foundation stone with this inscription

2Tim2:19 (NLT)
19 But God's truth stands firm like a foundation stone with this inscription: "The LORD knows those who are his," and "All who belong to the LORD must turn away from evil."

I find immense power in this one verse. Paul is using the symbol of a house which he is accustomed to doing through many of his letters. But he is referring to the foundation stone. This is a word picture I can grasp. Gods truth is firm - Firm like a massive slab of concrete that a home is built on. We recently had concrete installed in our parking lot at our youth facility, and there were a few students who "inscribed" their names in the pads. We all know that these inscriptions will last the life of the stone itself. I get this picture Paul is using. Not only is he saying that God's truth stands Firm, but the inscriptions found on the stone will last just as long as his truth. COOL!

The 2 inscriptions are obviously in contrast with the previous verses as Paul talks about the false teachers. Inscribed, never to be removed or changed, is the first inscription: God knows those who are his. This is reassuring, God knows me as I am his. He knows my past, my present, and my future. He has plans for me, dreams, because he knows me. As Paul mentioned earlier in this letter he is not ashamed of suffering for he KNOWS the one in whom he trusts, this contrast back now to demonstrate that we are KNOWN by God. To know me, I know that my God also must love me. This is God's half per-say.

The second inscription is our half. All who belong to him, must turn away from evil. This is a major theme to Paul. We are always loved first: Paul knows this, and this is his theology, we cannot earn his love by our works. However, once we find ourselves under that love, We are expected to engage in the love back. Meaning: I have been saved through the unchanging truths of God and who He is, and what He has done. NOW, in order for me to grow in that relationship with him, I have to engage in the love story with Him. And as Paul describes in many of his letters and writings, the best way to engage in such love is in obedience. We must turn away from evil, and ultimately turn to Christ. This is our half. The former is given freely through grace, the latter is experience through our daily dying to ourselves to live in Christ.

We are to remember that God's truth stands firm. Who he is will never change. And there is inscription written to both remind us of who he is, and how to continually engage with him.