February
13
The
fire will test what sort of work each one has done (1 Corinthians 3:13 ESV).
There are many things to
which the name of the Lord is being affixed which are being constructed, and
which appear fine and great and like “the Church,” but the twofold
reality is neither in the builders or the buildings. They are destined to
collapse when God’s hurricane and fire test every man’s work. Good works:
philanthropy, hospitality, reform, education, religion, relief, etc. may be the
products, or by-products, of what is called “Christian civilization,” and
things for which to be profoundly grateful, but let us not confuse these with
“a new creation,” regeneration, a being “born from above.” The Church is
nothing which man can build by any resource in himself personally or
collectively.
The Church is an
organism, not an organization. “Behold, I show you a mystery, we are members of
His flesh and of His bones.” Build that, if you can! Launch that; organize
that; “run” that! It cannot be done. It is the spontaneous outworking of
spiritual forces released, in the acceptance by faith of tremendous facts
concerning Christ; which facts are proclaimed out of experience in the power of
the Holy Ghost. Not the theological Christ; not the doctrinal Christ; not the Christ
of the letter, much less the Jesus of history; but the Christ of eternity in
all the meaning of His death, burial, resurrection, and ascension into the
Throne of God revealed in the heart by the Holy Spirit. This
alone is authority to preach, to serve, to occupy position, to “build” in
relation to the house of God. It is folly to spend time and strength otherwise.
It is wisdom to labor on this foundation.
This photograph is from a Facebook page called Live Life in Color.
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