By For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, you are God’s building. According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I have laid the foundation, and another builds on it. But let each one take heed how he builds on it. 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 is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.
I Corinthians 3:9-13, 15
Have you ever thought about nature’s offerings that bear immense value? (Gold, diamonds, pearls, etc.) What is so interesting about these precious stones and metals is that they each experience extreme circumstances to achieve their beauty.
Gold becomes its purest form through fire. As impurities are heated they rise to the surface to be scraped away. (Silver is also purified this way.)
Diamonds come under immense pressure as they transition from a rock into a priceless gem.
Pearls begin as a grain of sand causing great irritation to an oyster. In order to protect itself the oyster coats the sand until a pearl is formed.
Lasting beauty in nature, it seems, is never easily formed.
What can you see in your life that is lasting beauty? Beauty that has been formed by fire and resistance.
When we see the final days of judgement. When all our actions and heart intents are brought to the surface, what will remain once the impurities are scraped away? Will we be found pure or will we be saved only by fire?
I don’t believe this is something we think of always. As we push through each day just to survive the pressures of life, we aren’t looking to eternity. But eternity remains.
If eternal beauty is measured by fire, what can I do now to grow in eternal beauty?
