A problem often results when we confuse the beauty of a personal relatioship with God... with making God into a person, forgetting to recognize His overriding power and glory and holiness. We need to continually recognize our own humility... and ask God to put us in our place, as His humble servants.
As Small
16 Whenever the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and all living creatures of every kind on the earth." -Genesis 9:16
The flood which wiped out almost all of creation is a crystal clear example of God's power. It reminds us of how small and fragile we are in the scheme of things. I had a very vivid reminder of this yesterday. Driving up to Houston to worship with the Irvington Iglesia del Nazareno, Brad and I both recognized a huge black something that had fallen off of a truck at the same moment. A motorcycle was in the left lane, and he just barely was able to put on the brakes and veer to the shoulder of the road in time. A close call, and we both whispered a prayer of thanks that we were both ok. It just hit me again. We're so small. We don't even need a flood to take us over. A mere obstruction in the road can be the end. But God promised to take care of us and keep us safe... never again to send a huge flood. And although we might not always be safe from accidents, we have the ultimate life insurance... eternal life with our heavenly Father.
As an Adopted Child of God
7But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to where he was baptizing, he said to them: "You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? 8Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. 9And do not think you can say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our father.' I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham. 10The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire. -Matthew 3:7-10
While sometimes we think we're bigger than we are, sometimes we also believe we're more special or priveledged than we are. This is somewhat falling away in today's society. But some cultures still have very vivid class and caste distinctions. Even in the US, we have upper, middle, lower class distinctions. But, John the Baptists reminds that with Jesus we are no longer subject to the stratification set up by our family heritage. God can and does 'raise up children for Abraham' from stones... tiny building blocks of our faith.
As Less Capable
5 But the LORD came down to see the city and the tower that the men were building. 6 The LORD said, "If as one people speaking the same language they have begun to do this, then nothing they plan to do will be impossible for them. 7 Come, let us go down and confuse their language so they will not understand each other." -Genesis 11:5-7
As a linguist, this story is quite confusing. How could it be that 'nothing they plan to do will be impossible for them'? I wonder what this 'same language' was. Does it refer to what we think of as language? Perhaps it doesn't, since we who speak what we call 'the same language' of English or French or Spanish do not always understand each other or communicate clearly. Perhaps this 'same language' had much more to do with the open and transparent communication between the different parties. Whether it was due in part or in whole to the Lord, we need to harness our ambitions and recognize that we are not capable of such lofty feats as building a tower to reach the heavens, nor are we worthy of such a place.
As a Humble Servant to Worship Him
4Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.'[a]" ... 7Jesus answered him, "It is also written: 'Do not put the Lord your God to the test.'[c]" ... 10Jesus said to him, "Away from me, Satan! For it is written: 'Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.'[d]" - Matthew 4:4,7,10
It's interesting to once again look at the Devil's 'temptations.' What the Devil promised was- satisfaction of earthly human needs (food), power (ordering something to be done), and worldly desires (riches, money, etc). But none of that is what we are to seek. Each one of these personally fulfilling promises of earthly desires, power and worldly desires tempts us to perceive ourselves as a different place in the world. That is why it is harder for the rich man to enter heaven. He perceives himself as having a different place than as a humble servant of the Lord our God.
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