This old church building has not moved despite all the ground around it being removed. It is probably a listed building, therefore the developers have taken the utmost care to preserve it while some major construction works are undertaken around it. What we see are the new foundations which are holding the church in its original position. Before excavation, around the outside of the church building, very deep holes were drilled down into the earth, well below the lowest part of the intended excavation, and reinforced concrete piles were poured. Underneath the building, reinforced concrete beams and pad were cast which rest on and are connected to these piles. When the concrete was cured and reached sufficient strength, the earth around and under the church was excavated exposing the piles which now stand like pillars supporting the building and bearing the load deep underground below the level of the subterranean basement of the new development. Never in the history of this building has it had such a good foundation.
In Luke ch 6 v 47-49 it is recorded that the Lord Jesus closed His sermon on the mount with an illustration of two builders – one He called wise, the other foolish. Those that would be hearers and doers of His words Jesus likened them to a wise builder. This man when building his house ‘…digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock.’ What a good job he did, because a storm came, ‘..and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house,..’ and what happened to that house? Nothing – ‘for it was founded upon a rock.’
Those that hear His words and do them not, Jesus said are like the foolish builder. What a difference, an extremely solemn and serious difference. This man built his house with no foundation. Without a great amount of digging work, no doubt the building work went quickly, and the building was soon up, and the roof on. He had built upon the earth and not upon the rock. All was well until a storm came, and we read ‘..the stream did beat vehemently, and immediately it fell; and the ruin of that house was great.’ v49
The true Church of God (His people – not a building) have a foundation of their Faith and Hope. Paul writes ‘For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.’ 1 Corinthian ch3 v11. How true, the foundation of believers is Jesus Christ and Him crucified. Satan will try and undermine the Church of God, will attempt to destroy the hope and faith of the Lord’s children, but he cannot succeed. Hymn 1106 (Gadsby’s) sums it up – ‘My HOPE is built on nothing less, Than Jesus blood and righteousness….’