Photo by Cody Board on Unsplash
Dear Body of Christ,
Unique architecture fascinates me. Especially when it’s a building that looks like it ought to fall over, yet is solid as a rock. Architects and engineers do amazing things to balance structures that look like they’ll collapse under their own weight. For example, the Center for Innovative Technology in Fairfax County (VA) looks like it should tip over. Long arches are another architectural feature that can amaze. There’s a monastery in Spain where the king ordered the architect to install a column to make sure the arch wouldn’t fall down. The architect complied. However, after the king died, he revealed the column was built in a way that it never actually supported the arch. The arch was built to support itself … it needed no assistance to stand on its own.
Humans beings have been concerned about supporting a different kind of structure every since sin entered the world in the Garden of Eden. Throughout the Old Testament, we see people trying to build towers that reach into heaven (Genesis 11), building temples to perform sacrifices to various gods of their own making, and creating other structures to try to achieve salvation for themselves. All of these structures collapsed under their own weight, unable to support in any way the salvation of anyone.
In a similar way, many people today still feel they can support their own salvation through their works. They find it impossible to believe that, aside from their own efforts in life, they don’t need to do anything to be saved from sin and death.
God’s Word repeatedly reminds us that Jesus Christ is the only bridge between us and God. And, He needs no help to support His saving work. His one, single sacrifice on the Cross is all that is necessary for sin to be destroyed for all who believe in Him (Hebrews 9:26). “Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him.” (Hebrews 9:28) Jesus needs no assistance to save us from our sins. His sacrificial death on the Cross followed by His resurrection is all that’s needed to save all mankind, across all time, from sin, Satan, and death. Jesus, the Son of God, tells us, that those who believe in Him will be saved (Mark 16:16).
We’re saved for a purpose though … not simply to wait around for Jesus’ return. He calls us to use, in faith, this life, given to us by our heavenly Father, and the many gifts of time, talent, and treasure He also provides to us to serve Him and His creation. Through these gifts, supported by the Holy Spirit, we act in faith as Jesus’ hands and feet, eyes and ears, and mouths in the world to bring the love of Jesus, found in His Gospel, to those who’re sadly trying to support their own salvation. He enables us to use our lives, skills, and money and other resources God provides to us to save all remaining in unbelief. Then “(Jesus) will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for Him.” (Hebrews 9:28)
In the Love of Christ,
Pastor Jim