Sure Foundation

1 Corinthians 3:12-15 (ESV)
¹² Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw—
¹³ 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.
¹⁴ If the work that anyone has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward.
¹⁵ If anyone's work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire.

Foundation is important. Where we put our trust is important, too important for casual treatment. Our lives are built on and lived out on a premise of belief, whether we are aware of it or not. Any other foundation than that of Jesus Christ will not stand. Like the nursery rhyme of the three little pigs, building a house on anything other than Christ will fall. 

This passage speaks of the Day of the Lord, the day He comes to judge us all. His judgment will be as fire that casts light on every part of our lives and will test all that we have done or not done. Good works in Christ will be rewarded, and all else in our lives that is contrary to His teachings will melt away in that refining fire.

For all those who put their faith in Jesus, the foundation that survives, they will survive and be rewarded for that belief and obedience. Loss will be measured in life’s moments wasted in disobedience, and where the love and light of Christ were not reflected in our lives. The worst part will be when we see the disappointment in our Father’s eyes and our reflection on what could have been. 

The good news here is that Paul writes to the church that we will be saved on that day of fire. Like the thief who believed in Jesus as they both hung on crosses was assured by our Savior of seeing Paradise, so can we be assured of being with our Lord and seeing Paradise when that final day comes. The other thief did not believe in the One sent from the Father, and like all others who do likewise, will find they stand on a foundation that will not hold. Foundation is important, and it determines had scorched we will be in the end. Let make sure we stand on the sure foundation, the rock of our salvation.