others. It is a love that is willing to sacrifice everything for the sake of those who are loved.” (The Signs of the Times, January 20, 1887) and “God’s love is a love that is patient, kind, and forgiving. It is a love that bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, and endures all things.” (The Signs of the Times, January 20, 1887)

Christ is our base. We must obey Him. We must listen to Him. Revelation 3:20 says, “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.”³ (Revelation 3:20, KJV) Sr. White said, “There is nothing that the Lord more abhors than a proud and self-sufficient spirit. He will never leave nor forsake those who truly humble themselves before Him.” (Christ’s Object Lessons, p. 154) We must be holy. We must teach the Three Angels’ Messages. We must serve like Christ. We must live like Christ. “Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.” (1 Corinthians 10:31, KJV) and “And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men.” (Colossians 3:23, KJV) These verses show we must honor God in all we do. “Our responsibility to God is to love Him with all our heart, with all our soul, and with all our mind. This is the first and great commandment.” (The Signs of the Times, May 26, 1887) and “Our responsibility to God is to keep His commandments, and to do those things that are pleasing in His sight. This is the whole duty of man.” (The Signs of the Times, May 26, 1887)

We must tell the world the truth. Jesus said in Matthew 28:19-20, “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you.” (Matthew 28:19-20, KJV) Sr. White warns, “The Lord calls upon every one of His children to let their light shine forth in clear, steady rays. You are to be the light of the world, reflecting the light of heaven.” (Steps to Christ, p. 115) This means we must do missionary work. We must live the gospel. We must warn others. We must show Christ’s love. We are messengers of hope. We show the way to God. “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” (Matthew 5:16, KJV) and “And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.” (Ephesians 4:32, KJV) These verses show we must be examples of Christ’s love. “The love of Christ, manifested in our lives, will be the most powerful argument in favor of the gospel.” (The Signs of the Times, January 20, 1887) and “Our responsibility to our neighbor is to love him as ourselves, and to do unto him as we would that he should do unto us. This is the second great commandment.” (The Signs of the Times, May 26, 1887)

FINAL REFLECTIONS

The Church is built on God’s love, not man’s power. We must be witnesses. We must live like Christ. The Three Angels’ Messages are calls to action. They ask us to choose life. Our work is not a burden. It is a gift. We can show Christ’s love to the world. We must remember God gives us strength. He is our base. He is our hope. He is everything. “For we are labourers together with God: ye are God’s husbandry, ye are God’s building.” (1 Corinthians 3:9, KJV) and “And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever.”³ (Daniel 12:3, KJV) These verses show we work with God. We can help many find God. “We are to be laborers together with God, and we are to do our work in His way and by His power. We are to be faithful to our trust, and we are to be true to our calling.” (The Signs of the Times, January 20, 1887) and “We are to be lights in the world, and we are to shine as stars in the darkness. We are to be examples of holiness, and we are to be witnesses of the truth.” (The Signs of the Times, January 20, 1887)

The Church will win. It stands on Christ. We must be faithful. We must share the gospel. The heavens will hear Christ’s call. Let us go forward. Let our hearts love Christ. Let our eyes look for Christ. Maranatha! The Lord is coming. Let us prepare the way. Let our lives shine. “Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ.” (Titus 2:13, KJV) and⁴ “He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.” (Revelation 22:20, KJV) These verses show we wait for Christ’s return. Let us live ready. Let us share the gospel. Let us get the world ready. “The coming of the Lord is near, and we are to be ready for it. We are to be looking for and hastening unto the coming of the day of God.” (The Signs of the Times, January 20, 1887) and “The coming of the Lord is to be the great event of the ages, and we are to be ready for it. We are to be looking for and hastening unto the coming of the day of God.” (The Signs of the Times, January 20, 1887)