1 Corinthians 3:15 If anyone’s work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire. NKJV What does suffering loss mean about our lives as believers?
The New Testament uses this word several times, but the clearest example of what it means is in Acts 27. Remember Paul on the ship that went through the terrible storm, crashed on the rocks, and was destroyed? That event in Acts 27 perfectly describes what suffering loss is all about in our lives as believers.
Think of life as collecting the cargo in a ship. You carry down everything necessary and stow it in the hold. Now follow along in Acts 27.
Acts 27:10, 21, 44 and the rest, some on boards and some on parts of the ship. And so it was that they all escaped safely to land. NKJV
At the judgment seat of Christ, some believers are going to see everything they lived for thrown overboard (burned up in the fire), and they will float to shore on a board.
All that will be left of life will be that they were saved (they shall be saved, yet so as by fire). That is such a description of so many lives that fill God’s Word; they began the race with great achievement but failed at the end because they ignored God’s rules. They did not lose their salvation, but they did lose their rewards (1 Cor. 3:15). It happened to Lot (Gen. 19), and to Samson (Jud. 16), probably King Saul who is our focus these past weeks (1 Sam. 28; 31), and to Ananias and Sapphira (Acts 5). And, as Paul warns–it can happen to us!
Paul wanted to avoid the disastrous loss that would come if He ignored God and His will for life. Over and over we hear him say things like:
1 Corinthians 9:27 But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified. NKJV
Another perspective motivated them—the idea of the end of the race. Let’s look at the finish line. Paul had a distinct impression that life was a daily race with an end-of-life prize, and the only way to get the prize was to finish the race.
2 Timothy 4:7-8 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8 Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing. NKJV
John the Apostle was also convinced that we would either welcome Christ’s coming or wither in shame before Him.
1 John 2:28 And now, little children, abide in Him, that when He appears, we may have confidence and not be ashamed before Him at His coming. NKJV
In fact, as John records the closing words of the Bible, they point to that very truth.
Revelation 22:12 “And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work. NKJV
So, if God is going to analyze our lives and judge us by our works, what should we be doing? That takes us back to Paul and this picture Paul challenges us with—that life is the production of building materials that we present to God. Each day, our time is either spent in what is merely earthly and temporal or some of our time is also given over to what is lasting, endless, and eternal.
Philippians 3:12-14 Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. 13 Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, 14 I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. NKJV
Paul further expands upon that idea by saying that our works, deeds, actions are transformed into either ‘wood, hay, stubble’ or ‘gold, silver, precious stones’.
1 Corinthians 3:13-15
DSS-09 – Crash Site – Suffer Loss Like Saul (060226AM)
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