Built to Last

“Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you?” — 1 Corinthians 3:16 (NRSVUE)

Have you ever driven by a house just days after a fire? The roof is draped in blue tarps, the windows boarded with plywood, the yard still littered with the remnants of what once was. Only a short time before, that same house had vitality. It was a home.

Children’s toys scattered across the lawn, families coming and going, a television flickering in the windows at dusk. If you’ve lived in the neighborhood long enough, you may even remember when the house was first built—the day the foundation was poured, the framing raised, the siding hung, the roof shingled, and finally the “For Sale” sign planted in the front yard.

This is the kind of image Paul evokes when he writes to the church in Corinth. He reminds them that every life—every believer—is a structure built on a foundation. And that foundation is Jesus Christ. No other base will hold. No other ground will bear the weight of a life shaped by faith, hope, and love.

Paul goes on to say that others will build on that foundation. Pastors, teachers, mentors, friends, siblings in Christ—all of them add something to the structure of our lives. Some build with care, using materials that endure. Others build hastily, with things that cannot withstand pressure or flame. But the foundation remains the same, and the Spirit of God dwells within the house being formed.

We must also recognize the builders around us—those who strengthen us with encouragement, wisdom, and truth, and those whose influence may weaken what God is shaping. After all, when we take on a home project, we look for the best contractors, the ones whose work we trust and whose materials will last. We want people who build with care, not shortcuts. The same is true in our spiritual lives: we need voices and companions who help reinforce what Christ has laid, not undermine it.

We must also recognize the builders around us—those who strengthen us with encouragement, wisdom, and truth, and those whose influence may weaken what God is shaping. After all, when we take on a home project, we look for the best contractors, the ones whose work we trust and whose materials will last. We want people who build with care, not shortcuts. The same is true in our spiritual lives: we need voices and companions who help reinforce what Christ has laid, not undermine it.

Just as we value our physical homes—repairing roofs, replacing windows, tending yards—we are called to value the home God is building within us. To nurture it. To protect it. To let Christ remain the cornerstone and the Spirit remain the life within its walls. A house with a strong foundation can withstand storms. A life grounded in Christ can do the same.

May we be responsible stewards, caring for the temple God has entrusted to us, honoring Jesus who laid the foundation and the Holy Spirit who continues to dwell within.

God, you are the builder of our lives and the foundation on which we stand. Help us tend the home you are shaping within us. Strengthen what is weak, repair what is broken, and guide those who build alongside us. May our lives honor Jesus, who laid the foundation, and the Holy Spirit who continues to dwell within. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Grace & Peace,

Pastor Tim