September 18: Tradesman (Builders) Day

 

September 18:  Tradesman (Builders) Day

Irwin tools, a world-class manufacturer of a broad line of professional hand tools and power tool accessories, founded this day in 2011 to honor the men and women who work hard to keep the United States running.  Hats off to all those hard-working construction people.

In a roundabout way, today raises an interesting question.  Will there be levels of Heaven and Hell?  Even before the publication of Dante’s Inferno in 1320 AD, this question has perplexed theologians and students of the Bible.  The short answer is, “yes!”  What will that look like and how will that play out?  We have no idea.  But there are a number of Scriptures that indicate that some will be the “greatest” in the Kingdom of Heaven, and others will suffer greater condemnation in Hell.

One passage in particular should give us pause.  I Corinthians 3:10-15 states “¹⁰ According to the grace of God given to me, like a skilled master builder I laid a foundation, and someone else is building upon it. Let each one take care how he builds upon it. ¹¹ For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. ¹² Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw— ¹³ each one's work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done. ¹⁴ If the work that anyone has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward. ¹⁵ If anyone's work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire.” 

There is only ONE foundation that provides eternity with God—Jesus Christ.  But the question is asked, how are we building on that foundation?  Each of us should take care.  The day is coming when the construction project of our lives will be revealed.  Some will reap the rewards of a life well spent.  Others will be saved, “but only as through fire.”

Today, reexamine your life.  How are you building on the only sure foundation, Jesus?  What fruit are you bearing, and is that fruit evident?  Press into the good works that God created you for (Ephesians 2:10).  Surrender your life more completely to His will and the power of His Spirit.  Continue to build with gold, silver and precious stones.  On that day when Christ cracks open the sky and shouts “enough!” our works will be made known.  What will your house look like, and will it stand?