07/14/2019
What does our Bible look like? Is it a simple black book with words, or ornate with pictures and such? How too is the cross on which we envision Jesus; is it a simple wooden cross, or ornately designed and built; perhaps even cast in gold? How about our faith? Is it simply in the word of God, or have we massaged it, and improved upon it with additions meant to make it easier on us? In short, have we made God our own, rather than simply being His?
“If you make me an altar of stone, you shall not build it of hewn stones, for if you wield your tool on it you profane it.”
Exodus 20:25 ESV
My father was a simple man, and during his later years he drove a nondescript old panel van. The color didn’t matter much, but was typically red or white, and it had no frills about it. As a matter of fact he only had three requirements... it had to accommodate his fishing gear and flea market items, had to be dependable on long trips, and must have seats big enough to accommodate his large frame. If those three requirements were met then he was happy with a van. As his children, we loved him dearly, and if we were to pick out a van for him we would want it to have comfortable seats, cruise control, power doors, power windows and seats, and make him look as if he were a very prominent and successful man. We would select such a van because of our love for him, and would want to show him that we honored him. In fact, we would be changing him into someone we never really knew by placing him in a van that meant much in our eyes, and the eyes of society... but very little to him. He was indeed a simple man with simple tastes.
“For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.”
1 Corinthians 1:22-25 ESV
As Christians we often do to Jesus what, as His child, I would have done to my own father. We take Him off the mount where He delivered His famous sermon and place Him in an ornate cathedral, and we dress Him in flowing robes instead of simple garments so that He looks regal. We love Him, and say we are doing these things to honor Him, when in fact we are making Him into someone who looks honorable to us, and we are confusing His love for us by conforming Him to our vision of society for our own sakes. We are hewing the stones of our altar. Listen to these words of Charles Spurgeon as he speaks to us about how we hew the stone of our altars...
“The proud human heart is very anxious to take part in the soul’s justification before God; we dream of preparing ourselves for Christ, trust in our own humbling and repenting, point to our good works, and boast of our own natural ability. By many means, an attempt is made to use human tools on the divine altar.” - Charles Spurgeon
Jesus was a simple man, and the only crown he ever wore was meant to mock him, the only fine robe was meant to taunt Him, and the only scepter denoting His position was used to strike Him... all symbols of man’s vision of kingship that had nothing to do with who Jesus was.
“And they stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him, and twisting together a crown of thorns, they put it on his head and put a reed in his right hand. And kneeling before him, they mocked him, saying, "Hail, King of the Jews!" And they spit on him and took the reed and struck him on the head.”
Matthew 27:28-30 ESV
So, what do we do with our own faith, and religion? Do we make our altars out of earth as God would prefer?
“An altar of earth you shall make for me and sacrifice on it your burnt offerings and your peace offerings, your sheep and your oxen. In every place where I cause my name to be remembered I will come to you and bless you.”
Exodus 20:24 ESV
Perhaps we satisfy ourselves somewhat by making it out of stone, but in a manner that God will tolerate by not hewing the stones...
“If you make me an altar of stone, you shall not build it of hewn stones, for if you wield your tool on it you profane it.”
Exodus 20:25 ESV
Or do we cut our stones, and make a fine staircase from which we can to climb up to it... thus exposing ourselves before God?
“And you shall not go up by steps to my altar, that your nakedness be not exposed on it.'”
Exodus 20:26 ESV
The tenets of faith are simple, beginning with loving our God, but we often find them too simple to be held in such reverence... so we build massive structures of hewn stone around them. We take believing in Jesus and add much pomp and circumstance, and requirements about Him as we attempt to make Him into an earthly king... when we must simply believe...
“"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.”
John 3:16 ESV
So how do we construct our altars? Do we profane ourselves, by making them pleasing to ourselves, or do we keep them about God, Jesus Christ, and those things that are of them alone? What do you see as you look at your own faith; do you see a magnificent altar, and a grand staircase... or a simple mound of earth on which rests your love.
Prayer:
Father, thank you for the simplicity of faith, and the love that it is based upon. Thank you for your Son Jesus Christ in whom my only requirement is to believe. Thank you Holy Father for the altars I construct in my life, and for making them about you alone, and not about my vision of who you should be, or how I think I am supposed to approach you. Teach me to be humble before you through your Word, and lead me in all my ways. Holy, Holy, Holy, are you my God who requires nothing of mine in the construction of your altars, or in the establishment of my faith; only that I give to you those things you have created... your earth, your stone, the return of your love, and my belief in Jesus Christ. Praised be your name, for you are mighty and great! Hear me in the quiet places, in the pastures, and in the deserts. Call to me Father, and I will come in love, believing with all my heart in your Son. All glory is yours Lord, and by the blood of Jesus, and your grace I am made worthy.
“For our boast is this, the testimony of our conscience, that we behaved in the world with simplicity and godly sincerity, not by earthly wisdom but by the grace of God, and supremely so toward you.”
2 Corinthians 1:12 ESV
Rich Forbes