Strong Foundation

The following is not one of today’s readings.  I provide it because it describes each and every one of us in a rather remarkable way.  It also speaks to our obligation to God. 

…For we are God’s co-workers; you are God’s field, God’s building. According to the grace of God given to me, like a wise master builder I laid a foundation, and another is building upon it. But each one must be careful how he builds upon it, for no one can lay a foundation other than the one that is there, namely, Jesus Christ. 

If anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, or straw, the work of each will come to light, for the Day will disclose it. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire [itself] will test the quality of each one’s work. If the work stands that someone built upon the foundation, that person will receive a wage. But if someone’s work is burned up, that one will suffer loss; the person will be saved, but only as through fire. 

Do you not know that you are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy that person; for the temple of God, which you are, is holy. (1 Corinthians 3:9-17)

What do we builders use to construct on the foundation we call Jesus Christ?  Do we use gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, or straw?  We are not one of the three little pigs with the wolf wanting to blow our house down.  Nevertheless, we should build like the third one with his house of bricks.  That’s a strong foundation on which to build.  Work and straw burn and perish.  Christ calls on us to survive and flourish and to use Jesus as our building blocks for a firm foundation.

And what do we build?  We build ourselves up as temples of God.  The Holy Spirit – third person in the Trinity – is within us by virtue of our baptism and confirmation.  That’s the foundation on which we build throughout our lives.

Deacon David Pierce