Digging deep for Eternity

Reference Passage:

Luke 6:49 (NKJV)

"He who heard and did nothing is like a man who built a house on the earth without a foundation, against which the stream beat vehemently; and immediately it fell. 

And the ruin of that house was great." 

Read the whole parable here

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"I am the power that lifts the world's head proudly skywards, surpassing limits and expectations. I am Burj Khalifa." 

So runs a proclamation on the walls of the world's tallest building, the Burj Khalifa, located in Dubai. Towering over Dubai's landscape at a height of 828m, built at a cost of USD 1.5 billion and shattering several world records in one go, we would be compelled to think likewise. However, the Burj's completion co-occured with the financial crisis, that took the wind out of the sails of Dubai's sky-high dreams. As lavishly ornate office and residence spaces remain unoccupied, I wonder which - an inward look or a skyward one -  would be more appropriate. My thoughts turn to the construction of an edifice that the Lord Christ envisioned in the parable of the two builders.

The wise man's wisdom may not have been obvious when he commenced his task. His engineering design focussed on reaching deep into the earth for a solid foundation. The cons of such an approach aren't too difficult to spot. If time is money, going deep would cost a fortune. This is why the pursuit of spirituality fails to appear in our time-tables. Why should one waste time reading God's Word, when the mall's winter sale ends tomorrow? Although preparing for the exams hardly bothered us when the schedule was announced, there's always the eleventh hour, even if this means missing Church meetings to study.

At times, our protagonist finds himself lonely because digging deep into matters of faith is now culturally unpopular. Others fail to understand why he's so hyped up about following an unseen Nobody, whose role seems to have been successfully substituted by the twenty first century technologist. His questions on life after death, are comically plastered on advertisements for life insurance – "What would they do if you died tonight?" All of this, still can't shake his core belief that God has much more to do with the foundations of the human civilisation, than any other manmade substitute.

Nature has its unique quality control mechanisms to test how well we build ourselves. The floods came crashing and screaming, its hands pushing the house with great strength. Those were dark days for the wise man, as pain and doubt attempted to crush his labour of faith in a moment. However, with every passing minute, the strength of his Rock foundation was shining ever brighter. Ultimately, the torrent gave up; in the dawn of peace, the house was still standing for the Rock of Ages had once again proved He was simply unbeatable.

Another man began his own construction project, although in different taste and spirit. Not that he didn't want to build, but he had a peculiar habit of hearing God's advise, yet doing nothing about it. In this context, most of us aren't very different in our approach to God's Word. It barely takes moments for the latest sermon to vanish from memory, more so because we feel there's no accountability involved – pastors dont conduct surprise tests anyway. The consequence is a shallow spiritual experience that appears like a better structure, at a lower price. Its a shame that we delude ourselves in the sunshine, that those days of darkness would never visit our soul, in spite of the certainity that our Teacher has pointed out.

The unforgiving floods came knocking one day, and the knees of the foolish man followed suit. His design was clearly unready for such difficulty levels. This house could not match the assault, and soon began to crumble under the crushing blows of the tempest. The hidden weaknesses of the structure gradually emerged. Worse still, the storm was taking away even the little that remained, and leaving behind a desolate ruin – completely exposed and vulnerable. The material loss was only a part of the toll; the ensuing shame and dishonour was a far greater casualty. Take an example - over and over again, Christian grandstanding on love has been rich in expression, while practical meaning in the fundamentals of human relationships go unheeded. The strain is already showing in our family lives and Church associations. Does it ever bother us that our sacrifices in the name of religion, might actually come to nothing if our 'house' fails to stand up to the tests of life?

Both builders had something in common – the desire to live progressively. Both of them had major losses at different stages in life, the distinctive difference being the nature of loss – one lost the temporary to gain the Eternal, while the other grabbed the temporary, and missed the Eternal. Furthermore, their fiery trials revealed vastly different results – the unapparent strength of the wise, and the hidden weakness of the foolish.

Each day, our faults prompt us to dig even deeper into the Rock for potency to conquer all. When the silence of loneliness bothers us in the depths, may the thoughts of the Cross soothe our soul – for there, lay the rejected Saviour who saved many, yet the One whom none would save. Indeed, He is the Rock of Ages, cleft to hide sinners from the violent storm of Divine judgement and the sure foundation of His Church, their eternal hope of glory in a world tottering on the brink of self-destruction.

Ruth - Until He settles the matter (Part 4 of 5)

Reference Passage:
Ruth chapter 3:1 - 5 Read it here

As always, my humble advise is to refrain from proceeding until you seek the Lord's help to understand the following text.

It will help us to recall that God calls us to satisfaction. Yet, we often misunderstand this satisfaction that God expects us to come to. See what Apostle Paul writes to Timothy: “Command those who are rich in this present age not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy.” (1 Timothy 6:17) When the Lord asks us to take up our Cross and follow Him, we agree. Along the way, He caters to our need and gives us something that will help alleviate the difficulties of the day. When its time to move on, He exhorts us to take fresh steps into the deeper realms of His Grace wherein He may continue to mold us according to His plan. Yet, we are so caught up licking the candy wrappers that we forget what we initially set out to do. We expect a constant pampering and our shopping lists only get bigger with time. How you noticed how much our prayer time is consumed by our needs? Of course, God expects us to approach Him for our needs. But, I must warn you – something is wrong somewhere if this conveniently eats up all our time spent with God.
What about God's need? Does He not have a plan in calling us to this Grace in which we stand? The New Testament makes it evident that our prayer topics are largely different from those of the saints of old. Several of Paul's prayers are recorded in his letters to the churches and its clear that his priorities were very different. Let me quote just one of those from the epistle to the Ephesians:
“For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know Him better. I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which He has called you, the riches of His glorious inheritance in the saints, and His incomparably great power for us who believe.” (Ephesians 1:15-19)
Do we even have the maturity to understand what Paul is praying for?

Remember: The Lord doesn't ask us to be content because He doesn't have enough stock to supply all our needs – rather, His best treasures are of a different kind. The kind that caused Graham Kendrick to pen the following words, quoting from Paul's epistle to the Philipians:

All I once held dear, built my life upon
All this world reveres and wars to own
All I once thought gain, I have counted loss
Spent and worthless now, compared to this.

Knowing You, Jesus, knowing You
There is no greater thing...

I now pick up the thread I left with you last week. Ruth now stands with the offer to continue in Boaz's fields till the end of the harvest. In a little while, Naomi brings up another issue of greater significance: “My daughter, should I not try to find a home for you, where you will be well provided for?” (Ruth 3:1) Ruth is reminded that her status has not essentially changed – poor Moabite widow. Merely gathering food from Boaz's fields cannot change her identity even though she desired to be one with the Israelites (Read 1:16).
What about us? We've probably had the privilege of being born to orthodox parents. We've attended church services from our very early days. We contribute generously to church work. Above all, we have been blessed with prosperity, education and family which we acknowledge as blessings of Grace. In fact, we often point to our blessings as evidence of belonging to God's family.

I must raise an uncomfortable question here – if indeed prosperity is evidence of belonging to God's family, what about the many around the world, who in spite of an abundance of wealth, choose to wallow in moral filth? Then again, what about Christians worldwide who follow Christ even in the midst of abject poverty?

Have we indeed undergone a real identity change in the eyes of God? Most importantly, where do we look for information – should I ask the pastor? Or my parents perhaps? Friends? The Pope?
A simple illustration given by the Lord Himself should suffice. Read His words in the Sermon on the Mount:
“Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock.
But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall.”
The Lord makes it clear that when His words become the foundation of our lives, and not the words of man, a life that cannot be shaken will take shape. If indeed man speaks with the same solid basis, we will do well to obey. But we better make sure (Acts 17:10-12).

Naomi's words now serve to shift the focus of Ruth's life – from the mere fulfillment of existential needs to a deeper issue at stake that is, the redemption of the family name and inheritance. I wrote earlier that Elimelech's name stands on the verge of extinction as both of his sons died without producing any offspring. Naomi being beyond the age of child-bearing and Orpah having left the household, a lot hinges on Ruth.
Yet, here lies a plain reality – Ruth cannot, of her own, fulfill the redemptive act just as much as she cannot produce a son of her own.

The reality in our lives is no different – in spite of enjoying God's goodness, there is a voice within that's urging us toward a deeper relationship with Him. Have you observed how, at times, you look at your wealth (or lack of it), studies, career or relationships, and wonder where all these are taking you? You keep asking yourself the question 'what is the purpose of my life?' and suggest various answers to yourself – yet, none seem to satisfy.
Raise the banner of love and you quickly have a 'rainbow' crowd gathering in its shade. Nevertheless, at the end of the rainbow, we've often seen a bitterness that calls into question our definitions of love. Some say that they're doing all they can, for their kids. However, recent stories appearing in the media raise troubling questions as to whether the effort is worth its weight. Career is paramount for some others but the reigning economic depression exposes the sad fickleness of wealth. In our minds, we trace our path which seems to go in frustrating circles until we come to a gaping pit that seems to draw everything into its blackness – the mysterious black hole called Death.

How we wish we knew what lies beyond that blackness! If indeed there is hope beyond the curtain, it makes sense that securing that future is worth the effort. If only someone could go in and return to tell us all! Here again, something becomes crystal clear – we're asking for something which no man can accomplish! We may see travel agencies promise exciting holidays to the remotest paradises on earth. But, I ask, who can secure my seat to the Eternal Paradise of God?

As that inner voice eggs us on, we stand reluctant to take a step of faith forward. Here lies a great crisis – on one hand, we hope to discover God and His promises of eternal life; yet, we also desperately wish to hold on to certain 'prized' possessions. Lets ask ourselves: where are these treasures taking us anyway? I recall the words of the Lord Jesus: “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Mathew 6:19-21)
As Naomi outlines a plan for her, Ruth responds with obedience and exemplary humility. Naomi points to Boaz and says that with him, lies the power and the will to redeem their broken estate.

What of us? Do we not see our Good Boaz of the New Testament who has given us hope? Death could not hold Him in the grave and He is risen to rule and reign forevermore. With His unique perspective of life from every possible angle, He can infuse a fresh and lasting meaning into our lives found nowhere else. Its one thing to experience His mercies in our lives, its quite another to enter into a covenant relationship with Him. The God of the Bible is very particular about that word: covenant (or agreement). He never gets into 'deeper' dealings with anybody without a covenant.

Behold – at the Last Supper of the Lord with his disciples, He spoke of His impending death upon the Cross in very specific terms. Read Mathew's account of the event:
“And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to the disciples and said, “Take, eat; this is My body.”
Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins. ””
(Mathew 26:26 – 28)
Christians worldwide remember these words each week at the Eucharist or the Lord's Table. We all agree that the Lord's death upon the Cross is the foundational event on which our faith is based. But what is this New Covenant all about? In that case, what is the Old Covenant and why did it have to be done away with?

As I leave you with these questions this week, I must remind you that many of us have only touched the threshold of God's house. As we hear the voice of the Holy Spirit gently welcoming us into God's presence to begin a relationship with God, may we not be satisfied with the mere blessings of the Giver – let us run on to lay hold of Himself and the desires of His heart.

To be continued...