Unshakable Living

One Year Bible
Old Testament passage for Wednesday, September 18, 2013:  Isaiah 28:14-30:11

Therefore thus says the Lord God: “Behold, I lay in Zion a stone for a foundation, a tried stone, a precious cornerstone, a sure foundation; whoever believes will not act hastily. Isaiah 28:16 (NKJV)

The last part of this verse is interesting.  The New King James says we will "not act hastily."  The Hebrew word translated "act hastily" is chush (pronounced kuush).  It means to more than "to move quickly."  It means to be stirred up and out of sorts -- to be "in a dither."

Isaiah says that God will do something inside us that will cause us to always be steady and calm -- unflustered and unbothered -- at peace, no matter what is going on around us.

Other translations illustrate this for us.  Isaiah 28:16 in the NIV says, "the one who relies on God will never be stricken with panic."  The NLT: "never be shaken."  I like the Holman Christian Standard Bible:  "the one who believes with be UNSHAKABLE."

I want to be that way.  I want to be so secure in Jesus that nothing the devil or the world throws at me can get me out of sorts.

Isaiah 28:16 says that this kind of security is tied to our FOUNDATIONS not our situations.  I Co. 2:11 says that the only foundation that really lasts is none other than Jesus Christ.  He is our solid rock. There are three things listed about this foundation:

1.  It is a TRIED stone.  This means it is tested or approved.  Jesus stood the test.  He came out on the other side APPROVED by the Father.  No matter what kind of test you are going through, He has ALREADY been through it.  Therefore, He can hold us steady.

2.  It is a CORNERSTONE.  The cornerstone of any building is the first stone laid.  It sets the angles lines for the rest of the building.  Everything that goes into the building should square up correctly with the cornerstone.  Jesus give definition to our lives.  He brings order and direction.

3.  It is SURE.  Jesus will never lie to us or mislead us.  His Word guides us faithfully.  Therefore I can be unafraid.  I need not worry because He is my guarantee.

God wants us to be unshakable.  We live in a world that is falling apart, yet we can remain steady.  E. Stanley Jones wrote a classic book years ago entitled The Unshakable Kingdom and the Unchanging Person.  It is about life built on Jesus Christ.  That's the way I want to live.  How about you?