According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon. For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
1 Corinthians 3:10–11
With the rapid growth of Los Angeles in the early 1900s, a new and larger water supply was needed. First the Los Angeles Aqueduct was constructed, but as population continued to increase, even more water was needed. Work on the St. Francis Dam, which would create a massive reservoir, began in 1922 and was completed in 1926. The dam was one of the largest built at that time, reaching nearly 200 feet above the river bed below. There was some concern about the nature of the rocks at the dam site, but engineers determined that it would be safe. They were wrong. On March 12, 1928, two years to the day after the reservoir started filling, the dam suffered a catastrophic failure. More than twelve billion gallons of water rushed downstream, emptying the lake in just over one hour. It is believed that at least 431 people perished in one of the worst engineering disasters in American history.
The men who designed and built the dam used their experience and judgment, along with the best techniques and materials available at the time. Yet all their work was undermined by hidden flaws in the foundation. What appeared strong and secure could not withstand the pressure placed upon it. The strength of a structure is determined not merely by what can be seen above ground, but by what supports it beneath the surface.
The same is true of our lives and our service for God. Good intentions, natural ability, and human wisdom are not enough to produce work of lasting spiritual value. Everything we do must be firmly grounded on Jesus Christ. Only a life built on Christ has a foundation strong enough to endure.
