As our congregation has recently read the story of the tower of Babel as recorded in Genesis, it is important to once again understand the theme of God's limits, our surpassing God's limits and God's surpassing love.
It is often misunderstood that the tower of Babel, was erected by the people of that day with the intention of reaching God. However, these types of buildings were common in that day, and the purpose was not to reach God, but to construct a building with the intention of getting God to come down to earth. Thus the story of the tower of Babel is a story about humanity's futuile attempts to invoke God's presence with them.
However, due to the universal contaminant of sin within all people, and God being a holy Being, God has established limits regarding his presence with humanity. The first limit is that humanity is unable to be in God's presence. Second, if God's presence is ever to be experienced among people, then God would be the only one capable of establishing it. Thus, God's presence is experienced on God's terms. The Old Testament records how God's presence was to be experienced and managed with clear rules and parameters or limits. These limits and rules applied specifically to God's presence in the Tabernacle. Any surpassing of God's rules and limits regarding His presence would result in the same consequence that Adam and Eve experienced, which is God's presence being withdrawn. However, in the New Testament, because of Christ's atoning and substitutionary death for humanity's sin, humanity can experience the very presence of God within their own lives. In fact, a human being is able to house the presence of God just like the tabernacle did in the Old Testament.
So, is this automatic? Does God's presence exist within all people today? No. Many people today are still attempting to building bridges and even buildings to God in order to invoke God's presence with them. Some of the bridges we build are in the form of our good behaviors, church attendance, moral living and accepting of all people. Also, the American church is infatuated with building buildings. One study estimates that American churches are billions of dollars in building debt, and for what? To worship a God who says He dwells not in temples made by hand. We all are inept at building anything in our lives that is so impressive, God would want to come and dwell with us. In fact, if we could invoke God's presence through our own efforts, then Jesus Christ would not have died for nothing.
God has already build a bridge to humanity, through His son Jesus Christ. For humanity to experience God's presence, a person needs to change the direction of their lives, by turning toward God, trusting that His bridge is the bridge that leads to forgiveness of sin and a new life in the presence of God. By doing so, a person lays down their own efforts to please God and their own lives to please themeself, realizing these are all bridges to no where.
Isn't it funny how a story from thousands of years ago is so relevant to our lives today? Am I building bridges to no where, relyin on myself to impress God? Absolutely! How about you?
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I used to be called babbling Beck because I would talk so much and it would be babel talk-- words that meant nothing. And I would talk about "stuff" over and over. I think about the tower of babel and my walk with Christ today. I'm convicted. Would strangers know my love for Him after meeting me? Am I showing them the redemption that He has given me? I want my words and meditations to be on Jesus Christ! And the power of His spirit in me!
ReplyDeleteAs I was worshiping the Lord on Sunday at CPC I saw a huge black screen. Behind the screen was God. I knew it was Him because I could see glimpses of His light. I asked Him to forgive me for putting stuff (myself) in front of Him. I want to see all of the Lord. I cant do that when I'm relying on myself and doing things to impress Him and others.
I'm super excited to see how God will speak to us next Sunday! Thanks so much!!