Scripture in Action

Aneel Aranha is an author, preacher, and evangelist who has spoken to hundreds of thousands of people around the world. You can find a huge selection of his reflections, articles, sermons, songs and other resources on his app.

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Scripture in Action

Day 171

August 26, 2025 • Aneel Aranha • Season 3 • Episode 171

0:00 | 12:46

Explore God's judgment on earthly pride through Isaiah 23-25 and 1 Corinthians 3, discovering how to build on Christ's foundation with heavenly wisdom rather than worldly strategies.

Day 171 – What the Fire Leaves Standing

Isaiah 23–25
1 Corinthians 3

Think of something you've poured years into. A career. A home. A reputation. Now ask what would be left of it if everything else burned away. Isaiah 23 begins with Tyre, a harbor city that had everything. Her merchants were princes. Her traders were the honored of the earth. Then Isaiah names who brought her down. The Lord Almighty planned it, to bring low her pride in all her splendor. Chapter 24 pulls the lens back until the whole earth is in view, reeling like a drunkard, swaying like a hut in the wind. And then chapter 25 turns, suddenly and beautifully. On this mountain the Lord will prepare a feast of rich food for all peoples. He will swallow up death forever. He will wipe away the tears from every face. Paul asks the same question in 1 Corinthians 3, only he brings it down to ordinary lives. We all build on the foundation already laid. Gold, silver, costly stones, or wood, hay and straw. The Day will bring it to light, because it will be revealed with fire. Read side by side, these chapters show that the testing was never the question. What survives it is.

At the heart of these chapters is a simple idea. Everything we build will meet fire one day. Only what was built on the foundation already laid, who is Jesus Christ, will still be standing when the smoke clears.

So how do we put this into action?

First, take the one project consuming most of your energy this week. Ask God honestly what it's made of. Is it building His people, or building your name? Let Him answer before you start defending yourself.

Second, Isaiah says God is a shelter from the storm for the poor and needy. Be that for one person today in a way that costs you something real. A bill covered. An hour given. A burden quietly lifted off someone's shoulders.

Third, sit with Isaiah 25, verses 6 through 9, for a few minutes. Picture the table God is preparing. Then say out loud the name of one person you long to see seated there, and pray for them by name.

As you step into your day, carry this with you. The fire doesn't destroy what was built on Christ. It only clears away everything that wasn't. So build today with materials that last.

Thank you for joining me today. May God give you clear eyes for what matters, generous hands for those in need, and deep peace about the foundation beneath you. Until tomorrow, build on the one foundation that fire cannot touch.