“If anyone builds on that foundation with gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay, or straw, each one’s work will become obvious, for the day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire; the fire will test the quality of each one’s work.” 1 Corinthians 3:12-13 HCSB https://www.bible.com/72/1co.3.12-13.hcsb
How can we build with gold, silver, stones, wood, hay, or straw?
“The words of the Lord are pure words, like silver refined in an earthen furnace, purified seven times. You, Lord, will guard us; You will protect us from this generation forever.”
Psalms 12:6-7 HCSB
https://www.bible.com/72/psa.12.6-7.hcsb
“The temple’s construction used finished stones cut at the quarry so that no hammer, chisel, or any iron tool was heard in the temple while it was being built.”
1 Kings 6:7 HCSB
https://www.bible.com/72/1ki.6.7.hcsb
“He also made the embroidered breastpiece with the same workmanship as the ephod of gold, of blue, purple, and scarlet yarn, and of finely spun linen. They made the breastpiece square and folded double, nine inches long and nine inches wide. They mounted four rows of gemstones on it. The first row was a row of carnelian, topaz, and emerald; the second row, a turquoise, a sapphire, and a diamond; the third row, a jacinth, an agate, and an amethyst; and the fourth row, a beryl, an onyx, and a jasper. They were surrounded with gold filigree in their settings. The 12 stones corresponded to the names of Israel’s sons. Each stone was engraved like a seal with one of the names of the 12 tribes.”
Exodus 39:8-14 HCSB
https://www.bible.com/72/exo.39.8-14.hcsb
“As charcoal for embers and wood for fire, so is a quarrelsome man for kindling strife.”
Proverbs 26:21 HCSB
https://www.bible.com/72/pro.26.21.hcsb
“You are worn out with your many consultations. So let them stand and save you — the astrologers, who observe the stars, who predict monthly what will happen to you. Look, they are like stubble; fire burns them up. They cannot deliver themselves from the power of the flame. This is not a coal for warming themselves, or a fire to sit beside! This is what they are to you — those who have wearied you and have traded with you from your youth — each wanders on his own way; no one can save you.”
Isaiah 47:13-15 HCSB
https://www.bible.com/72/isa.47.13-15.hcsb
With People. Gold and silver is people refined by the word of God. Costly Stones are people that have been carved to perfection outside of Church. That is to say they have a Christian life 24/7 not just in Church or on Sunday but really live it out. Wood is empty words people speak. Hay and straw is empty actions that are useless to God.
So then what is the day that will disclose our building materials?
“But you, brothers, are not in the dark, for this day to overtake you like a thief. For you are all sons of light and sons of the day. We do not belong to the night or the darkness. So then, we must not sleep, like the rest, but we must stay awake and be serious. For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk are drunk at night. But since we belong to the day, we must be serious and put the armor of faith and love on our chests, and put on a helmet of the hope of salvation.”
1 Thessalonians 5:4-8 HCSB
https://www.bible.com/72/1th.5.4-8.hcsb
It is light that shines out of darkness to illuminate our work. We can build with wood, hay or straw durning our night watches, or we can build with gold silver, and precious stones. Sin is practiced at night when no one is watching. But during the day the Lord will reveal what you have hidden in night. We have two choices, sin during the night or watch and pray during the night.
“I rise before dawn and cry out for help; I put my hope in Your word. I am awake through each watch of the night to meditate on Your promise.”
Psalms 119:147-148 HCSB
https://www.bible.com/72/psa.119.147-148.hcsb
“Night will no longer exist, and people will not need lamplight or sunlight, because the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign forever and ever.”
Revelation 22:5 HCSB
https://www.bible.com/72/rev.22.5.hcsb
God has two fires the first fire is fire and brimstone which is used against the ungodly to judge their sinful acts. Examples of the Fire and brimstone are Noah’s flood, the rain of sulfur in Sodom, the Israelite nation taking over the promised land, Babylon driving out the Israelites to slavery and the example of Ananias and Sapphira.
“But a man named Ananias, with his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property. However, he kept back part of the proceeds with his wife’s knowledge, and brought a portion of it and laid it at the apostles’ feet. Then Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and keep back part of the proceeds from the field? Wasn’t it yours while you possessed it? And after it was sold, wasn’t it at your disposal? Why is it that you planned this thing in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God! ” When he heard these words, Ananias dropped dead, and a great fear came on all who heard. The young men got up, wrapped his body, carried him out, and buried him. There was an interval of about three hours; then his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. “Tell me,” Peter asked her, “did you sell the field for this price? ” “Yes,” she said, “for that price.” Then Peter said to her, “Why did you agree to test the Spirit of the Lord? Look! The feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out! ” Instantly she dropped dead at his feet. When the young men came in, they found her dead, carried her out, and buried her beside her husband. Then great fear came on the whole church and on all who heard these things.”
Acts 5:1-11 HCSB
https://www.bible.com/72/act.5.1-11.hcsb
The second fire is His refining fire to purge out the sin in us to make us Pure Gold and Silver. Examples include Lot, Abraham, Moses, and Aquila and Pricilla.
“After this, he left Athens and went to Corinth, where he found a Jewish man named Aquila, a native of Pontus, who had recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla because Claudius had ordered all the Jews to leave Rome. Paul came to them,
So Paul, having stayed on for many days, said good-bye to the brothers and sailed away to Syria. Priscilla and Aquila were with him. He shaved his head at Cenchreae because he had taken a vow. When they reached Ephesus he left them there, but he himself entered the synagogue and engaged in discussion with the Jews.
He began to speak boldly in the synagogue. After Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him home and explained the way of God to him more accurately.”
Acts 18:1-2, 18-19, 26 HCSB
https://www.bible.com/72/act.18.1-2,18-19,26.hcsb
Who will you be? Will you be an Aquila and Priscilla or an Ananias and Sapphira?
“He showed me this: The Lord was standing there by a vertical wall with a plumb line in His hand. The Lord asked me, “What do you see, Amos? ” I replied, “A plumb line.” Then the Lord said, “I am setting a plumb line among My people Israel; I will no longer spare them:”
Amos 7:7-8 HCSB
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