“he
who builds on the foundation must be very careful. And no one can ever lay
any other real foundation than
that one we already have—Jesus Christ. But there are various kinds of
materials that can be used to build on that
foundation. Some use gold and silver and jewels; and some build with sticks and
hay or even straw! There is going
to come a time of testing at Christ’s Judgment Day to see what kind of
material each builder has used. Everyone’s
work will be put through the fire so that all can see whether or not it keeps its value, and what was really accomplished. Then every workman who has built on the foundation with the right materials, and whose work still stands, will get his pay. But if the house he has built burns up, he will have a great loss. He himself will be saved,
but like a man escaping through a wall of flames.”
1 Corinthians 3:10-15 (TLB)
work will be put through the fire so that all can see whether or not it keeps its value, and what was really accomplished. Then every workman who has built on the foundation with the right materials, and whose work still stands, will get his pay. But if the house he has built burns up, he will have a great loss. He himself will be saved,
but like a man escaping through a wall of flames.”
1 Corinthians 3:10-15 (TLB)
Obviously
most people would prefer to go to heaven when they die rather than to what is
popularly called hell. But how
do we know who goes where?
We
know that those who trust in Jesus Christ for their salvation have free entrance
into heaven. However the passage
above reflects a very big truth that we ignore to our detriment.
It is this: heaven is where
God is. Heaven is where
darkness is not. Heaven is a
place the blazing fires of God’s dispel everything that is impure.
I
have found myself reflecting on the story of the prodigal son.
After years of unholy living he came home to his Father (God).
There’s no concrete proof that the son had truly repented, we just know
that he came home because it was better then being on his own, the Father took
him in anyway. Yes, he had a great
party thrown for him, but what then? His
father’s house (metaphorically heaven) was one kind of life, his life in the
far country was another kind of life.
The son had a dilemma on his hands.
He would discover that his old way of life can’t be lived in his
father’s home. Would the son
stay and undergo dramatic change? Would
the son discover that he preferred his old way of life to the Father’s?
Or
consider the elder brother. He
refused to enter the party (heaven) because he was resentful.
He preferred being outside of (heaven) and holding onto his anger and
resentment, believing he was right and the Father (God) was wrong”
He missed (heaven) by his own choice.
The door was open to him but he chose the “outer darkness”
Each
of us is wise to ask ourselves if and how we are becoming the kind of person who
could stand living the fullness of the presence of God?
Where in our lives is there a darkness that we prefer over the blazing
light of the love of God?
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