Build on the Foundation of Christ

By Ike Idegbema

In the second letter to the Church in Corinth chapter 11: 12-15, 29, Apostle Paul tells of his hurt as he recounts the evil deeds of dishonest workers in the Church who obviously are not building on the foundation of Christ. 12 And what I am doing I will continue to do, in order to undermine the claim of those who would like to claim that in their boasted mission they work on the same terms as we do. 13 For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. 14 And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. 15 So it is no surprise if his servants, also, disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. Their end will correspond to their deeds.

Apostle Paul tells us that he inwardly burns because false apostles, deceitful workers masquerading as angels of light, were leading Corinthian Christians into sin (2 Corinthians 11:13, 29). When one considers the damages these deceitful workers cost the Church even in our day, one wonder why God tolerates deceitful workers who tempt ministers of the gospel to be dishonest and members to sin. The reason God tolerates these men is the same reason that He didn’t place an electric fence around the tree of knowledge in the Garden of Eden.

God tolerates them for His own use. “Delilas” are useful to God’s purposes because there is a testing nature to God. We see it in God testing Abraham on Mt. Moriah. We see it in the first chapter of Job where God invites Satan to consider Job who God Himself described as an upright man.

While there is no sinless perfection in any Christian leader, there are degrees of corrupt actions that obviously show they are not building on the foundation of Jesus Christ.

Suggested steps to building on the Foundation of Christ

1. 1. Move forward in faith and don’t look back: Let go of your past sins and do not go back to them. When they looked back they become Pillar of salt. They that look back to Egypt never get to the Promised Land.
2. 2. Let go of old habits of directionless living that is controlled by the opinions of philosophies of new; create new habits of dependent on God’s Word daily and praying and allow yourself to led by the Holy Spirit. Tune your ears to hear the still small voice of the Holy Spirit.
3. 3. Surround yourself with honest Christian Community: God did not create us to walk this world alone. No one can do life or Christianity alone. Therefore, surround yourself with faithful Christian community (Acts 2: 42, 1 Thessalonians 5: 11)
4. 4. Bring your life under check; have a spiritual mentor. Learn to be submissive and accountable. Someone said, “Make sure your worst enemy is not living between your two ears.” We are our greatest enemies; therefore, willfully submitting to spiritual authority and mentors helps us to check our own excesses.
5. 5. Serve in the community of Christians and regularly share the testimony of your salvation. Thought and talk magnifies of things. If we become cold and ashamed after our confessions of faith in the Lord Jesus, we will give Satan a foothold in our life.

May the Lord help us to build with care on the foundation of Christ and walk therein! I