10 According to the [remarkable] grace of God which was given to me [to prepare me for my task], like a skillful master builder I laid a foundation, and now another is building on it. But each one must be careful how he builds on it, 11 for no one can lay a foundation other than the one which is [already] laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 But if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, 13 each one’s work will be clearly shown [for what it is]; for the day [of judgment] will disclose it, because it is to be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality and character and worth of each person’s work. 14 If any person’s work which he has built [on this foundation, that is, any outcome of his effort] remains [and survives this test], he will receive a reward. 15 But if any person’s work is burned up [by the test], he will suffer the loss [of his reward]; yet he himself will be saved, but only as [one who has barely escaped] through fire. 1 CORINTHIANS 3:10-15 [AMP]
Apostle Paul wrote this letter to Corinthians so that they would become a true dwelling place for God’s Spirit, stay faithful to the gospel, and be “guiltless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ” (1:8). In the spring of A.D. 53, 54, or 55. Apostle Paul laid the foundation “like a skilled or wise master builder” and that foundation is Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 3:11).
When we plan to build our dream house most probably, we will consider a strong foundation and a good quality of materials because we want it to be protected against the storm, flood, lightning, and for it to be long-lasting. But for it to be strong it should have a deeper excavation below.
This is a perfect example of our foundation in Jesus Christ. He is a strong foundation. The deeper we excavate into His Word the more we know and experience Him. The longer we spend time with Jesus the intimate we will be with Him.
The journey of our Christian life is not easy and it will never be easy.
Many times, when a storm rages over my life I easily moved and find myself burdened by many things in this world. Only to found out I have chosen the wrong foundation.
The most difficult part of my journey is to get back on my knees, lift my head and start all over again. It was a long process and painful steps. There are times that you don’t understand, you don’t know what to do and you started being quite just to hide all the wounds.
You see I struggled because I laid in the shallow foundation. I got easily shaken by this world and forgotten Jesus as the foundation of my Christian life. The bible is clear, 11 for no one can lay a foundation other than the one which is [already] laid, which is Jesus Christ.
3 things I learned about Jesus as the firm foundation of our Christian life:
Jesus Christ is the Only foundation
In the world full of uncertainties Jesus is the ultimate foundation we need. When Jesus became a man and fulfill the will of God, He laid the firm foundation which we can stand. Jesus knew that the world is not His foundation or anything in it but His strong foundation is in His relationship with the Father. He was never tempted nor distracted by His situations even how hard it may be because He was fixing His eyes to the One who will restore everything in its place.
We can all follow what Jesus did. He knew Who is His only foundation and that’s The Father. He never compromised His relationship with God even in the pit of His life. He trusted God all the way.
Jesus Christ is the True foundation
There are a lot of things we thought we knew because we have easy access to the internet. One clicks then you will find what you need. But what we don’t know is the fact behind who posted it? where did it come from, what intention does he/she have? or is the source telling the truth? Now it’s hard to define and you start to be confused.
Among all that the world points to be true Jesus is the one we can be sure of to be True because He is the Truth (John 14:6). We need to reminded that confusion is not from God. The Truth always reveals clarity, wisdom, peace, and joy. It brings healing and restoration from within resulting in transformation of life, it can be in your character, attitude, perspective, or responses.
If we don’t know who is our true foundation, we will be easily distracted by anything that we feel, see, or touch. Our mind will start to wonder and our heart will begin to shatter. Let us choose to be founded in the truth of Jesus so that we will not be deceived by the things that don’t belong to God.
Jesus Christ is the Unshakable foundation
When you see a building shaken by an earthquake then it collapsed greatly, you will know that it has a poor foundation below. How many of you know that it is also true in our Christian foundation? If we are easily shaken, we are movable that will result in our downfall.
We need to set our life to the One who is unshakable by anything and anyone in this world. Jesus proved it to the Cross until He roused from the dead that He is the unshakable foundation we need. We can be immovable because Jesus established the foundation and strengthen it even more by His life.
Everyone who comes to Me and listens to My words and obeys them, I will show you whom he is like: he is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid a foundation on the rock; and when a flood occurred, the torrent burst against that house and yet could not shake it, because it had been securely built and founded on the rock. But the one who has merely heard and has not practiced, is like a foolish man who built a house on the ground without any foundation, and the torrent burst against it; and it immediately collapsed, and the ruin of that house was great. LUKE 6:47-49 [AMP]
The deep foundation is in Jesus alone if we come to Him and obey Him, He will make sure that we will be secured and founded in the rock.
QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION
Are you shaken when trials come? What do you do?
How do you respond to it?
Do you lay your foundation in Jesus? Is it in the shallow or the deep?
Leave a Reply