Sagrada Familia

Read

1 Corinthians 15:57–16:1 (KJV) But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.

What it is speaking to me:

In Barcelona, Spain, there is a cathedral called the Sagrada Familia. Construction began in 1882. This past June, in 2026, after 144 years and five generations of architects, workers, and builders, it was finally declared complete. One hundred and forty-four years. The man who took over the project in 1883 and gave it its vision, Antoni Gaudí, died in 1926. He never saw it finished. He knew he never would. He built anyway.

Can you imagine picking up a project knowing with absolute certainty that you will not live to see it done? The generation that laid the foundation didn't see the towers. The generation that built the walls did not see the cross go up. Every single person who ever hammered or chiseled on that building had to make a choice: does the work matter if I don't get to see the finish? They decided it did. And because of that decision, made over and over again across five generations, there is now one of the most breathtaking buildings on the planet.

Paul is writing about the same thing. Be steadfast. Unmovable. Always abounding in the work of the Lord. Because our labor is not in vain. Not "won't be in vain if it works out." Not "won't be in vain if people appreciate it." Not in vain. Period. The work you do for the Kingdom has an eternal finish to it that you may never see on this side of heaven.

We don't have the blueprints. We are not the architect. We are one generation of a build that God started before we got here and, unless Jesus returns first, will finish long after we are gone. Our job is not to see the whole thing completed. Our job is to show up and build. Our generation has a row of stones to lay. Let's lay them well, and trust the rest to the Master Builder.

What is it saying to you?

Does the work you are doing right now feel pointless?Are you focused on immediate successes versus the long-term build?Do you think about what you are building in years or decades?

What are we going to do about it?

Remember that the ultimate purpose of all Christian labor is eternal, not just temporal success. Align your work to a long view of success.