“By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as a wise builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should build with care. For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. If anyone builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, their work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each person’s work. If what has been built survives, the builder will receive a reward. If it is burned up, the builder will suffer loss but yet will be saved—even though only as one escaping through the flames.”

– Paul, to the church of Corinth in his first epistle, chapter 3.

I was sitting with a follower of Jesus this morning and he referenced these words of Paul. He described to me a vision that motivates him to invest in the lives of his family, friends, and church. In this vision, he imagines sitting amongst the crowds at the great judgment seat of Christ. His hope and prayer is to see these people, one by one, that he loved and impacted stand before Christ. As the consuming fire of judgment falls on all they did with their lives he desires to see many of their works in life still there…ready to reap rewards. Then he envisions these people, those he discipled by pointing them to a life centered in Christ, casting those awards and accolades back at the feet of Jesus…the only one deserving of worship. What a vision!

May we focus on what matters most today – the great Kingdom of God. May we store up “store up treasures in heaven where moth and rust do not destroy and thieves do not break in and steal”. May we all have this vision my brother in Christ shared…both for our lives and the lives of those we love!