My friend tells the story of how as a young person, his father took him with him, as he was brick laying, which was his profession. His dad used the opportunity to explain the instruments he used, including a plumb and a level. The plumb is a kind of pendulum used to measure vertically and a level is a device used to ensure the line horizontally. Squares and even string are also essential tools to check and confirm the structure is in total alignment, which would enable it to endure weather and age.
If ignored, the structure is certain to encounter temperature changes, strong wind and rain which it could not withstand. The neglecting of these tools and the confidence they give of proper construction, would demand at some later date, repairs be made and sometimes the repairs can be extremely costly!
Our relationship with Christ is much like that of the builders. We have the tools to ensure we stay aligned with Christ, but often we neglect to use them, except on rare occasions or in an emergency—after we have encountered problems.
We just enjoyed Easter. We celebrated Jesus who gave his life that we could be saved. When we accept Jesus as our Savior, we are given the tools to live a Godly life; one that demonstrates the fruits of the Spirit like love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.
By reading His Word, communing with him every day, worshiping with other Believers and sharing the Gospel, we can stay aligned with the God of the Universe. Even while we are working on keeping our spiritual life aligned however, we make mistakes.
We are human and sometimes forget that we even know God. We forget his kindness and promises and don’t wait for his counsel. We adopt the ways of the world and even sometime inadvertently create idols, like making money, TV, or even sports (and this is only the tip of the iceberg!) Yet we still do all the right things. We go to church, listen to Gospel music on the radio, we may even work in a ministry within the sanctuary, but we are so lost in our own circumstances we forget that God is a God of miracles.
He led His people out of Egypt, opening the Red Sea and then allowing the waters to cover their adversaries. He produced water from a rock in the desert, provided manna and quail for forty years. He sent his son Jesus to come in the form of a human baby, who demonstrated his miracles on the Earth. He healed the sick, gave sight to the blind, turned water to wine, resurrected the dead, and more, including the Resurrection on the third day after being nailed to a cross and dying.
His gift to us on Easter, when we proclaim “He lives,” can come because first, we believe; and then we are given and expected to use the tools he’s provided to nurture a relationship with him. This is what we are born for. That is why we are here and that is how we can stay aligned with the Savior.
No comments:
Post a Comment