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I stopped by a friend Jerry's house a few weeks back, and I found him working along with his wife Edie and a friend. The home was just purchased as an investment piece of property, and they were already in the midst of disassembling everything needing repair. I had stopped by just one week prior and I remember looking and visualizing the changes needing to take place. My initial thoughts were, "Wow! This is a lot of work, and where would I start?"
I have done a few complete rebuilds in my life on some older uncared for homes, and they can be challenging and rewarding both - depending on the route you take. I have always chose to take the proper approach when remodeling - one where you build it as if you will be living there for the next 50-years. I know this isn't the best investment strategy if you are looking to make money, but I still believe it is the proper way.
Jerry and Edie have the same value system and as a result, the house was being dismantled almost completely. Drywall replacement and repairs, flooring completely removed, and even the wood foundation lying beneath the tile and carpeting was being replaced and repaired. Once the foundation was in order, Jerry would begin fixing the walls, installing cabinetry, and virtually everything else - but not until the foundation was done.
And as I observed this familiar process, I thought to myself, "Therein lies the fundamental lesson of our life. It really doesn't matter how much we work on our lives - making them better, fixing them up, changing our appearance, or trying to become more polished means nothing until our foundation is solid."
We are told in the Book of Ephesians, as Christians, we are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone.
Q: So what was the foundation of the Apostles?
A: Jesus Christ!
For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.1Corinthians 3:11 (NKJV)
If Jerry were to make quick fixes to the foundation of this house, even with the best materials, they would only be temporary at best. And inevitably they would fail. It is the same way with our lives - we too, must build them upon a proper foundation, for failure to do so will end in destruction. It doesn't matter how good our lives look on the outside - the big homes, nice cars, prominent jobs, etc. are meaningless unless we have Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior. Everything we do will be like wood, hay and straw and it will end up burning in the end. We can see this biblical truth being spoken of in 1Corinthians.
Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each one's work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one's work, of what sort it is. If anyone's work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. If anyone's work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire. 1Corinthians 3:12-15 (NKJV)
Hey Christian, I want to encourage you today to continue to build everything upon the foundation of Jesus Christ. Build things worthy of eternal rewards - things able to stand the test that's to come. Let's not get caught up in this world, with all its distractions. Let's stay focused, and keep our eyes fixed on the prize awaiting us. Let's build quality with the help of our Master Craftsman.
STUDY QUESTION: According to 1Corinthians 3:11, what should our foundation be for building our lives?
PERSONAL INVENTORY: Are you building on the foundation of Christ, or on the principles and desires of this world?
APPLICATION: Let's seek God each day and in every decision. Let's run every decision through the screening process of whether it is something for God, or for flesh.
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