Facing our ‘ULTIMATE PERFORMANCE REVIEW’!
November
20 Bible Reading: 1 Corinthians Chapters 1-3
Facing our ‘ULTIMATE PERFORMANCE REVIEW’!
"For no other foundation can anyone lay
than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if anyone builds on this foundation
with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each one's work will
become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire;
and the fire will test each one's work, of what sort it is. If anyone's work
which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. If anyone's work is
burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through
fire." (1 Cor. 3:11-15)
Apostle Paul
describes in this passage the ultimate
performance review that we will face one day when we stand before God and when
He evaluates the worth of our lives on the earth. He uses the image of metal
being purified in a refining fire (vv. 13–15). God’s fire will burn away the
worthless impurities, leaving only what is valuable.
Of the six
types of materials mentioned, three are combustible and three are
incombustible. Our service that has brought glory to God and blessing to people
like teaching sound doctrine, living lives of fidelity to the truth, leading
converts to spiritual maturity, etc. are comparable to gold, silver, and
precious stones that will not be consumed by the fire, but actually be purified
and increase in value. On the other hand, our work that has brought dishonor to
God like providing inadequate/unsound teaching or compromising the truth by
demonstrating a life-style that fails to model it, will be consumed by the fire
and nothing will remain.
An
interesting thought in connection with this verse is that the Word of God is
sometimes likened to fire (Isa. 5:24, Jer. 23:29). The same Word of God which
will test our service at the Judgment Seat of Christ is available to us now. If
we are building in accordance with the teachings of the Bible, then our work
will stand the test in that final judgment day!
The question
to ask ourselves today is - when the
smoke clears on that day what will be left of our lives to display? Let us
build our lives on commodities that will stand the test of God’s judgment. Let
us give priority to things of lasting value every day. Let us live only for His
glory!
"And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to everyone according to his work. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last." (Rev 22:12-13)
