How is your foundation?

1 Cor. 3:11 - "For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ" (ESV).

Foundations are critical to any building project. A while back I was preparing material for a study on Evidences, and I came across some information on the ancient Egyptians' method for preparing a foundation for a pyramid. They had devised a brilliant process where they would dig a trench along the four sides of the proposed base, then they would fill the trench with water and place lengths of wood on top of the water. As the water stopped moving the floating wood would allow them to accurately determine level, after which they would begin construction of the pyramids foundation.

Multiple times in the opening of 1 Corinthians, Paul told them that the foundation their new lives were built on was the crucified Jesus.

1 Cor. 1:23 - "...but we preach Christ crucified,"

1 Cor. 2:2 - "For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified."

1 Cor. 3:11 - "For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ."

If we attempt to build our spiritual lives upon something other than Jesus, we are going to turn ourselves into something other than Christians. Ultimately, a life built on something other than Jesus will not stand.

What kind of foundation have you been building on lately? Is it time to start fresh by removing faulty edifices, tearing out an inferior foundation and beginning anew with Jesus? And what have you been preaching to people? Are you trying to attract them with something other than the crucified Christ? If so they are building on a foundation that will not be able to withstand the storms of life they encounter here on earth and they definitely won't pass God's final inspection in eternity.

Let's all give ourselves a close inspection and see if our personal foundations pass Paul's test.

Jeremy Dehut

(Originally posted 8/31/09)