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Our Sure Foundation, June 4
For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones,
wood, hay, stubble; every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day
shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try
every man’s work of what sort it is.
1 Corinthians 3:11-13
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As fire reveals the difference between gold, silver, and precious stones, and
wood, hay, and stubble, so the day of judgment will test characters, showing the
difference between characters formed after Christ’s likeness and characters formed
after the likeness of the selfish heart. All selfishness, all false religion, will then
appear as it is. The worthless material will be consumed; but the gold of true,
simple, humble faith will never lose its value. It can never be consumed; for it is
imperishable.
Character is not obtained by receiving an education. Character is not obtained
by amassing wealth or by gaining worldly honor. Character is not obtained by
having others fight the battle of life for us. It must be sought, worked for, fought
for; and it requires a purpose, a will, a determination. To form a character which
God will approve, requires persevering effort. It will take a continual resisting of
the powers of darkness to ... have our names retained in the book of life. Is it not
worth more to have our names registered in that book, have them immortalized
among the heavenly angels, than to have them sounded in praise throughout the
whole earth?
In the probationary time granted us here we are each building a structure that
is to have the inspection of the Judge of all the earth. This work is the molding of
our characters. Every act of our lives is a stone in that building, every faculty is a
worker, every blow that is struck is for good or for evil. The words of inspiration
warn us to take heed how we build, to see that our foundation is sure. If we build
upon the solid rock, pure, noble, upright deeds, the structure will go up beautiful
and symmetrical, a fit temple for the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.
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