The House You're Building

  Introduction   I am an avid hiker.  I am lucky enough to live in Washington state and am only a short drive away from oceans, mountains, and forests.  I love to be outside as it pushes me physically as well as gives me time to visit with my friends.  Most of all, I love being constantly surrounded by the beauty and majesty of God. When I think of heaven, the thing I am the most excited about is seeing the splendor and magnificent light of God first hand.    This week’s section brings a glorious conclusion to the journey Israel has been on as they have followed God.  Coming off of the idol worship and judgement of the golden calf, Israel now turns to obey God’s guidelines in worship.       Scripture Exodus 35-40  This is the final section of the book of Exodus.  As you read, note the similarities between this and the previous building instructions.  Also note the people’s willi...

  Introduction   One of my favorite movies as a kid was Indiana Jones.  I loved the cinematic action of the hero  racing the bad guys with a few faithful friends to find priceless treasures.  It seemed the an idol was always involved in every story line, be it a stone, statue, or challis, something unique and valuable was always at stake.  The history of these objects usually meant that someone was worshiping them at some point.     Reading our story today seems like a scene from a treasure movie.  And it seems ridiculous, just like those over the top Hollywood films, that people would bow down to an object that they had just made.  An extended passage from Isaiah 44 describes the foolishness of Idolatry:    [12] The ironsmith takes a cutting tool and works it over the coals. He fashions it with hammers and works it with his strong arm. He becomes hungry, and his strength fails; he drinks no water ...

  [ 24] Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. [25] Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. [26] If anyone serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there will my servant be also. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him. John 12:24-26   When I first became a Christian, I was intrigued by the concept of idolatry.  I had been to enough Sunday school classes with flannel board pictures to know that worshiping idols, a prohibition by God in the moral law [1] ,  had to do with gold statues.  In my childlike faith I never imagined that I was in fact breaking this same commandment—I didn’t bow down to precious metal objects! I was surprised to learn that I was in fact worshiping idols because they aren’t only concrete item.  An idol is anything you worship, honor, or eleva...