Week 30: Building for Eternity

God was kind and let me become an expert builder. I laid a foundation on which others have built. But we must each be careful how we build,  because Christ is the only foundation. Whatever we build on that foundation will be tested by fire on the day of judgment. Then everyone will find out if we have used gold, silver, and precious stones, or wood, hay, and straw. We will be rewarded if our building is left standing. But if it is destroyed by the fire, we will lose everything. Yet we ourselves will be saved, like someone escaping from flames. 1 Corinthians 3:10-15

The Bible tells us that Jesus Christ is the foundation upon which the Church is built. A foundation is the most important part of a building because it determines the size, shape, breadth and strength of the entire structure.

Paul states that God allowed him to become an “expert builder”; Paul laid the only foundation that would last. Upon that foundation, others were able to build and to this very day the church is a force to be reckoned with.

In Luke 20:17, Jesus is described as the Chief Cornerstone of the Church. The chief cornerstone is the largest stone, and bears the greatest burden. To it, the walls and all other stones are aligned to ensure the building is level, square and perfectly oriented. Paul orients himself to the Chief Cornerstone and invites us to do the same. Psalm 118:22 also declares that Jesus the Messiah is the living temple for all to build upon.

We, too, are called to serve God, whether in our homes, churches or law practices. Like Paul, whatever we are able to accomplish is a gift of God’s grace. But we must be careful how we build, avoiding those things which are wasteful, temporal or readily destroyed. We are to build with precious materials and avoid the substandard which may be lurking in career, ambition, money, possessions and relationships. We should ask, “What will remain?”

The “how” of building is critically important. Any Christian endeavour may seem successful for a time, but if not founded on Christ, it will eventually collapse or be as nothing. We should consider: “Are our church, our ministry, our law practices, and our efforts built upon Christ? Are we motived by and committed to His glory?”

We have been entrusted with resources — time, talent, treasure, and truth, just to name a few. Our challenge is to view our resources as opportunities to invest in the Kingdom. “Lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, treasures which cannot be destroyed or extinguished” (Matthew 6:20). What is our focus? Is it ourselves? Are we investing in today or eternity?

Psalm 11:3 poses an important question: “If the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do?” In today’s world, truth stumbles in the streets (Isaiah 59:14) while society does not wish to be reminded of the truths of the Bible. It is increasingly difficult to be a voice of grace and truth to culture, yet we are called to do so.

Because our God is a covenant God, we can totally and unequivocally trust Him with His Word, and upon this we can confidently build our lives. By building upon the Chief Cornerstone, we align ourselves with Him, His character and His plans. To the degree that Jesus Christ is our foundation and bedrock, we will be successful and that, dear friends, will result in our building for eternity.

Soli Deo Gloria!

Ruth A.M. Ross
Canada

Portions of this article were also printed in the Christian Legal Journal, a quarterly publication of Christian Legal Fellowship (Canada).

– This article comes from AI’s “No Higher Calling,” a devotional for lawyers.