Friday, 2/6/2015

 "If more of us valued food and cheer and song above hoarded gold, it would be a merrier world." ~ J.R.R. Tolkien

EXODUS 39, 40

Job well done.  The work is completed and upon inspection, Moses sees that they did everything just as God commanded.

42The Israelites had done all the work just as the Lord had commanded Moses. 43Moses inspected the work and saw that they had done it just as the Lord had commanded. So Moses blessed them.

Putting the last few details together Moses sets up the courtyard, lights the candles and the tabernacle is finished.

33Then Moses set up the courtyard around the tabernacle and altar and put up the curtain at the entrance to the courtyard. And so Moses finished the work.

MATTHEW 24:1-22

Jesus calls attention to the fact that "things" of the world will all pass...including the temple.  

1Jesus left the temple and was walking away when his disciples came up to him to call his attention to its buildings. 2“Do you see all these things?” he asked. “Truly I tell you, not one stone here will be left on another; every one will be thrown down.”

When questioned about the last days and what will be the signs, he tells them to be wary of false prophets and not to be deceived.  Then Jesus confirms that the ultimate end will be that all followers will be marginalized and persecuted.  

9“Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me. 10At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, 11and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. 12Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, 13but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved. 14And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.

JOURNAL

There is a danger in picking and choosing text from the Bible.  Mainly because context is so important.  It is important not to be deceived in understanding God's love versus sin of the world.  Here in the old testament we have the satisfaction of a job well done and then here in the new we have Jesus saying it will all be torn down...that none of it really matters in the end.

I think the confusion is over what is most important.  The joy of building the Tabernacle is not in the Tabernacle itself but in using their talent in obedience to God.  The text in Matthew specifically highlights that the disciples are concerning themselves with buildings and here they are having intimate relationship with the Son of God.  My assumption is their questioning was surrounding their own selfishness, Jesus then clarifies that the end game is not earthly honor and glory but persecution and death.

The disciples were missing the point and as a result missing the precious moments of time with Jesus.  When I get too caught up in what tomorrow will hold I am in danger of missing the blessing and goodness of today.  The reality is that my future more than likely holds either tragic death or gradual decay.  The only way I get out of that ultimate destiny is if Christ comes before death...and if so...it's going to be a time of horrific suffering.  Therefore my best option is to "let tomorrow worry about itself".  Embrace the goodness of today and the work that God has for me. Find joy in obedience and let God handle tomorrow.

 23Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, 24since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. ( Colossians 3:23-24)