Mankind has been created by God for eternity and God has placed that longing in each one of us. As a result of this longing, man has sought news ways to live as long as possible. When it comes to eternity, according to the Bible, there are two options. Option #1: Eternity with God, conscious, and eternally living. Option #2: Eternity separated from God, conscious, and eternall dying. In 1 Corinthians 3:15, Paul makes a reference to being “saved”. He is talking about the eternal life that we will experience when know Christ as our personal Savior.

Paul wrote,  “10.  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.
11. For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
12. Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw,
13. 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.
14. If anyone’s work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward.
15. If anyone’s work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.”

In this passage, Paul gives the reader some building plans. He makes reference to foundation and building materials. Each one of us is building a life for ourselves. The difference maker is this: what are you building your life on and with. If we are to experience eternal life, there are some things we msut do.

1. If I am to experience eternal life, I must make Jesus Christ my eternal foundation. (3:11)

Paul instructs the Corinthian believers that he has given to them a foundation that is liek none other. There is no other foundation than Jesus Christ. Jesus is the foundation that eternal life is based upon. This foundation is established in the individual when we recieve Christ personally, believing that He was crucified, died for our sins, and rose on the third day as a living Savior.

2. If I am to experience eternal life, I must understand the danger of temporary foundations. (Matt 7:24-27)

If the foundation is wrong or weak, everything above and on it subject to come crashing down. If you don’t know Jesus, you have constructed a temporary foundation for your life. Jesus told the story of two builders, one built a house upon the rock and the other a house upon the sand. Both experienced storms. The house built ont the rock remained and the house built upon the sand fell, and the fall was great. In this life, we can construct dangerous and temporary foundations. What do these look like?  1. Finances  2. Fame & Fortune  3. Family  4. Flesh. Temporary foundations won’t enable you to weather the stroms of life.

3. If I am to experience eternal life, I must build with eternal materials. (3:12-15)

The things we do here in this life will determine the rewards received in our eternal life. Once I am sure of my foundation, I must then begin building with those things that will last and stand up at the time of judgment (gold, silver, precious stone). Building with hay, wood, and straw gives us the picture of doing things in life in human power and wisdom, and will all burn in the face of judgment.

Each one of should examine and make sure our foundation is sure and is eternal. As we build a life, build with those materials that honor and please the Lord.