November 2, 1999
For us, it’s a five minute bike ride to the river bank where that large brick home slid over the edge. We drove by it earlier this summer, remembering it because of some plants under trees along its driveway. Obviously, the family who lived there enjoyed their home and its view.
Who can imagine their distress as they watched wood, brick and glass disappearing over the edge? Moving from home may be traumatic but watching your home move away from you is a horror. To some this may be “just a house” yet a home with all its memories means far more.
Apparently, the city of Edmonton warned contractors and owners about building along the river. Maybe it was just a general warning. Any river front property would have some liabilities. However, not every home on a river bank crumbles along with the ground beneath it.
Engineers are working to uncover the reason. Some guessed the foundation was weakened by an underground stream or erosion had moved the soil. They agreed the house itself was not at fault. The latest news says a natural ‘shift’ beneath the surface had done just that; it shifted and the house shifted with it.
While watching videos of the slide on television, I thought of a song the kids in our church sometimes sing. It is called “Sandy Land.” One part goes, “Don’t build your house on a sandy land; don’t build it too near the shore. It might look kind of nice but you’ll have to build it twice; you’ll have to build your house once more.”
This song is not talking about building codes or common sense. Instead, it comes from an illustration used by Jesus Christ. Matthew records his sermon about life and the foundations upon which we build our life. Our value systems, social norms and other ideals, including the way we ourselves were raised, determine how our lives are structured. But Jesus wanted to get across a point. He wanted our foundation to be stronger than any of those things.
To illustrate, He used a house: “Everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock.”
In contrast, Jesus then added, “But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”
While our values and social norms are often good, we need more. We need to pay attention to the words of God. Yet Jesus made it clear that merely listening to or reading the Bible will not equip us for the stresses of life. Trials and difficulties will bring us down unless we also do what it says. Obedience to God is like muscle building. It puts us in shape, giving spiritual and even physical stamina. Disobedience makes us weak and unable to stand.
When Jesus compared obedience to a foundation built on a ‘rock,’ He may have been making a pun. A rock represents several things in the Bible. One is the church. Another is the body of truth taught in the Bible. However, the most important ‘rock’ is Jesus Himself. No matter what else we put under our lives as a foundation, He directs us to obey Him because He is the rock upon which we stand.
As horrible as it would be to watch our home slide from us, a far greater disaster would be watching our life fall apart. Stick and mortar will put the house back together or at least build a new one but rebuilding a life is a greater challenge. Jesus would rather we did not fall apart in the first place. He offers us Himself and obedience to what He says as building material for a shift-proof foundation.
Showing posts with label foundations for life. Show all posts
Showing posts with label foundations for life. Show all posts
Wednesday, October 25, 2017
Wednesday, September 20, 2017
The value of law .......... Parables 643
June 8, 1999
Law-abiding citizens have a great deal to think about in Canada. One law passed saying we must use metric measurements, despite boxes full of petitions against it. Others protested the laws that adopted and enforce bilingualism. While not too many folks wanted the Goods and Services Tax, yet another law put it in place and made it part of our lives.
Years ago, a law legalized abortion. More recently, the Supreme Court changed the legal definition of spouse so the law, at least in Ontario, seems to allow same sex “marriages.” At the moment, lawmakers are debating another law that will allow marijuana for medicinal use. In another realm, school boards wonder if mandatory uniforms will reduce violence in Edmonton schools. Law changes how life in Canada is defined.
Making sensible law is a complex matter yet some laws seem more complex than sensible. A local city ordinance says an independent taxi driver cannot choose the color of his car. More serious are gun registration regulations. While ordinary citizens must register their target and hunting rifles, criminals just laugh at this law.
Old Testament Israel lived under the laws given by God. Some were ceremonial, related to their worship practices. Other laws governed civil issues and the relationships of people to each other in their community. Specific punishments were included. Law and keeping the law were as important in old Israel as they are here. Without law, we would be without a compass. Without law-enforcement, anarchy would tear us apart.
However, in some ways, these ancient people were not like Canadians. They were one ethnic group with one language and one religion while Canada tags itself as multicultural. Their laws had one source in that God gave them the Ten Commandments as well as all other law. If anyone took issue, He was their only recourse. In Canada, law is established at many levels and has many levels of appeal.
When Israel refused to involve God in their legislation and law-enforcement, or when they disobeyed His laws, the consequences were sharply different than they are for us. God’s justice was swift even though He could also be petitioned and would give forgiveness and pardon.
God handled law differently than our lawmakers. Although His laws governed the nation, He considered each individual violation. He knew that one person’s sin could directly affect everyone. For example, a man named Achan unlawfully stole heathen idols as spoil from a battle. As a result, the entire army was powerless against their enemies until his sin was admitted and punished.
Do the sins of individuals affect our nation? The Bible says they do. “Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a disgrace to any people.” God-fearing leaders have power to change the status and reputation of the country they serve but sinful individuals can also pull it down.
Consider how two boys on a shooting spree have put either fear or an imitative admiration in the hearts of our youth. In less a violent way but just as sinful, impurity in the lives of political leaders brings scorn to our nation and others. Just a few people who break God’s laws or the laws of the land bring disgrace to the rest of us.
We need law but confusion sometimes reigns at the legislative level. We need law-making based on something more than the wishes of those lobbyists who make the most noise, but even good law is powerless without shame at its violation. We must be appalled enough to pray for and encourage legislative integrity, rather than merely complaining that our country is not the same as it used to be.
Law-abiding citizens have a great deal to think about in Canada. One law passed saying we must use metric measurements, despite boxes full of petitions against it. Others protested the laws that adopted and enforce bilingualism. While not too many folks wanted the Goods and Services Tax, yet another law put it in place and made it part of our lives.
Years ago, a law legalized abortion. More recently, the Supreme Court changed the legal definition of spouse so the law, at least in Ontario, seems to allow same sex “marriages.” At the moment, lawmakers are debating another law that will allow marijuana for medicinal use. In another realm, school boards wonder if mandatory uniforms will reduce violence in Edmonton schools. Law changes how life in Canada is defined.
Making sensible law is a complex matter yet some laws seem more complex than sensible. A local city ordinance says an independent taxi driver cannot choose the color of his car. More serious are gun registration regulations. While ordinary citizens must register their target and hunting rifles, criminals just laugh at this law.
Old Testament Israel lived under the laws given by God. Some were ceremonial, related to their worship practices. Other laws governed civil issues and the relationships of people to each other in their community. Specific punishments were included. Law and keeping the law were as important in old Israel as they are here. Without law, we would be without a compass. Without law-enforcement, anarchy would tear us apart.
However, in some ways, these ancient people were not like Canadians. They were one ethnic group with one language and one religion while Canada tags itself as multicultural. Their laws had one source in that God gave them the Ten Commandments as well as all other law. If anyone took issue, He was their only recourse. In Canada, law is established at many levels and has many levels of appeal.
When Israel refused to involve God in their legislation and law-enforcement, or when they disobeyed His laws, the consequences were sharply different than they are for us. God’s justice was swift even though He could also be petitioned and would give forgiveness and pardon.
God handled law differently than our lawmakers. Although His laws governed the nation, He considered each individual violation. He knew that one person’s sin could directly affect everyone. For example, a man named Achan unlawfully stole heathen idols as spoil from a battle. As a result, the entire army was powerless against their enemies until his sin was admitted and punished.
Do the sins of individuals affect our nation? The Bible says they do. “Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a disgrace to any people.” God-fearing leaders have power to change the status and reputation of the country they serve but sinful individuals can also pull it down.
Consider how two boys on a shooting spree have put either fear or an imitative admiration in the hearts of our youth. In less a violent way but just as sinful, impurity in the lives of political leaders brings scorn to our nation and others. Just a few people who break God’s laws or the laws of the land bring disgrace to the rest of us.
We need law but confusion sometimes reigns at the legislative level. We need law-making based on something more than the wishes of those lobbyists who make the most noise, but even good law is powerless without shame at its violation. We must be appalled enough to pray for and encourage legislative integrity, rather than merely complaining that our country is not the same as it used to be.
Wednesday, August 5, 2015
Eternal value is what counts ................ Parables 309
March 17, 1992
SHOE is not my all-time favorite cartoon but I did like the one where he says, “That’s the thing about working for a newspaper, everything you write is garbage a day later . . . ” Then, as his editor tosses his latest copy over his shoulder, Shoe remarks, “. . . and sometimes earlier than that.”
It reminded me of a man whose big ambition in life was to do the artwork for a cover of Fortune magazine. He worked hard and finally achieved his goal but not too long afterward — while still high-headed with the glory — he was walking down a busy street and a garbage truck passed. It was piled with, you guessed it, copies of Fortune — with his illustration on the cover.
The rather short life of most of our accomplishments is not fate’s idea of a cruel joke. Rather, the Bible suggests it’s God’s reminder that what we do for our own glory has no eternal value. The limelight may feel good and so does the achievement of goals, but the glory is short-lived.
Two Scripture passages brought this home to my heart. One is in the Sermon on the Mount where Jesus says, “Be careful not to do your ‘acts of righteousness’ before men, to be seem by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.” He adds that we are not to be like the religious hypocrites who do that because “. . . they have received their reward in full.”
Jesus is teaching that human praise and glory here and now is fine, but that is all it is — the praise of people, here and now. If I do what I do for an earthly reward, that’s all I get. There is no reward from God.
1 Corinthians 3 broadens the concept. It talks about building our work on a foundation of faith in Christ. It says, “If anyone builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay straw, his work will be shown for what it is, because the Day (of judgment) will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire; and the fire will test the quality of each one’s work. If what he has built survives, he will receive his reward. If it is burned up, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved . . . .”
We illustrated this a few years ago with a class of teens. I had them write in pencil on a small piece of paper some area of their life (either an outright sin or something else) that they knew was worthless to God. Next, on pieces of metal using permanent markers, they wrote some quality they could see in the person sitting on their right that was definitely from God. When they were finished, we put both paper and metal into a large aluminum pan, read these verses and tossed in a burning match and tested both with fire.
When God does the evaluation however, there will be a difference between His assessment of good or worthless, and ours. He sees us not according to human evaluation, but through the foundation of Christ. Without Jesus, and faith in Jesus, all is worthless before God, no matter how good it seems to us. The Old Testament prophet Isaiah said, “All our righteousness is like filthy rags . . . .”
But notice those verses from Corinthians again — it is not the quality of what we do that saves us because that only determines our heavenly rewards. What really counts is that foundation of faith in Christ. Should we foolishly build on it with worthless activity (wood, hay, and stubble) we will lose our rewards and suffer loss . . . but the rest of the verse says after the worthless is gone, we “will be saved, but only as one escaping through the flames.”
This concept radically changes the value of praise, getting awards, and even the goals of life. By God’s grace, even SHOE’s humor could line a bird cage next week but still have eternal significance for its author.
SHOE is not my all-time favorite cartoon but I did like the one where he says, “That’s the thing about working for a newspaper, everything you write is garbage a day later . . . ” Then, as his editor tosses his latest copy over his shoulder, Shoe remarks, “. . . and sometimes earlier than that.”
It reminded me of a man whose big ambition in life was to do the artwork for a cover of Fortune magazine. He worked hard and finally achieved his goal but not too long afterward — while still high-headed with the glory — he was walking down a busy street and a garbage truck passed. It was piled with, you guessed it, copies of Fortune — with his illustration on the cover.
The rather short life of most of our accomplishments is not fate’s idea of a cruel joke. Rather, the Bible suggests it’s God’s reminder that what we do for our own glory has no eternal value. The limelight may feel good and so does the achievement of goals, but the glory is short-lived.
Two Scripture passages brought this home to my heart. One is in the Sermon on the Mount where Jesus says, “Be careful not to do your ‘acts of righteousness’ before men, to be seem by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.” He adds that we are not to be like the religious hypocrites who do that because “. . . they have received their reward in full.”
Jesus is teaching that human praise and glory here and now is fine, but that is all it is — the praise of people, here and now. If I do what I do for an earthly reward, that’s all I get. There is no reward from God.
1 Corinthians 3 broadens the concept. It talks about building our work on a foundation of faith in Christ. It says, “If anyone builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay straw, his work will be shown for what it is, because the Day (of judgment) will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire; and the fire will test the quality of each one’s work. If what he has built survives, he will receive his reward. If it is burned up, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved . . . .”
We illustrated this a few years ago with a class of teens. I had them write in pencil on a small piece of paper some area of their life (either an outright sin or something else) that they knew was worthless to God. Next, on pieces of metal using permanent markers, they wrote some quality they could see in the person sitting on their right that was definitely from God. When they were finished, we put both paper and metal into a large aluminum pan, read these verses and tossed in a burning match and tested both with fire.
When God does the evaluation however, there will be a difference between His assessment of good or worthless, and ours. He sees us not according to human evaluation, but through the foundation of Christ. Without Jesus, and faith in Jesus, all is worthless before God, no matter how good it seems to us. The Old Testament prophet Isaiah said, “All our righteousness is like filthy rags . . . .”
But notice those verses from Corinthians again — it is not the quality of what we do that saves us because that only determines our heavenly rewards. What really counts is that foundation of faith in Christ. Should we foolishly build on it with worthless activity (wood, hay, and stubble) we will lose our rewards and suffer loss . . . but the rest of the verse says after the worthless is gone, we “will be saved, but only as one escaping through the flames.”
This concept radically changes the value of praise, getting awards, and even the goals of life. By God’s grace, even SHOE’s humor could line a bird cage next week but still have eternal significance for its author.
Wednesday, April 30, 2014
Golden Rule anyone? ................................. Parables 112
When my mother was a child, her school reader
contained it. Calligraphy versions were hung on the wall or stitched into
needlepoint cushions. It was highly regarded as a good philosophy for life.
Today, many people don’t even know what the “Golden Rule” says.
(In case you are one of them, it is found in Luke
6:31: “Do to others as you would have them do to you.”)
What happened to the Golden Rule? Is it too
impractical? Or simply unattainable? Is it only for grandmothers? Or religious
martyrs? Have all the wall plaques and old readers been stuffed in a closet or
sold at garage sales because this philosophy has gone out with the horse and
buggy?
Sadly, many people are not even aware of a golden rule
or even that there is any other way of life besides looking out for number one.
The rule today is more like; “Do unto others before they do it first.”
“Me first” is not a new wave of philosophy. An
excessive concern for self has rolled through history like the surf, rising
with threatening high tides and receding as they ebb, but always there.
Unfortunately, just like the sea shapes the coastline, a self‑centered focus
shapes eternal destiny.
The golden rule is really God’s command to love
others. But His definition of live is not quite the same as ours... we “love”
those who make us feel good but He says love “never seeks its own way.” We look
out for ourselves; He says love concerns itself with the well‑being of others.
We “love” those who love us; He says “love your enemies, do good to those who
hate you...” In fact, God’s love is so different than ours that a new Greek
word had to be invented for it; “agape”.
It is not that we don’t try to love others, it is just
that we fail to love like God does: everyone, unconditionally and sacrificially.
It is not in us. We fall short of His glory and we need new life from Him to
love as He commands. “Anyone who does not love (agape) remains in death.”
This self sacrificial, Godlike love is possible when a
person has in their heart the life of the only perfect lover. When we believe
in Jesus Christ, that He died for our sins, was buried, and rose again, we
receive His life and His love. He comes in to push aside our human, me first
attitude and replaces it with His agape love.
When approached with this gospel, many people think
quickly to the Ten Commandments (another bygone favorite wall hanging) and
respond by saying, “But I am okay, I have never murdered anyone!” They fail to
realize that God says, “Anyone who hates (fails to love) his brother is a
murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life in him.”
The Golden Rule is a “nice” verse. It looks good
hanging on the wall. But Christ expects His followers to do more than hang what
we believe from a hook. He said, “Love one another as I have loved you, and the
world will know that you are my disciples... they will know that the Father
sent me.”
Jesus Christ did come, He did die, He does give new
life; life that supernaturally plucks His people out of the ocean of self‑centeredness
that threatens to drown us all, and place us firmly on the Rock. From there we
can be a channel of His love, even to those who throw His Golden Rule in a
trash can.
Wednesday, March 19, 2014
A Solid Foundation ....................... Parables 094
Approximately 3300 new homes were constructed in the Edmonton and surrounding area this past year. Most of them have a concrete foundation; some may have a preserved wood foundation; but certainly none of them were built on quicksand, mud, or rotten wood! Foundations are too important to use weak or unstable material. If we do, no matter how firm the structure is on top, it will come down when the foundation does... and this is as true for our life as it is for our homes.
What kind of foundation will you be building on this year?
Some people will structure their year upon how little or how much money they have in the bank, economics shaping their priorities and lifestyle. Some will plan around health; the state of their body will decide how they will live and what will be the most important choices.
Others will plan next year around a secular “this-life-is-all-there- is” philosophy; the foundation for “doing things because it feels good” or because it seems to be “easiest” or “the most comfortable” way to live. Most will not think about their relationship with God or how their foundations will affect eternity.
Christians need to be on guard against thinking the same way. God has promised more than just this life, therefore we ought to live accordingly. After all, our foundation does not change with the economy, the weather, or the state of our physical bodies.
Instead we build our lives on an unchanging person. Paul says, in I Corinthians 3, “For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ.” He is “the same yesterday, today and forever.” Christ is our foundation for what we believe. What we believe forms the foundation for how we live.
FAITH: At the foundation of everything we do is a supposition, a belief system. We think certain things, therefore we act in certain ways. The foundation for our thinking is Jesus Christ.
First He came “God in human flesh” and lived a sinless life among us performing miracles, healing the sick, casting out demons, raising the dead. Then He went to Calvary and died on the cross for our sin, paying the penalty we should have paid. He was buried, but on the third day rose from the dead and was seen alive by many witnesses. After that, He ascended into heaven and promised to come again and take all those who place their faith in Him to be with Him forever.
For this life, He offers Himself - as our wisdom, strength, and source of all we need. Who He is and what He has done forms a solid foundation for who we are and He is sufficient for all He wants us to do. But Paul also said “take heed how you build...” (1 Corinthians 3)
PRACTICE: Since He is our lasting and sure foundation, any thing we build in our lives must be built on that foundation . He explained it this way: “Abide in me... for without me, you can do nothing...” (John 15:4,5) Jesus also pointed out that abiding requires obedience (John 15:10) And in Matthew 7, He showed how obedience relates to having a solid foundation: “Anyone who hears these sayings of mine and DOES them is like a man who built his house upon a rock...” (Matthew 7)
The storms that come will not destroy that man’s house because of its strong foundation... neither will our lives be destroyed by the trials of life if they are constructed solidly upon obedience to Jesus Christ.
Psalm 11:3 asks “If the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do?” Obviously, with no sure foundation, we would have no hope. But our foundation, Jesus Christ, is indestructible. Because He is who He is - He is always able to meet our needs, able to give us loving care, and able to direct us with wisdom and clarity. What more could anyone need for stability and strength against whatever may come in this year and beyond?
What kind of foundation will you be building on this year?
Some people will structure their year upon how little or how much money they have in the bank, economics shaping their priorities and lifestyle. Some will plan around health; the state of their body will decide how they will live and what will be the most important choices.
Others will plan next year around a secular “this-life-is-all-there- is” philosophy; the foundation for “doing things because it feels good” or because it seems to be “easiest” or “the most comfortable” way to live. Most will not think about their relationship with God or how their foundations will affect eternity.
Christians need to be on guard against thinking the same way. God has promised more than just this life, therefore we ought to live accordingly. After all, our foundation does not change with the economy, the weather, or the state of our physical bodies.
Instead we build our lives on an unchanging person. Paul says, in I Corinthians 3, “For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ.” He is “the same yesterday, today and forever.” Christ is our foundation for what we believe. What we believe forms the foundation for how we live.
FAITH: At the foundation of everything we do is a supposition, a belief system. We think certain things, therefore we act in certain ways. The foundation for our thinking is Jesus Christ.
First He came “God in human flesh” and lived a sinless life among us performing miracles, healing the sick, casting out demons, raising the dead. Then He went to Calvary and died on the cross for our sin, paying the penalty we should have paid. He was buried, but on the third day rose from the dead and was seen alive by many witnesses. After that, He ascended into heaven and promised to come again and take all those who place their faith in Him to be with Him forever.
For this life, He offers Himself - as our wisdom, strength, and source of all we need. Who He is and what He has done forms a solid foundation for who we are and He is sufficient for all He wants us to do. But Paul also said “take heed how you build...” (1 Corinthians 3)
PRACTICE: Since He is our lasting and sure foundation, any thing we build in our lives must be built on that foundation . He explained it this way: “Abide in me... for without me, you can do nothing...” (John 15:4,5) Jesus also pointed out that abiding requires obedience (John 15:10) And in Matthew 7, He showed how obedience relates to having a solid foundation: “Anyone who hears these sayings of mine and DOES them is like a man who built his house upon a rock...” (Matthew 7)
The storms that come will not destroy that man’s house because of its strong foundation... neither will our lives be destroyed by the trials of life if they are constructed solidly upon obedience to Jesus Christ.
Psalm 11:3 asks “If the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do?” Obviously, with no sure foundation, we would have no hope. But our foundation, Jesus Christ, is indestructible. Because He is who He is - He is always able to meet our needs, able to give us loving care, and able to direct us with wisdom and clarity. What more could anyone need for stability and strength against whatever may come in this year and beyond?
Friday, August 23, 2013
High School burns ............................. Parables 012
We walked through the halls and visited some of the classrooms Monday night. By Wednesday morning, some of those halls and some of those classrooms were destroyed. The staff, shocked and saddened, are hurting from the loss of many years work. Present and former students reflect on their memories. Some view the charred remains with a large lump in their throat. Others have mixed feelings, and some respond positively, with hope for a new, improved facility.
My youngsters attended Fort Saskatchewan High School such a short time, so when the news came on the radio, my mind soon moved from personal distress to the trauma of loss by fire. I tried to feel what others must be feeling. For example, how would I react if my study burned, and I lost 15 years of written work, as some teachers have this week?
Those who experience loss by fire say that it puts life and possessions somewhat into perspective, at least for a time. Desiring a long-range view, I turned to a passage in 1 Corinthians 3, verses 10-15. This refers to the judgment seat of Christ. There, the fire of God will test the works of Christians, those people with Jesus Christ at the foundation of their lives. This fire determines rewards, however, and is not a fire of judgment. His flame will be used to burn out the useless and vain, and even though the Christians will “be saved, yet so as by fire,” all their works will not survive.
I’ve never personally experienced a fire but reading these verses convinces me that certainly one day I will view some charred ruins. They will be the ashes from the deeds of my life that have had absolutely no eternal value. I can easily identify some of them right now: sin, rebellion, disobedience against God . . . all highly combustible material. Others are perhaps less obvious, but nonetheless flammable: aimless pursuits, selfish plans, show-off stunts, little and big things that flow out of a motivation to serve and glorify me instead of Christ, my Savior and Lord.
The fire in our high school is tragic. Staff and students have lost some valuable things this week: projects, notes, homework, term papers, records, personal possessions, mementos. However, the pain of those loses, even though it is real and very difficult to bear, cannot be compared to the anguish of looking back over an entire lifetime that has been wasted. Someday, pursuits that God calls “wood, hay, and stubble” will go up in flames, to be lost forever.
When that fire comes, surely we who are Christians can rejoice that our foundation cannot be destroyed. However, because He gave us that foundation, ought we not be building on it? This week’s fire should prompt us to re-evaluate the architecture of our lives. The bricks should be fireproof deeds of righteousness, cemented together by truth and love, making a building of works that cannot be lost. Hard work and sacrifice are involved in the construction process, but the Lord supplies the needs of His workers, including a clear blueprint, all materials, and strength and courage. When the final building inspection comes, the test of His refining fire, may we have much left standing on our foundation, and few ashes to regret.
My youngsters attended Fort Saskatchewan High School such a short time, so when the news came on the radio, my mind soon moved from personal distress to the trauma of loss by fire. I tried to feel what others must be feeling. For example, how would I react if my study burned, and I lost 15 years of written work, as some teachers have this week?
Those who experience loss by fire say that it puts life and possessions somewhat into perspective, at least for a time. Desiring a long-range view, I turned to a passage in 1 Corinthians 3, verses 10-15. This refers to the judgment seat of Christ. There, the fire of God will test the works of Christians, those people with Jesus Christ at the foundation of their lives. This fire determines rewards, however, and is not a fire of judgment. His flame will be used to burn out the useless and vain, and even though the Christians will “be saved, yet so as by fire,” all their works will not survive.
I’ve never personally experienced a fire but reading these verses convinces me that certainly one day I will view some charred ruins. They will be the ashes from the deeds of my life that have had absolutely no eternal value. I can easily identify some of them right now: sin, rebellion, disobedience against God . . . all highly combustible material. Others are perhaps less obvious, but nonetheless flammable: aimless pursuits, selfish plans, show-off stunts, little and big things that flow out of a motivation to serve and glorify me instead of Christ, my Savior and Lord.
The fire in our high school is tragic. Staff and students have lost some valuable things this week: projects, notes, homework, term papers, records, personal possessions, mementos. However, the pain of those loses, even though it is real and very difficult to bear, cannot be compared to the anguish of looking back over an entire lifetime that has been wasted. Someday, pursuits that God calls “wood, hay, and stubble” will go up in flames, to be lost forever.
When that fire comes, surely we who are Christians can rejoice that our foundation cannot be destroyed. However, because He gave us that foundation, ought we not be building on it? This week’s fire should prompt us to re-evaluate the architecture of our lives. The bricks should be fireproof deeds of righteousness, cemented together by truth and love, making a building of works that cannot be lost. Hard work and sacrifice are involved in the construction process, but the Lord supplies the needs of His workers, including a clear blueprint, all materials, and strength and courage. When the final building inspection comes, the test of His refining fire, may we have much left standing on our foundation, and few ashes to regret.
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