1 Corinthians 3:11
“For no man can lay a foundation other than the one which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.”
Any time this old black and white movie—a favorite of mine—comes on TV, I make a point of watching or recording it to watch when I can give it my full attention. “One Foot in Heaven,” starring Fredric March, is the true story of Methodist cleric, William Spence, who gave up his medical studies to become a Methodist minister. His calling required him to move his family from parish to parish which gives us a picture of the hardships and challenges the family endured.
Reverend Spence also had to deal with ornery parishioners and the internal politics of the church’s elders—a timeless issue for sure! In the final scene, which always brings me to tears, the townspeople are touched and united by the hymn, “The Church’s One Foundation” which tolls from a carillon, part of the newly constructed church. This old hymn inspires us with its truth even today.
The Church’s one foundation
Is Jesus Christ her Lord,
She is His new creation
By water and the Word.
From heaven He came and sought her
To be His holy bride;
With His own blood He bought her
And for her life He died.
She is from every nation,
Yet one o’er all the earth;
Her charter of salvation,
One Lord, one faith, one birth;
One holy Name she blesses,
Partakes one holy food,
And to one hope she presses,
With every grace endued.
O happy ones and holy!
Lord, give us grace that we
Like them, the meek and lowly,
On high may dwell with Thee:
There, past the border mountains,
Where in sweet vales the Bride
With Thee by living fountains
Forever shall abide!
Lord Jesus, You are the One foundation of the church; if there were two, there would be two Gods and two redemptions; there cannot be but one true God! You are the one true essence of the gospel and we praise Your holy name for seeking us to be Yours. May we be worthy of the price You paid at Calvary to buy us so that we may be Your holy bride, to dwell forever on high with You. In Your name we pray, Amen.
Words: Samuel J. Stone, Music: Samuel S. Wesley
-painting via antfox.com
