The Organic Christian

Whosoever comes to me, and hears my sayings, and does them, I will show you to whom he is like: He is like a man who built a house, and dug deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock. But he that hears, and does not, is like a man that without a foundation built a house upon the earth; against which the stream did beat vehemently, and immediately it fell; and the ruin of that house was great. Luke 6:46-49 …a foundation of repentance from dead works, of faith toward God, of the teaching of baptisms, of laying on of hands, of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment… Hebrews 6:1-3

“Mr. Sandstrom!”; the voice on the other end of the line was very excited. “It’s done, I have finished it. Your house is all done. Come out to your property as soon as you can and I’ll show you what I’ve built. Oh, and bring your friends too, I think you’ll really want to celebrate when you see it. It’s always nice to have friends on such a happy occasion.”

It was the call I had been waiting for. I had selected a piece of property next to a peaceful river with shade trees in abundance. It was a restful place to get away from the hustle-bustle of life and I wanted the just the right house built for me on this perfect property. I had searched for just the right builder and selected Spiro because others had told me he was the best. He reportedly  put himself into his work completely and knew exactly what he was doing. I left him to himself on the project, satisfied with the assurance of his stellar reputation. I knew I had no concerns and he would build me the best house I had ever seen. I had anticipated this call for quite some time and now, quite excited, began making calls to invite all my friends to see my new house.

The drive to the property took about an hour with my van full of excited friends. On the way we talked about my new place, tried to imagine what it might look like, how it would feel, and some remarked about the calming sound of the river and the smell of the trees and wildflowers. Behind me a small parade of cars followed with even more friends. They too were excited to see my new house. I could tell already, this was going to be one of the best days of my life.

“There it is!”, my wife Linda seated next to me was practically jumping out of her seat. “There’s our sign, it’s right there; 77 Verda Lane, Sandstrom!”

This was our own driveway and we had named it ourselves; Verda Lane. I made a slow turn into the gravel. It would take another five minutes up our long drive to reach the spot where our new house sat. I was anxious to finally see what Spiro had built me. As I approached I saw only a few piles of building materials and some stones in the ground. I wondered to myself why I couldn’t see the house from here. It had been months since I had been out to the property and I remembered the house being closer to the end of the driveway. I was very confused.

“Ahhh…Mr. Sandstom, how was your drive?” It was Spiro, my builder, standing at my van window greeting me with a big smile on his face.

“Well, it was fine, Spiro, but where is my house? I don’t see anything. I thought you said my house was done.” Spiro looked at me rather quizzically but the smile didn’t leave his face.

“Indeed it is done, Mr. Sandstrom. It’s right over here. Come over here and let me show you. Bring all your friends if you want.” Spiro began heading toward the river and I quickly jumped out of my van to follow. The only thought running through my head was that he had obviously made a mistake and built my house in the wrong place. I was ready to become upset but we were indeed headed to the exact spot by the river I had selected. But still…I could see no house, just a bunch of stones in the ground.

“Mr. Sandstrom, isn’t she beautiful?” Spiro threw his arms wide and began pointing to the series of stones that formed a long rectangle shape sunk deep into the ground. The smile on his face was huge now and he looked very proud of his work.

“But where’s the house?” I asked, quite irritated. He didn’t seem to understand my question and just looked at me puzzled, but still smiling, so I asked again. “Spiro, I hired you to build me a house, this is just a bunch of stones. Where’s my house?” I found myself yelling and I was feeling just a little ashamed at my outburst.

“Oh, but Mr. Sandstrom, this is your house. These stones are the finest foundation you could ever have.”

“But where’s the rest? Four months and this is what you’ve accomplished? I wanted a house!”

“Well, Mr. Sandstrom, a good project like this takes time. It took three whole days for my excavators to dig all the way down to the bedrock. After that, I started in one corner and carefully placed the best stone right on top of the bedrock. Then I put twelve more stones in the ground, each one building on the other, but all supported by that one solid stone in the corner that rests firmly on the bedrock. Then, for good measure, I carefully mortared it all together so they all became like one large  immovable stone. I assure you this foundation is a work of art Mr. Sandstrom. Something like this takes a little time to construct but this is indeed your house. Isn’t she beautiful?” Spiro was throwing up his arms and dancing around. “Come on, get your friends, let’s have a party and celebrate your new house.”

I was quite a bit less excited than Spiro and could only stare in disbelief. I had come all this way for nothing. What could I possibly tell my friends to make them understand? I was glaring at Spiro and anger began to seethe inside me.

“But what about the walls, floors, ceilings, light fixtures. All that stuff that makes a house a home.” I asked Spiro, still amazed he had called me, and all my friends out here for nothing. ” Where is all that stuff?”

Spiro looked at me as if I were crazy and just didn’t understand what he was saying. He was still smiling, but the look in his eyes was one of  worry. He was completely baffled at my inability to understand that these stones in the ground were my house. He threw an arm over my shoulder.

“Mr. Sandstrom, you’ve got a whole lifetime ahead of you to build walls, anyway you choose. Let me show you something though.” He led me to the edge of the river and pointing at the mountains far beyond with a broad sweep of his arm said; “Someday, Mr. Sandstrom, a great storm is going to come down over those mountains, huge dark clouds filled with rain will drop their moisture and this peaceful river you so admire is going to become a raging torrent.” Spiro’s face now had a look of mock terror. “When that happens, Mr. Sandstrom, the walls, the floors, the ceilings, all those things that bring you comfort will wash away if you haven’t built them properly. In fact, every bit of it may wash away, but never my foundation…never. Mr. Sandstrom, I assure you that foundation you see right there is your house. I even back it up with a lifetime guarantee. It will survive even the worst possible storm without moving. The rest of it, the stuff you build on top, well, I can’t guarantee that. If all your walls wash away you can always rebuild, right? But if my foundation should wash away, well, your walls cannot ever be rebuilt and then everything will be lost. That’s why I spend all of my time building you a solid foundation. The rest, I just leave that up to you. My work is done.”

I was speechless as a big smile crept back onto his face. Spiro apparently assumed I understood what he had said, I was still wondering about my walls, but throwing his hands in the air he yelled; “OK, Mr. Sandstrom, let’s have that party, go get your friends.”

What else could I do.  We celebrated my new house.

And when the builders laid the foundation of the temple of the LORD, they set the priests in their apparel with trumpets, and the Levites the sons of Asaph with cymbals, to praise the LORD, according to the ordinance of David king of Israel. And they sang together responsively in praising and giving thanks unto the LORD; because he is good, for his mercy endures forever toward Israel. And all the people shouted with a great shout, when they praised the LORD, because the foundation of the house of the LORD was laid. But many of the priests and Levites and heads of the fathers’ houses, who were old men, who had seen the first house, when the foundation of this house was laid before their eyes, wept with a loud voice; and many shouted aloud for joy: So that the people could not discern the noise of the shout of joy from the noise of the weeping of the people: for the people shouted with a loud shout, and the noise was heard afar off. Ezra 3:10-13

Most of us presented with Mr. Sandstrom’s predicament would react in the same manner. We would feel cheated in some way. We asked for a dwelling but instead just got a complete foundation and nothing else. Our natural assumption is that walls, floors, ceilings and fixtures are what makes a house a home. In God’s realm, and in a spiritual house, there is nothing more important than the foundation. In Ezra, when the temple was being constructed, all work stopped when the foundation was finished, and a large celebration ensued. So large the sound was heard for quite a distance. We think of houses as four walls and a ceiling, but God thinks of it as a solid foundation instead. A building is truly only as good as its foundation.

Paul, in writing to the people of Corinth, referred to the Corinthian people as God’s farming (or crop) but also as temples of God (a habitation for God’s Spirit), in need of a firm foundation.

…You are God’s farming, God’s building. According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I laid a foundation, and another builds on it. But let each man be careful how he builds on it. For no one can lay any other foundation than that which has been laid, which is Jesus Christ. But if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay, or stubble; each man’s work will be revealed. For the Day will declare it, because it is revealed in fire; and the fire itself will test what sort of work each man’s work is. If any man’s work remains which he built on it, he will receive a reward. If any man’s work is burned, he will suffer loss, but he himself will be saved, but as through fire. Don’t you know that you are a temple of God, and that God’s Spirit lives in you? If anyone destroys the temple of God, God will destroy him; for God’s temple is holy, which you are. 1 Corinthians 3:9-16

Paul told the Corinthians that he completed the construction of their buildings only as far as the foundation and the rest was up to them. He admonished them to be careful how they build and to select materials carefully. In God’s kingdom there is nothing more important than a solid foundation, the rest is simply extra. Look again carefully at the scripture above. Paul told the Corinthians “no one can lay any other foundation than that which has been laid, which is Jesus Christ”, but he also said, “if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay, or stubble; each man’s work will be revealed.” He then goes on to say “If any man’s work remains which he built on it, he will receive a reward. If any man’s work is burned, he will suffer loss, but he himself will be saved, but as through fire.” So which is more important to our eternal salvation, the foundation or that which we build on the foundation? We see here, by Paul’s words, it is our foundation that brings about eternal salvation. The materials we select for the building on top of that foundation only bring us our reward, but only if we have chosen wisely. If a person has laid their foundation in Jesus Christ, but the the construction of the rest of their life is simply a pile of wood, hay and stubble, they may suffer great loss in the purging fire at the end, but they will find an eternal inheritance.

However God’s firm foundation stands, having this seal, “The Lord knows those who are his,” and, “Let every one who names the name of the Lord depart from unrighteousness.” Now in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of clay. Some are for honor, and some for dishonor. If anyone therefore purges himself from these, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified, and suitable for the master’s use, prepared for every good work. 2 Timothy 2:19-21

There is no more important principle in our daily walk than the foundation of God and Christ. It is life itself. Judge no man by the appearance of the building you see. Only the Lord sees who is built on the solid rock, and who is built on sand. The Lord knows those that are his. If you follow this way and build on the solid rock…then you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God, being built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the chief cornerstone; in whom the whole building, fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord; in whom you also are built together for a habitation of God in the Spirit. Ephesians 2:19-22

When Jesus heard it, he saith unto them, They that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance. Mark 2:17

“Mr. Perkins, I’m afraid I have some very bad news for you. Have a seat over here, and let’s talk about your tests.”

I sat down and Dr. Wilkins flipped a switch on a large glass screen on the wall and I could see the profile of a heart illuminated on an x-ray film.

“Mr. Perkins, when you complained you just didn’t feel right, but didn’t know specifically why, I wasn’t quite sure where to go. I’ve run about all of the tests I can now and I have a feeling the problem is actually with your heart. It would appear that your heart has been bad since the day you were born. I can assure you this is not something you could have caused yourself. You’re lucky you came to see me, because there is actually a cure for this condition, however I’m afraid I can’t really help you.”

“I’m lucky I came to see you since there is a cure, but you can’t help me? I don’t quite understand.” Anxiety was welling into my throat and I could barely speak.

“Well, Mr. Perkins, I may not be able to help you myself but, fortunately, I know a great physician who can help you. His method of surgery is very effective, if not unusual, but…” his voice trailed off which made me even more anxious than before.

“But?” I asked.

“Well, I don’t really know exactly how to tell you this Mr. Perkins. You see, he is a great physician, but…” he paused again for a moment then put a hand on my shoulder. “Well to be honest with you Mr. Perkins, every single person has died during the operation.”

My mouth dropped open, I was about to speak but the doctor lifted his hand to stop me.

“Before you say anything, let me explain a little further Mr. Perkins. And forgive me for being so blunt, but I want you to understand that you are pretty much just a walking dead man right now. There is absolutely no other hope for your condition, whatsoever, except what this surgeon can do for you.”

“But, if everyone has died, then…” I was almost shouting but his hand stopped my words again.

“Mr. Perkins, I assure you, everyone who has gone through this surgery is alive.”

“But you just said…” I was getting more confused and anxious with each sentence.

“I know” he interrupted, “I said every single patient has died, but let me assure you that he is indeed a great surgeon. Part of his greatness comes from having a very talented assistant who has the power to give a person life again, but this only happens after the person first dies in his surgery. That may sound very unusual but it happens every single time, without fail. To be honest though, no one has actually ever seen his assistant. I, and everyone else, just take it on faith that his assistant will be there at the right time and he always is. Everyone they’ve ever worked on as a team was made better than new. I assure you, this operation works miracles, and it really is the only cure for your condition.”

I stared at the doctor now as his words spun in my head. “Was he kidding me? Was this some sort of joke?” I thought that for a moment, but his expression looked so serious I realized he meant every word he had said.

“So what exactly is my condition Dr. Wilkins, what do I have?”

“Well, Mr. Perkins, it is a very serious condition called cardialithinos which means “heart of stone”. You’ve been affected by this condition your entire life but it is difficult to say how much longer you could live with it. This surgery is the only cure. I’ll tell you what though, this kind of heart surgery is a big decision, so why don’t you think about it for a while and then let me know. I’ll be here when you need me, but don’t wait too long or it may be too late.”

“Heart surgery? Die? Too late?” I was mumbling to myself now as Dr. Wilkins words hit me like bricks. Sure I had not felt right for many years but this was sounding much more serious than I had thought and I was even starting to tremble a bit. My choices were seeming awfully limited though, just two. I could continue to live with my condition, or I could die on an operating table, and hope this physicians assistant could revive me. I wasn’t sure which sounded riskier.

“I don’t think I could make this kind of decision without knowing more, Dr. Wilkins.” I stared intently at him but he just stared at the floor. He thought for a moment, raised his head, pushed his glasses up his nose then stared me straight in the eye.

“Well, Mr. Perkins, this heart surgery is unlike any other. It is so refined, and so absolutely perfect, it makes your heart just like new. Better than new really. Everyone who has ever gone under this physicians knife claims they now feel as if they have been reborn. I was born with this condition too; it is much more common than people realize; and I’ve had the procedure. I can wholeheartedly agree with the others in that I feel as if I have been reborn. But I must warn you, this physician has a very strict rule that you must pledge your complete faith in him or he will not perform the procedure.”

“You want me to put complete faith in a physician I’ve never met? That would be tough to do without knowing exactly who he is and what he does in this surgery?”

“Oh well, Mr. Perkins, don’t worry about that. I’ll introduce you to him. And as far as the surgery goes, it is my understanding he cuts completely around your heart to remove all of the stone-like material that has made it hard all these years and underneath all the stony material he reveals a perfect heart of soft flesh. He’s incredibly fast and the surgery is over in mere seconds. That’s when his assistant takes over, and you’re done.”

“So, how long is recovery time.” I asked “I’d have to tell my employer how long I’ll be away from work.”

“Recovery? Oh, there’s no recovery. You just get up and leave. Strictly out-patient stuff. Oh, I should tell you that he always performs this surgery underwater though. It’s the only way it can be done and so you may be a little wet afterwards. You should bring a few dry clothes to change into.”

“No recovery? I’m confused.” I stuttered “I thought we were talking about open-heart surgery. Big machines, I.V.’s, intensive care and all that.”

“Oh no, no, no Mr. Perkins, there’s no incision. It’s all closed chest stuff and quite a miraculous surgery really. But, as I said, everyone does die every single time, but I assure you every patient has been given new life by his assistant without fail. They make a great team.”

My head was swimming. Closed chest surgery, under water, die, made alive again, no recovery, feel reborn great team. I had to pledge my complete faith, or else he would not operate? This was sounding very strange and not something I had expected to hear at my doctors office. I felt a hand on my shoulder and Dr. Wilkin’s voice brought me back to our conversation.

“Mr. Perkins, I know this is a big decision but, just say the word, and your heart will be fixed up in no time. There’s nothing to fear.”

“I just don’t know yet.” I said,” What are my odds of living a normal life if I don’t go through with this? Can I maybe eat better, exercise more, do something to avoid this?”

“Normal life? Mr. Perkins, you don’t quite understand. Life just seems normal because you have never known anything different. This condition has affected your entire life. And no, Mr Perkins, you can do all you want to correct this on your won but your own efforts won’t change a thing. If what you are really asking however is how much longer will you live, the only thing I can tell you is that no one ever really knows the answer to that question. Perhaps minutes, days, years, maybe even decades but I certainly couldn’t tell you. I can assure you of one thing though, after this surgery, your heart condition will be gone…forever.”

Dr. Wilkins seemed to put a lot of emphasis on the word “forever” but I wasn’t quite sure why. I stared at the floor for what seemed like ten minutes as the silence closed in around me, and my thoughts swirled. I had known all my life my heart was bad, but I had no idea it was this serious. Now I was facing a decision unlike any I had ever had to make, and I wasn’t sure what to do. I knew I had to do something, and knew I needed help, I just wasn’t sure what help I needed.

“OK, OK, I think I might give this a try.” I said softy, still staring at the floor. “How much does it cost, does insurance pay for it?”

“Mr. Wilkins, the cost of this surgery is more than even the richest man could ever afford. There isn’t a single insurance plan that covers this kind of surgery either. But don’t worry about that, it’s all been arranged. You won’t ever see a bill.”

“Really!” I looked up in surprise. “But who’ll pay the cost?”

“Well, that is a very long story, but let’s just say this physician had quite a strange birth, a very tragic death and because of those two events he always does these surgeries as a free gift to his patients. Well, I shouldn’t actually say free, he does work for his father and his father demands payment but, since he gave up his life to do this, his father considers that payment enough for anyone that comes to his son for help. They are both very merciful and I assure you this surgeon is the kind that would even give up his life for ones that may not deserve a second chance to live again. So, you see, the surgery and your new life is completely paid for and it is completely a gift. You’ll never get the bill, ever.”

“Wait a minute, back up doctor, did you say birth AND death?” Now I was really confused.

“Well, Mr. Perkins, when I was first introduced to this physician, about twenty years ago, I was also confused about that too. Frankly coming from a science background I was pretty skeptical. However, now I am thoroughly a believer in what this great physician can do, and I believe every word he says. Yes, he did in fact die. Murdered actually, gruesome death, very painful. But, from what I understand, his assistant just brought him back to life. The same assistant that will help with your surgery, should you decide to go through with it. As I recall now, he was actually even dead for three whole days before his assistant revived him. They’d even buried him in a tomb already. Quite a remarkable story and made quite a stir in the community back when it happened. Not everyone believes his story though. I’ve seen what he can do; it is quite miraculous; and based on that alone, I believe every word he says. It all happened such a long time ago though; thousands of years; and there’s nothing in the medical journals about any of this. I just know the story from a few books and letters written shortly after it all happened and take it all on faith. Oh, I should tell you that his assistant won’t leave you dead for three days. That only happened the first time and it all goes pretty quick now. You shouldn’t miss any work at all.”

Dr. Wilkins had a big smile on his face now. I didn’t know what to say or even what to think of all this. I had been coming to Dr. Wilkins for advice for thirty years; he was the best; but now he was telling me things I couldn’t possibly understand. Dead, lives, thousands of years ago, and now he was going to help me, for free? Deep down, for some strange reason, I knew he was telling me the truth. Even though the operation seemed really different I knew this was just what I needed. I decided to trust his judgment and to this day I can’t exactly tell you why. I just knew.

“So, can you set me up an appointment with the surgeon?” I asked a bit sheepishly.

“Appointment? Oh, wait, I guess I did leave that part out. You don’t need an appointment. The procedure is done right here in my office and it just takes a few minutes. We can even do it today if you want. The surgeon is always available at a moments notice, and he and his assistant just come to you. As I said, he’s a really great guy and I’m fortunate he knows who I am. I call on him whenever I like and he’s always there for me without fail. I think we might even have some extra clothes around here if you don’t want to run home for some dry ones. It’s your choice though. Just let me know and we’ll proceed when you’re ready. Oh yes, before you make your final decision, I do want to remind you again that he requires your pledge of trust that he is able to heal your heart, and that his assistant can revive you. You have to be fully persuaded of his ability because without that, well, he just won’t operate. He also has kind of plan for your life afterwards, but we can talk about that later. Just let me know when you want to get started and I’ll be here when you’re ready.”

I decided that day to enter the water and have the operation and I didn’t even go home for dry clothes. It took a great deal of faith for me to put my life in the hands of someone I had never actually met, with an assistant no one had ever seen, but I was indeed revived just like Dr. Wilkins assured me I would be, my life was made new and my heart was fixed. Oh, and I should mention that it seems as though the physician and his assistant left a little part of themselves inside me. Turns out they are related to each other and we’re very close now. I even became like part of the family. Dr. Wilkins hadn’t mentioned the physicians name at first but, eventually, he told me his name is Jesus Christ. I never heard what his assistant’s name is, but Dr. Wilkins referred to him often as The Holy Spirit. I pledged my complete faith and trust in this great physician and his assistant and they were gracious enough to help me in a time of need. I consider myself very fortunate to have found such a great physician who could heal my heart. It was quite a day,it changed my life for the better and I’ll remember it forever and ever.

A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. Ezekiel 36:26

And I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within you; and I will take the stony heart out of their flesh, and will give them an heart of flesh: Ezekiel 11:19

And the LORD thy God will circumcise thine heart, and the heart of thy seed, to love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, that thou mayest live. Deuteronomy 30:6

For in him all the fullness of the Godhead dwells bodily, and in him you are made full, who is the head of all principality and power; in whom you were also circumcised with a circumcision not made with hands, in the putting off of the body of the sins of the flesh, in the circumcision of Christ; having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead. Colossians 2:9-12

But God, being rich in mercy, for his great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead through our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up with him, and made us to sit with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, that in the ages to come he might show the exceeding riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus; for by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, that no one would boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared before that we would walk in them. Ephesians 2:4-10

And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you. Romans 8:10-11

For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. If you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed and heirs according to promise. Galatians 3:27-29

For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh: But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God. Romans 2:28-29

Jesus answered them, “The time has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. Most assuredly I tell you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains by itself alone. But if it dies, it bears much fruit. He who loves his life will lose it. He who hates his life in this world will keep it to eternal life.. John 12:23-25

Or don’t you know that all we who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were buried therefore with him through baptism to death, that just like Christ was raised from the dead through the Holy Spirit, so we also might walk in newness of life. For if we have become united with him in the likeness of his death, we will also be part of his resurrection; knowing this, that our old man was crucified with him, that the body of sin might be done away with, so that we would no longer be in bondage to sin. For he who has died has been freed from sin. But if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him; knowing that Christ, being raised from the dead, dies no more. Death no more has dominion over him! For the death that he died, he died to sin one time; but the life that he lives, he lives to God. Thus also consider yourselves also to be dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:3-11

For as the body is one, and has many members, and all the members of the body, being many, are one body; so also is Christ. For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether bond or free; and were all given to drink into one Spirit. 1 Corinthians 12:12-13

Because Christ also suffered for sins once, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring you to God; being put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit; in which he also went and preached to the spirits in prison, who before were disobedient, when God waited patiently in the days of Noah, while the ark was being built. In it, few, that is, eight souls, were saved through water. This is a symbol of baptism, which now saves you–not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who is at the right hand of God, having gone into heaven, angels and authorities and powers being made subject to him. 1 Peter 3:18-22

The Titanic

On April 10, 1912 a great ship left the harbor of Belfast on her maiden voyage. Her name was Titanic. Less than one week later she would lay at the bottom of the ocean having taken less than three hours to sink. Since she was considered “practically unsinkable” few lifeboats were aboard, and those that were aboard were sent away with much fewer people than capacity allowed. Most of the passengers and crew were left no option but to jump overboard with a life ring as their only hope of survival in the frigid ice choked waters of the north Atlantic. Two-thirds of the passengers would die within the next two hours.

Before the Titanic rushed to the sea floor a distress call had gone out to all sea traffic in the area. The Carpathia, a ship of the Cunard line, and one of the vessels the Titanic was built to compete against, took the call for help and responded as quickly as she could. She arrived about one hour and twenty minutes later; a lifetime if you are floating in freezing salt water; and just a little over seven-hundred living souls were brought aboard.

I want you to imagine yourself now as a survivor of the Titanic. It is clear the ship is sinking and to stay with it is a sure death within minutes. Off in the distance you see lifeboats but they are very far away and swimming to them is impossible. In true Hollywood fashion, you climb the back railing of the ship and jump into the icy water below. Someone you don’t even know throws a life ring into the water near you. You swim to it and hold on tightly as you watch the propellers disappear beneath the water. Your only hope now of a continued life is to wait for another vessel to pull you to safety. There is nothing you can do to save yourself except wait, hope…and pray. As your legs become rigid you realize that if you did not have the life ring you would be dead in minutes and would simply slip silently and unnoticed into the deep. With the life ring, you have possibly a few hours remaining in your life, but not much more as hypothermia sets in and your organs shut down. Soon your heart will stop and your life will be over. Any effort to swim or tread water only decreases the time you have left to live as it expends vital energy needed to survive. You are truly helpless at this point and your only hope is to wait for salvation in the form of another ship to pluck you from the icy water. To make things worse, you were actually a stowaway fleeing prosecution for a crime you did not commit. Most would regard your life as worthless now, and not worth saving, but all of that will be forgotten when you are found. Technically, since you did not pay a fare for passage, the White Star line doesn’t even recognize you as a passenger on the manifest and holds no legal obligation to assist you.

Unbeknownst to you, and far beyond your sight, another steamship, the Carpathia, is at this moment racing to come to your aid at full speed. In your heart you believe you will be saved, and find your way home, but you have no tangible proof, and it is only your faith in the goodness of your fellow man to help the lost and dying that gives you hope. The Carpathia, under 1912 maritime law, is under no legal obligation to come to your aid but by the grace and good pleasure of the captain, and his decision to go out of his way to find you, you are about to be truly, and finally, saved from the certain death of the Atlantic. You are as good as dead but the life ring is preserving your life at this moment. It is the captain of the Carpathia and his vessel that will finally bring you safely home and completely save you from this disaster. The Carpathia is a Cunard line ship and the captain never asks if you paid a fare for passage. Instead, he gives you safe passage to a sheltered harbor, free of charge.

We are all survivors of the great shipwreck “Adam and Eve” and there is absolutely nothing we can do to save ourselves. Nothing! “For by grace are you saved, through faith, and that not of yourselves lest anyone should have a reason to boast.” Only the grace of God through Christ can pluck us from the icy waters of death and give us eternal life.

Noah

Noah was instructed by God on exactly how to build an ark. He spent many years counting cubits and, before the world knew what happened, he had himself an ark. If you ask nearly anyone how Noah was saved, they will tell you he was saved by an ark. They would be wrong. Noah was not saved by an ark, he was saved by water. Read 1 Peter 3 again–“In it, few, that is, eight souls, were saved through water. This is a symbol of baptism, which now saves you”. The eight souls were saved by water, and so are we!

But what does it mean to be saved? Saved from what? Noah was rescued from the wickedness that pervaded earth by the water that separated him from this wickedness and left just eight souls (plus the animals he had aboard) on the earth. It was as if he were reborn on the earth and all things were made new. He was not, however, saved for all of eternity by the water. For that he relied solely on the grace of God through his act of faith, the building of an ark with his own hands. God  had warned Noah ahead of time about the disaster that was to follow, and through his actions and obedience to God’s specific ark-building instructions he exhibited tangible proof of his faith. That was counted to him as righteousness and gained him an eternal salvation. Noah, in fact was saved by the exact same faith through grace we rely on today. God does not change.

By faith, Noah, being warned about things not yet seen, moved with godly fear, prepared an ark for the saving of his house, through which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is according to faith. Hebrews 11:7

But God, being rich in mercy, for his great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead through our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up with him, and made us to sit with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, that in the ages to come he might show the exceeding riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus; for by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, that no one would boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared before that we would walk in them. Ephesians 2:4-10

Back to the Titanic

To stay with the Titanic (the present world) is certain death. The only route to the Carpathia (eternal salvation) is to jump into the icy waters of the North Atlantic (water baptism) and wait for salvation to come in the form of a ship.  Your journey may have begun on the Titanic, but now it is clearly a vessel of death and no longer worth your faith.  A change occurs in your thinking (repentance) and a shift of faith also occurs.

For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith. Romans 1:17

As you watch the once stable deck of the Titanic buck and heave and drop ever closer to the water it begins to looks much less inviting than the frigid water far below. A choice is made to put your complete faith in an unseen, unproven salvation that is to come, and so…you jump.  After you jump into the water, someone you’ve just seen for the first time (Christ) throws you a life ring (the Holy Spirit) which will help you get to the permanent salvation which is steaming your way. The life ring is a free gift you did not even ask for and after receiving this life ring there is no longer a need to tread water and you can rest. You then simply wait for the Carpathia (God’s eternal salvation through His grace and mercy) to come and pull you aboard.  There is no tangible proof of this salvation but by faith and hope you are certain a complete salvation is on its way. It is!

And this I say, lest any man should beguile you with enticing words. For though I be absent in the flesh, yet am I with you in the spirit, joying and beholding your order, and the stedfastness of your faith in Christ. As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving. Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power: In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ: Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead. Colossians 2:4-12

-More on circumcision in my next post..

And for this reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; And to knowledge self control; and to self control patience; and to patience godliness; And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness love. For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that you shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But he that lacks these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and has forgotten that he was purged from his old sins. Therefore rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if you do these things, you shall never fall: For so an entrance shall be provided unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  2 Peter 1:5-11

One of the biggest joys I find in hiking are the wildflowers by the side of the trail and in the meadows. I suppose if I really wanted to understand them I could spend a few years getting a degree in microbiology but then I might lose my admiration of the simple beauty of a lovely flower and concentrate instead on their microscopic complexity. To enjoy the beauty of a flower I need only look at it and I have no real reason to understand how the organism operates.  So it is with Christ, the Lily of the Valley.  We need only enjoy the beauty of His ministry. An understanding of his complex workings is purely optional and may be detrimental to our spiritual health.

I once chose a path in which I sought to uncover the underlying complexities of the Jesus flower. I walked that path for many years and it wore me out. I involved myself in hours of study of not only English, but also Greek and Hebrew words from my vast library of books. When I taught I  could recite Greek words from memory and even knew the tenses, moods and parts of speech of some.  I bought a special Bible, (it cost me well over $100.00 years ago) that had Greek words and tenses coded next to the English words so I wouldn’t look foolish if someone asked me what the Greek word, tense or mood was in a particular scripture.   I became bloated with knowledge, and could tell you the name of nearly every part of the Jesus flower by heart. I had many deep thoughts which I shared with others and looked very wise in my own eyes at times.   If I didn’t know something I would get depressed, feel inferior, worry that I had failed God somehow and go on a quest for more knowledge about the Jesus flower.  Soon I found my  hope was in my books and my heady knowledge  more than in the saving grace of Jesus Christ. Eventually I  lost heart in what I was doing, hated my “job”  and burned out.  The flames were visible for miles, I am quite certain.

Jesus promised us rest for our soul. I wasn’t finding rest, only works that were killing my soul. The only thing I care to know now is Christ crucified.  I have a salvation waiting for me I do not deserve but Christ purchased for me anyway.  He even gave me a gift to carry me through to the end and comfort me when I need; the Holy Spirit.    Do I really need to know more than that?

For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the Good News–not in wisdom of words, so that the cross of Christ wouldn’t be made void. For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are dying, but to us who are saved it is the power of God. For it is written, “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, I will bring the discernment of the discerning to nothing.” Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the lawyer of this world? Hasn’t God made foolish the wisdom of this world? For seeing that in the wisdom of God, the world through its wisdom didn’t know God, it was God’s good pleasure through the foolishness of the preaching to save those who believe. For Jews ask for signs, Greeks seek after wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified; a stumbling block to Jews, and foolishness to Greeks, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God. Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men. For you see your calling, brothers, that not many are wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, and not many noble; but God chose the foolish things of the world that he might put to shame those who are wise. God chose the weak things of the world, that he might put to shame the things that are strong; and God chose the lowly things of the world, and the things that are despised, and the things that are not, that he might bring to nothing the things that are: that no flesh should boast before God. But of him, you are in Christ Jesus, who was made to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption: that, according as it is written, “He who boasts, let him boast in the Lord.”

1 Corinthians 1:17-31 

Then spake Jesus to the multitude, and to his disciples, Saying, The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat: All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do; but do not ye after their works: for they say, and do not. For they bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men’s shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers. But all their works they do for to be seen of men: they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments, And love the uppermost rooms at feasts, and the chief seats in the synagogues, And greetings in the markets, and to be called of men, Rabbi, Rabbi. But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren. And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven. Neither be ye called masters: for one is your Master, even Christ. But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant. And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted. Matthew. 23:1-12

But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace. James 3:17-18

Let me repeat something I said in a previous post. Christ is simple. Paul, when writing to the Corinthians worried that; “like the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtility, their minds would be corrupted away from the simplicity that is in Christ.”

To understand this It is important to understand how the serpent beguiled Eve. If we look at the story closely in Genesis, we see that Satan (the serpent) deceived Eve with a fact-based lie, even using God’s very own words. He said to her “for God knows in the day you eat of the forbidden fruit your eyes will be opened, and you shall be like gods, knowing good and evil.”  Satan persuaded Eve that the forbidden fruit was sweet and good for eating and had the power to make her wise. Eve fell for the line and so…she ate. No one likes to eat alone though so she gave the same fruit to Adam and he also ate. In this way they both acquired the ability to understand the difference between good and evil. Their innocence suddenly, and catastrophically, vanished and it was never to be regained.

Imagine how enticing Satan’s offer was to them. To have knowledge of good and evil just like God in one instant at the taste of just a little sweet fruit must have been tantalizing.  Unfortunately this is not just Adam and Eve’s problem. It has been passed down through every following generation and humanity still avidly pursues this knowledge of good and evil. We all like to feel godlike in our mastery of the knowledge of good and evil. We want to feel our own thoughts and ways are right and perfect, and everyone else is somehow flawed. As the Proverbs say “Every way of a man is right in his own eyes: but the LORD ponders the hearts.”

It is easier to feel good about ourselves when we find evil in the world and then concentrate our disgust on that evil. To do this properly though we must first learn to ignore the evil within ourselves. A great example of this is found on daytime TV talk shows. You know the kind where they troll for persons guilty of committing unseemly acts and parade them onstage before a shouting jeering audience. In these shows, the individuals’ sins are laid out in sordid detail and the host usually offers up advice or inflicts shame on the person in an attempt to bring about change. In the end, the guests are often unrepentant, nothing is truly accomplished, but the audience does feel good that they have once again proven their ability to “discern” for themselves what is good and what is evil. They then conclude that they must be the good and the people on stage must be the evil since they would never stoop to this level of wrongdoing. The fact is  that all persons have fallen short simply because of Adam and Eve’s grand mistake. Those who appear to be the “evil ones” on stage, as well as the “good ones” in the audience are both equally in need of God’s grace and mercy.

The scripture tells us there is none that doeth good, no not one. We are all in need of God’s merciful kindness. Solomon, in his pursuit of knowledge and wisdom, reached a conclusion that man has only one duty. Serve God and keep his commandments. He also reasoned that only God is capable of bringing every work into judgment whether it is good or evil. It is not our responsibility. When judgment is left to us humans, we often judge based on our own thoughts, emotions and prejudices which causes us to neglect the true mercy of God in our judgments.

Humanity’s desire to conquer good and evil has led us to turn the simple things of God, Christ and the Holy Spirit into complex weighty matters. Certainly, we reason, I must do something to appease the God of heaven and save myself from his wrath. But in our efforts to please God in this way we have only managed to create religious burdens that are too heavy to be born. We have too often dismantled the simplicity of the words of Christ and replaced them with complex doctrines, teachings and rituals that are often difficult to understand, tedious or sometimes even impossible to perform.

Christ’s yoke is easy and his burden is very light. It is not full of rite, ritual, procedure and agenda. When we move beyond something simple enough for a young child to understand, we have moved beyond the simplicity of Christ and have lost sight of the Kingdom of God.

Jesus summoned them, saying, “Allow the little children to come to me, and don’t hinder them, for the Kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Most assuredly, I tell you, whoever doesn’t receive the Kingdom of God like a little child, he will in no way enter into it.” Luke 18:16-17

And he said, So is the kingdom of God, as if a man should cast seed into the ground; And should sleep, and rise night and day, and the seed should spring and grow up, he knoweth not how. For the earth bringeth forth fruit of herself; first the blade, then the ear, after that the full corn in the ear. But when the fruit is brought forth, immediately he putteth in the sickle, because the harvest is come. And he said, Whereunto shall we liken the kingdom of God? or with what comparison shall we compare it? It is like a grain of mustard seed, which, when it is sown in the earth, is less than all the seeds that be in the earth: But when it is sown, it groweth up, and becometh greater than all herbs, and shooteth out great branches; so that the fowls of the air may lodge under the shadow of it. Mark 4:26-32

Just like the statement “every thing I need to know I learned in kindergarten”, every thing we need to know about God, Christ, and the Holy Spirit can be found in His kindergarten. The Book of Hebrews calls this the first, or elementary, principles of Christ. It is rather like the ABC’s and 1-2-3 of our childhood education. There are really only a few basic principles that lay the foundation for the rest of our education. Phonics, addition, subtraction, multiplication… Once a person masters these principles, they gain the ability to read, comprehend and calculate formulas all on their own. As time goes by the mind continues to mature and is able to ponder deeper thoughts and learn new things but it is really just the basic principles learned when very young that allow this to be.

Learning the things of God is exactly the same. When we come to understand a few basic principles about God and his mercy and truth, these principles form the foundation of our life and we are on the Way. Hebrews gives a pretty good list of these things; Repentance, Faith, Baptisms, etc; and it is these things, when understood and mastered that lay a foundation for everything else God wants to show us. It does not take a lifetime to learn these things.

Christ said the Kingdom of God is like seeds. Try this experiment. Dig a six-foot hole, now throw in a handful of seeds, any kind you like. If you want, you can even throw in a bunch of fertilizer as well. Now refill that hole with the same six feet of earth, give it a good tamping with your foot or shovel, and water it whenever you like. Be patient for a few months then come back to see how many plants actually grew. I assure you there will be none.

The knowledge of the kingdom of God is the same; it is never buried deep. Plants draw life from topsoil and if you dig beyond the topsoil, you dig beyond the nutrients that give them life. The seeds may be hearty and the sprouts may begin to push their way to the surface but having been buried so deep, away from the sun that warms them and provides energy, they simply will not grow and reach the surface. So it is with us.

Solomon, a very wise man–perhaps even the wisest ever–spent many vain years digging deep, searching for God in all the wrong places. He wrote the book of Ecclesiastes to document his experience and he finally concluded. “Of making many books there is no end; and much study is a weariness of the flesh. Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.” I can find no other words that express my thoughts better than that.

Note: Some, in the past have tried to correct my analogy and say we must dig deep in order to lay a firm foundation. They are absolutely 100% right. But my analogy here was about a different topic. Establishing your foundation on “The Rock” is essential for your house and your salvation. However, planting a harvest for the purpose of daily bread does not require a great deal of digging. I know of no sane gardener who plants their garden under their house or in a deep pit of earth. I have done that kind of digging before and, just like Solomon, I ended up in a great big hole, trying to explain how I dug myself into such a pit and gave myself a headache trying to climb back out. It is not worth it. I am finite and need not fully comprehend my infinite God to serve him. Just give me a bit of daily bread and I am well fed and happy. I gave up my shovel for a hoe years ago.

The early church was comprised of a group of Christ followers in which everyone, male and female, bond or free, had an equal voice. There was very little hierarchy, very little schedule and the early church met mostly in their own homes.  

And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.  Acts 2:1-2 

And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart,  Acts 2:46 

And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ.  Acts 5:42 

As for Saul, he made havock of the church, entering into every house, and haling men and women committed them to prison. Acts 8:3

They went out of the prison, and entered into Lydia’s house. When they had seen the brothers, they encouraged them, and departed.  Acts 16:40 

Paul stayed two whole years in his own rented house, and received all who were coming to him, preaching the Kingdom of God, and teaching the things concerning the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness, without hinderance.  Acts 28:30-31 

Likewise greet the church that is in their house. Salute my well beloved Epaenetus, who is the firstfruits of Achaia unto Christ. Romans 16:5

The churches of Asia salute you. Aquila and Priscilla salute you much in the Lord, with the church that is in their house. 1 Corinthians 16:19

Salute the brethren which are in Laodicea, and Nymphas, and the church which is in his house. Colossians 4:15

And to our beloved Apphia, and Archippus our fellowsoldier, and to the church in thy house: Philemon 1:2

 There are also a few examples where they met in rented halls

There were many lights in the upper chamber where we  were gathered together. Acts 20:8

 Paul taught in the school of Tyrannus for about two years.

… he departed from them, and separated the disciples, reasoning daily in the school of Tyrannus. This continued for two years…Acts 19:9-10 

Many also went daily to the temple to read and pray since printed bibles did not exist and the scrolls of scriptures were guarded and maintained in the temple by the priests.  Only the very wealthy had their own copy of scripture.  We now have the luxury of printed and online bibles which make reading the scriptures so much easier and no longer need rely on going daily to the temple to read.

Christ told the Samaritan woman at the well.

Jesus said to her, “Woman, believe me, the hour comes, when neither in this mountain, nor in Jerusalem, will you worship the Father. You worship that which you don’t know. We worship that which we know; for salvation is from the Jews. But the hour comes, and now is, when the true worshippers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father seeks such to be his worshippers. God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.”  

John 4:21-24 

The only true address where we must worship is at the corner of Spirit and Truth.  You will not find this intersection in any city, town, mountain or village.  It is found only through the Spirit of God.  Whenever two or more gather at this intersection, no matter where that may be, Christ is there too.  Perhaps I will see you there someday.

And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers. And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles. And all that believed were together, and had all things common; and sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need. And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved. Acts 2:42-47

Fellowship is much different than worship. The worship of God is something we perform as our duty to our creator. Fellowship, however, is not a duty but is strictly for our own benefit and edification. It may not be a duty but it is what gives us strength and encouragement to continue on our Christian journey and therefore, since we are inherently weak, something that is very important to our spiritual wellbeing. It is only through fellowship we have the opportunity and privilege of being fed by others called of the same purpose. In this way we share in each others strengths and weaknesses. I often imagine the people of God to be like that mythical tribe that had arms so long they could not reach their own mouths. In order to eat they were forced to feed each other.

Fellowship can occur in any location, and on any day we desire. Christ fellowshipped with his apostles and disciples in homes, in the mountains, on a boat, in rented halls, behind a donkey, on a hillside, in the desert and many other places. They fellowshipped on varying days of the week, including a deliberate breakage of the Jewish Sabbath.

Fellowship requires only two or more Spirit-filled persons gathered in the name of Christ. It is that simple. The location and surroundings mean absolutely nothing. It can be a patch of dirt or an ornate cathedral. The building is nothing. When we gather in Christ’s name, in a group of at least two, we have fellowship with one another as if Christ was in our midst. Indeed, he is and this is not because Christ is an additional person but, instead, the two or more make up the whole of Christ.

When Christ spoke of fellowship, membership was not a part of the package either. When he gathered men together he merely called to them, “Follow me” and they followed Him. There were no tests, no committees, no boards, and no research into their lives. He didn’t care what they knew, where they had been or what they had done . He simply said, “Follow me”. He did not lead them to a building, have them sign a card, submit a registration, take an oath, or pledge a commitment. He simply wanted them to become a part of his organism; “The Body of Christ”. For more on this subject see “Where is Church?

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Brothers, I couldn’t speak to you as to spiritual, but as to fleshly, as to babies in Christ. I fed you with milk, not with meat; for you weren’t yet ready. Indeed, not even now are you ready, for you are still fleshly. For insofar as there is jealousy, strife, and factions among you, aren’t you fleshly, and don’t you walk in the ways of men? For when one says, “I follow Paul,” and another, “I follow Apollos,” aren’t you fleshly? Who then is Apollos, and who is Paul, but servants through whom you believed; and each as the Lord gave to him? I planted. Apollos watered. But God gave the increase. So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase. Now he who plants and he who waters are the same, but each will receive his own reward according to his own labor. For we are God’s fellow workers. You are God’s farming, God’s building. According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I laid a foundation, and another builds on it. But let each man be careful how he builds on it. For no one can lay any other foundation than that which has been laid, which is Jesus Christ. But if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay, or stubble; each man’s work will be revealed. For the Day will declare it, because it is revealed in fire; and the fire itself will test what sort of work each man’s work is. If any man’s work remains which he built on it, he will receive a reward. If any man’s work is burned, he will suffer loss, but he himself will be saved, but as through fire. Don’t you know that you are a temple of God, and that God’s Spirit lives in you? If anyone destroys the temple of God, God will destroy him; for God’s temple is holy, which you are. Let no one deceive himself. If anyone thinks that he is wise among you in this world, let him become a fool, that he may become wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, “He has taken the wise in their craftiness.” And again, “The Lord knows the reasoning of the wise, that it is worthless.” Therefore let no one boast in men. For all things are yours, whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come. All are yours, and you are Christ’s, and Christ is God’s.

1 Corinthians 3:1-23

To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious, Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded. Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner, And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed. But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy. 1 Peter. 2:4-10

Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God; And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.

Ephesians. 2:19-22

When I was growing up we attended many different church buildings. Being an extremely hyper child my parents, and others, constantly instructed me to speak softly and revere the building I was in because it was “the house of God.” This confused me greatly then because we had been in so many different church buildings in my short life and each one was “the house of God”. My childish brain wondered why God needed so many houses and how he could possibly live in all of them at once. That question remained stuck in my brain until the day I discovered that God does not require, or even desire, an earthly house of worship. Several examples in the Bible indicate God is not always thrilled with buildings made with man’s hands. The most expedient story is that of David and his conversations with Nathan the Prophet. This story is a foretelling of the day when the true temple, not constructed with any mans hands, would rise on the earth.

And it came to pass, when the king sat in his house, and the LORD had given him rest round about from all his enemies; That the king said unto Nathan the prophet, See now, I dwell in an house of cedar, but the ark of God dwelleth within curtains. And Nathan said to the king, Go, do all that is in thine heart; for the LORD is with thee. And it came to pass that night, that the word of the LORD came unto Nathan, saying, Go and tell my servant David, Thus saith the LORD, Shalt thou build me an house for me to dwell in? Whereas I have not dwelt in any house since the time that I brought up the children of Israel out of Egypt, even to this day, but have walked in a tent and in a tabernacle. In all the places wherein I have walked with all the children of Israel spake I a word with any of the tribes of Israel, whom I commanded to feed my people Israel, saying, Why build ye not me an house of cedar? 2 Samuel 7:1-7

King David, after finishing a time of war, began thinking about things he could do. to occupy his time After looking out from his fine cedar house, he began to feel bad that he dwelt in such luxury while the ark of God was housed in what is, essentially,just a small tent. This stirred his heart and he began to think about building something much better and much grander for God. He talked to Nathan the Prophet about his plan and Nathan originally went with the plan, telling him that God is with him and do as he desires. However, God had a different viewpoint on the subject and in a brief “chewing out” tells Nathan he must go back to David the next morning and emphatically tell him that God did not require or desire that he erect a house of worship for Him. God told Nathan that he more than satisfied with the little tent that held His Most Holy place, and he was to ask David this question: “Did I ask for this, or is this just some idea you came up with on your own?” (I have paraphrased this dramatically). David, a great respecter of God, got the message right away and immediatley abandoned his plan to build.

A few have stated to me that God did have a house of worship built for David later, by his son Solomon, however if you read what Solomon spoke when he dedicated this temple that God allowed him to build you will find this was not the temple promised to David by God through Nathan that day. “But will God indeed dwell on the earth? behold, the heaven and heaven of heavens cannot contain thee; how much less this house that I have builded?” I Ki 8:27 David’s temple woud be built many years later.

David’s Temple

And when thy days be fulfilled, and thou shalt sleep with thy fathers, I will set up thy seed after thee, which shall proceed out of thy bowels, and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build an house for my name, and I will stablish the throne of his kingdom for ever. I will be his father, and he shall be my son. If he commit iniquity, I will chasten him with the rod of men, and with the stripes of the children of men: But my mercy shall not depart away from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I put away before thee. And thine house and thy kingdom shall be established for ever before thee: thy throne shall be established for ever. According to all these words, and according to all this vision, so did Nathan speak unto David.

2 Samuel. 7:12-17

God allowed a house to be built through David’s seed, just as Nathan the Prophet had promised. However, it was long after David himself had finished his days and his bones rested in the earth. In other words, David was long dead and buried. The house, the temple built through David’s seed was not built of brick and mortar, it was a spiritual house designed for spiritual worship. It was, in fact, Jesus the Christ who came, physically at least, from the lineage of David and who was raised from the dead by the Spirit of God. It is He, Christ, who established a permanent and eternal house of worship to God in His body and not in anything designed by man’s hands. In this true temple, Christ, we can truly worship God in the manner he prescribes.

In the physical temple, the priest performed the prescribed sacrifices and services every single day. Those who were not priests came on the Sabbath, and other holy days, and many went daily to the temple to read and pray. If we become a temple of God and the Holy Spirit, as is promised, we too have a high priest who performs daily sacrifices on our behalf to erase our transgressions. His name is Jesus Christ and through Him the burden of daily sacrifice in a physical temple has been upgraded into the spiritual realm. It is now Christ’s spiritual job to seek mediation for our our sins and trespasses while He sits at the right hand of God. He does this tirelessly, day and night on our behalf.

We can do nothing for ourselves, only Christ has the ability to atone our sins and so He never ceases to make amends for us at the throne of grace in the heavens. We, as good stewards of our temple are not completely off the hook though. We are responsible for keeping our temple pure and undefiled. However, if we fail, God never sees our failings because Christ, our mediator, covers for us and it is never seen. It matters not how big or small our transgression. In Christ we are always deemed perfect by His grace. This is a great gift born of His supreme sacrifice. God’s grace through Christ is endless and His mercy is more than huge.

Now of the things which we have spoken this is the sum: We have such an high priest, who is set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens; A minister of the sanctuary, and of the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, and not man. For every high priest is ordained to offer gifts and sacrifices: wherefore it is of necessity that this man have somewhat also to offer. For if he were on earth, he should not be a priest, seeing that there are priests that offer gifts according to the law: Who serve unto the example and shadow of heavenly things, as Moses was admonished of God when he was about to make the tabernacle: for, See, saith he, that thou make all things according to the pattern shewed to thee in the mount. But now hath he obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises. For if that first covenant had been faultless, then should no place have been sought for the second. For finding fault with them, he saith, Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah: Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; because they continued not in my covenant, and I regarded them not, saith the Lord. For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people: And they shall not teach every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest. For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more. In that he saith, A new covenant, he hath made the first old. Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away.

Hebrews 8:1-13

There is another example in the gospels where Christ passed up a wonderful opportunity to have a house of worship erected and dedicated in his honor. It was on the occasion He took Peter, John and James up into a mountain to pray. At this event, he began to glow, and talked with Moses and Elijah about his death that was to take place soon in Jerusalem. Peter, and everyone else with Him, were sleeping but were wakened by this meeting and becoming excited Peter was unable to even speak. However at the moment that Moses and Elijah were leaving, he said to Jesus, “Master, it is good for us to be here: and let us make three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” The words flooded out as he was caught in the emotion of the moment. It is clear he was speaking hastily and without knowledge for while he was still speaking, a cloud surrounded them, and a voice spoke abruptly; “This is my beloved Son: listen to Him”. They obviously did listen to the words Christ spoke that day. Those words are not recorded but the tabernacles or temples Peter desired were never built. Christ knew that it was He himself that would be raised as “the temple” prophesied in scripture and He had no need for an earthly house built to, or for, him.

So what about other people? I need to be around other people you might be saying. To just worship God within me, in private, in my home, my car, outside just will not cut the mustard. I need people! Let me clarify that I have spoken so far only about worship. Fellowship and worship are not the same thing. Many people, if not most, use these two words interchangeably but they are not synonyms. Section 3 will address this question directly.

Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.John 15:4-8

How easy is it to chastise a tree into bearing more fruit? If this worked, I guarantee you there would be speakers blaring admonishments to every tree in every orchard in the world. It does not work. You cannot chastise a tree, or a person, into bearing more fruit. Fruit is spontaneous. When a tree is healthy, the fruit just happens. So why do we often work so hard at chastising ourselves into bearing more fruit? In addition, why are we so intent on condemning and chastising others into being more fruitful?

When Christ walked the Earth, He did not round up sinners with the intent of overcoming them, imprisoning them or otherwise affecting their lives with burdens too heavy to bear. He did not throw up His banner of righteousness declaring a holy war on humanity’s imperfections; even though He probably had every right to do so. Instead, Christ became flesh and, dwelling among us, related directly to the inadequacy of man in the face of the sin we endure. He did this purely so he could understand our weaknesses and help us. When the halt, the blind, the possessed and the sinner, came to Christ, he healed them, showed them how to find refuge from the pain in their soul and then sent them on their way in peace. Occasionally he would tell them “Go, and sin no more” but these were more words of love and encouragement than chastisement.

Conversely, the religious leaders and hypocritical “righteous ones” of Christ’s day shunned these same men, women and children declaring them “evil and unclean”. If any approached looking for help, they sent them away, leaving them unaided and empty handed. Christ had outright vehement disdain for these religious leaders and even went so far as to call them hypocrites, blind and vipers whenever they crossed paths. But before we point the finger too much at these Pharisees we must also remember that Christ warned us if our own righteousness does not exceed that of these religious leaders, we too would not see the kingdom of God. It is an admonition I remind myself of on a regular basis. For a good look in the mirror in this regard, I highly recommend the book by John Fischer called “Twelve Steps for the Recovering Pharisee, Like Me”. It opened my eyes to a huge problem I had, completely changed my outlook on others, and I readily admit now that I am a recovering Pharisee.

And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others: Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess. And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.

Luke 18:9-14

Christ knew the religion of his day, (firmly in control of the descendants of Moses, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob) was seriously flawed. The same men who lay claim to the promises given to Abraham, and his seed, now had complete control of the temple and were using it for their own personal gain. Christ promised them He would tear down their earthly physical temple though and raise up His own spiritual temple in its place…in the space of only three short days.

After this he went down to Capernaum, he, and his mother, and his brethren, and his disciples: and they continued there not many days. And the Jews’ passover was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem, And found in the temple those that sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the changers of money sitting: And when he had made a scourge of small cords, he drove them all out of the temple, and the sheep, and the oxen; and poured out the changers’ money, and overthrew the tables; And said unto them that sold doves, Take these things hence; make not my Father’s house an house of merchandise. And his disciples remembered that it was written, The zeal of thine house hath eaten me up. Then answered the Jews and said unto him, What sign shewest thou unto us, seeing that thou doest these things? Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up. Then said the Jews, Forty and six years was this temple in building, and wilt thou rear it up in three days? But he spake of the temple of his body. When therefore he was risen from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this unto them; and they believed the scripture, and the word which Jesus had said.

John 2:12-22

Christ did in fact raise up his spiritual temple in just three short days, but many seek it and do not find it because they look in the physical realm instead of the spiritual. Christ’s temple is not a tangible building or place. It is, instead, a spiritual temple constructed of living stones that cannot be moved. More on that later.

To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious, Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded. Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner, And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed. But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy. Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul; Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.

1 Peter 2:4-12

The only name you will ever find on this true temple of Christ’s body is the name of Jesus Christ. It is a spiritual building and has a rock solid foundation. On its base is inscribed the words:

“Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light.”

Matthew 11:28-30

Go to Section 2 for more on “The True Temple”