"If it is burned up, the builder will suffer loss but yet will be saved-- even though only as one escaping through flames." (1 Corinthians 3:15, NIV)
I don't want this for myself, nor for you, nor for the Church in general. Yet an honest assessment of "things as they are" reveals this is where we may be headed. I know my devotionals recently may have sounded like "downers;" reality is funny that way. I don't mean to say that I am the only one facing reality in these days, but I do say there are far too many in Christendom who are not.
I have been rereading portions of the book, The Great Evangelical Recession. As I indicated before, there are portions of the book with which I do not agree, especially his perspective on the political involvement and ideology of evangelicals. It is the statistical information, however, which was/is to me a revealing of most alarming trends in, not just evangelicalism, but in Christendom in general. Now I know that it is very unpopular and very off putting for those who want to raise finances for their work in the Kingdom to say that we are loosing this battle------ but we are. For too long, too many quote-anybody-and-everybodies have used theology of the over worked cliche, "I read the end of the book, and we win." Yes, in "the end," we do win. But if trends in Christendom continue as they are, then our text may very well be the epitaph of Christendom, especially in the United States of America. Europe is already gone.< br>
Consider the context of today's text. The Holy Spirit through Paul tells us, "By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as a wise builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should build with care. For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. If anyone builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, their work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each person's work. If what has been built survives, the builder will receive a reward." Then follows our text.
Only our Lord Jesus Christ and His Words qualify for, "gold, silver, costly stones." Anything or anyone else which is not rooted in Jesus Christ is, "wood, hay or straw." Scientists tell us, "There is no known natural substance that can destroy gold." Yet there are plenty of "natural substance[s] which can destroy, "wood, hay or straw." Too much of people's lives are based upon, "wood, hay or straw." The American Church has, by in large, replaced, "Thus says the Lord," with, Thus says me. This is the reason the Church in America is steadily declining, losing members, losing finances. This is the reason so many lives are being destroyed today.
I don't want this for myself, nor for you, nor for the Church in general. Yet an honest assessment of "things as they are" reveals this is where we may be headed. I know my devotionals recently may have sounded like "downers;" reality is funny that way. I don't mean to say that I am the only one facing reality in these days, but I do say there are far too many in Christendom who are not.
I have been rereading portions of the book, The Great Evangelical Recession. As I indicated before, there are portions of the book with which I do not agree, especially his perspective on the political involvement and ideology of evangelicals. It is the statistical information, however, which was/is to me a revealing of most alarming trends in, not just evangelicalism, but in Christendom in general. Now I know that it is very unpopular and very off putting for those who want to raise finances for their work in the Kingdom to say that we are loosing this battle------ but we are. For too long, too many quote-anybody-and-everybodies have used theology of the over worked cliche, "I read the end of the book, and we win." Yes, in "the end," we do win. But if trends in Christendom continue as they are, then our text may very well be the epitaph of Christendom, especially in the United States of America. Europe is already gone.< br>
Consider the context of today's text. The Holy Spirit through Paul tells us, "By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as a wise builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should build with care. For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. If anyone builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, their work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each person's work. If what has been built survives, the builder will receive a reward." Then follows our text.
Only our Lord Jesus Christ and His Words qualify for, "gold, silver, costly stones." Anything or anyone else which is not rooted in Jesus Christ is, "wood, hay or straw." Scientists tell us, "There is no known natural substance that can destroy gold." Yet there are plenty of "natural substance[s] which can destroy, "wood, hay or straw." Too much of people's lives are based upon, "wood, hay or straw." The American Church has, by in large, replaced, "Thus says the Lord," with, Thus says me. This is the reason the Church in America is steadily declining, losing members, losing finances. This is the reason so many lives are being destroyed today.
Prayer and "powerful worship" are touted today as the epitome of religious experience. Of course the Bible teaches the centrality of prayer and worship. But prioritize them above union in/with Jesus and His Words and you have a life and church built upon subjectivity; hence, nothing but, "wood, hay or straw." Build our lives in Jesus Christ and His "Law-Words," and nothing on earth or the universe at large, Heaven or Hell will be able to, "separate us from the Love of God," nor from the Living Triune God Himself, nor His purposes, nor His promises, nor His, "many mansions," well, nor ANYTHING. Church in America and throughout the world: Do not settle for, "....even though only as one escaping through the flames"! Let's take as many with us as we can.
Father, in Jesus' Name, I pray I never settle for, "wood, hay or straw," or, "as one escaping through the flames." "Lord, have mercy, Christ have mercy." Amen.
******************
* We so thank you for prayers for our family. Just a "sentence prayer" in faith is worth more than......
* Also appreciate prayers for the upcoming mission in DC
Father, in Jesus' Name, I pray I never settle for, "wood, hay or straw," or, "as one escaping through the flames." "Lord, have mercy, Christ have mercy." Amen.
******************
* We so thank you for prayers for our family. Just a "sentence prayer" in faith is worth more than......
* Also appreciate prayers for the upcoming mission in DC
When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"
"Looking unto Jesus"
Hebrews 12:2
"Looking unto Jesus"
Hebrews 12:2
