The Perfect Foundation

The word foundation may bring up different images in our minds, among them  foundation garments, liquid make-up foundation, or the most common, the under-structure of a building. In each case it‘s a solid starting place on which to build something.  Having been a Realtor for 25 years, I‘ve seen all kinds of foundations including slabs, crawl spaces, and basements.  When a home inspection is performed, the structural integrity of a basement is of utmost importance.  If there are cracks, gaps, or crumbling it puts the entire building at risk of collapse, water infiltration, or a  vermin/insect infestation.  It is impossible to find a perfect, human-made foundation, because weather, earth movement, and settling are always at work, but I'm going to acquaint you with the perfect supernatural one today.

While reading in 1 Corinthians, lately, Paul began by talking about striving for unity in the church. “ I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment.” 1 Corinthians 1:10. I had to consult God on this issue, because achieving unity is a stumbling block in any human relationship, let alone in the body of Christ. As I read further, He led me to this ah-ha passage. “According to the grace of God given to me, like a skilled master builder I laid a foundation, and someone else is building upon it. Let each one take care how he builds upon it. For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw— each one’s work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done. If the work that anyone has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward. If anyone’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire.” 1 Corinthians 3:10-15.

 Let me explain.  Christ is that perfectly constructed foundation on which the church, each of us, is being built on.  Our belief in His birth, life, death, resurrection, ascension and  second-coming are the elements that form this impenetrable footing.  When we can agree that these ingredients are truth, we have unity.  Paul continues by saying that each of us adds to the construction with our own unique materials, based on the gifts God has given to us.  These works are not motivated by guilt, loveless obligation or demands from religious organizations.  Lasting works, like gold, silver and gems are indestructible and emanate from enthusiastic hearts, eager to please the Master Architect. Manufactured/obligatory works resemble straw, hay and wood which will be consumed by holy fire on Judgment Day. Church doctrines may differ, but the foundation is the same in all.  Are you sure about your foundation? Good, so am I, that’s unity!  Now find out what your spiritual gifts are, and start laying those precious stones on that solid footing….God's kingdom continues to be built by each of us, be sure you're joyously adding only the most durable stones!