-Story from God's Ear
In
an ancient city, a church, in the midst of great excitement and
anticipation, was built on the Rock of Ages. It was said that this
structure would last for all time because its base was the most
secure and stable footing in all the world. The people of that city
could hardly wait for the beautiful edifice to be built on this most
holy of places. For too many generations to count, they had come
together to pay homage to their God on the stone that could not be
broken and would stand against all that tried to destroy it. After
decades of laborious work, the church was completed. It seemed to
rise to the heavens, directing all who saw it to lift their eyes to
the God to whom the glorious structure was built.
Prior
to the first service, there was a grand ceremony. The minister,
stirring everyone’s emotion and faith, had never spoken so
eloquently. The inside of the church was a fit setting for the
preacher’s splendid words. Great swooping archways and stained
glass windows majestically lifted human spirits and caused the
congregation to be glad for what they had done for their God. Never
had the believers sung with as much power and joy. They rejoiced in
the church on the Rock of their salvation. As
time went on, many people forgot about the Rock and began to delight
in the church more than for Whom the church had been built. Before
the building of the church, everyone who came to that place focused
his gaze on He who was the Rock that many believed was the place
where God Himself dwelt. Now that the church stood over it, people’s
attention was on the building, and not upon the Foundation. The
archways that used to direct worshippers’ eyes to heaven now
allowed adoration to only reach as high as the ceiling. Their vision
of God used to reach to the heavens, but now they could only imagine
Him confined within those walls. Instead of a good and limitless God
of unfettered imagination, they could now only imagine a god who was
only as good as they could imagine.
No
longer experiencing the power that was brought into their lives by
worshipping together with one heart, people found other more
“fulfilling” activities to do on the days of worship. Personal
happiness became a goal to many, and they invested in those things
that they hoped would bring to them a sense of meaning.The joy that
once was natural and true and from which flowed a spontaneous love
and hospitality, was now replaced with a desire for things that they
hoped would bring them the joy they once felt while worshipping at
the Rock. The beautiful structure they had built with their own hands
had taken the place of a gathering place at The Rock of Ages. What
little truth they now believed was only a dim light of that which
they had originally possessed.
As
their experience told them that the truths of the tired Old Rock were
no longer fashionable or helpful, people began to slip away from
attending the church they had built. The structure began to slide
into disrepair. The once magnificent spires were dingy and began to
crumble. Secure window frames, that held the storied images in
stained glass, dried out and, from time to time, a glass would loosen
crashing down to the road below. The hinges that held the doors
firmly in their casings started to pull away from their mountings,
and drafts of wind whistled through the church. Once, a warm and
inviting place to pray and congregate with other believers, the
church was now cold and austere. The new minister talked a lot about
being nice and helping people, but he had forgotten how people were
empowered to do so. His message was cold and wintry, like the inside
of the church.
Finally,
the church was deemed no longer safe for people to inhabit and was
closed. People walked by the dilapidated old building and hardly
noticed it as they passed. They would say things like, “I don't
know why that building still stands. Maybe someone will buy it and
use it as a museum of useless relics.”
One
day, a man who had heard of the “old teachings” of the Rock of
Ages, bought the church property and tore the building down to its
foundation—carrying away the rubble. The Rock of Ages, and all of
its strength was exposed again. People from miles around came to hear
the old truth and to worship together at the Rock. Many hearts were
gladdened and lives were changed.
After
a few years, a group of believers came to the man who had purchased
the property, and proposed that a magnificent church be built on the
Rock of Ages. “What a memorial to the power of God it will be!”
said one zealous woman. The man thanked her, and kindly declined the
offer.
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