May the mumbling commence!
I still remember the first time that I watched the movie
“Raiders of the Lost Ark”. One of the
most memorable scenes is near the end when the Nazi contingent decides to open
the Ark of the Covenant. It cost them
their lives.
When we do things in the name of the Lord unworthily, we
open ourselves to the high price of eternal damnation. As I read about the hot potato game that the
Philistines were playing with the Ark, I couldn’t help but think of the first
Indiana Jones movie. But, surely when
the Israelites were given the Ark back things would be right with the world
once again… right?
Right?!? Not so
fast! Read from First Samuel chapter
six:
But the Lord
killed seventy men from Beth-shemesh because they looked into the Ark of the Lord. And the people mourned greatly because of what
the Lord had done. "Who is able to stand in the presence of the Lord, this holy God?"
they cried out. "Where
can we send the Ark from here?"
So they sent messengers to the people at Kiriath-jearim and told them, "The
Philistines have returned the Ark of the Lord.
Please come here and get it!"
(Verses 19-21)
Well, well, well…
The game of Hot Potato continued.
What does it mean to fear the Lord?
It is a distressing question in this context. Fear seems to be an appropriate
response. Be afraid when you come before
the living God.
But there is more to fearing the Lord than that. It is also about love and respect. It is about seeking to do the Lord’s will in
your life. It’s about standing firm for
the name of the Lord.
It is a horribly difficult job. Just ask Simon Peter about those denials
around the charcoal fire… as recorded in John chapter eighteen:
Simon Peter followed along behind, as did another of the
disciples. That other disciple was acquainted with the high priest, so he was
allowed to enter the courtyard with Jesus.
Peter stood outside the gate. Then the other disciple spoke to the woman
watching at the gate, and she let Peter in.
The woman asked Peter, "Aren't you
one of Jesus' disciples?"
"No," he said, "I
am not."
The guards and the household servants were standing
around a charcoal fire they had made because it was cold. And Peter stood there
with them, warming himself. (Verses 15-18)
Indeed, sometimes the bitterness
and frigid nature of this world freezes us into denial. Sometimes that denial is only evident in the
dispassionate way we live our lives and the way we worship the Lord. It’s when we become the “frozen chosen”.
When we become frozen we distance
ourselves we cannot feel God’s presence.
It becomes deeper and deeper.
Read some more from John chapter eighteen:
Meanwhile, as Simon Peter was standing by the fire, they
asked him again, "Aren't you one of his
disciples?"
"I am not," he said.
But one of the household servants of the
high priest, a relative of the man whose
ear Peter had cut off, asked, "Didn't I see you out there in the olive
grove with Jesus?"
Again Peter denied it. And
immediately a rooster crowed. (Verses 25-27)
Over and over again the Scriptures predict what will
happen when we wander from the Way of God.
It is devastating to hear that rooster crow. So, let’s not deny our Lord.
Take a stand in holy awe and reverence – and yes, even
fear. We praise you, O Lord Almighty!
Enough mumbling for now…
Peace Out
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