Valerie Rae Hanneman
Exodus 36:5 (NLT) "We have more than enough materials on hand now to complete the job the LORD has given us to do!" they exclaimed.
I Chronicles 29:6-7a & 9 (CEV) “After David finished speaking, the family leaders, the tribal leaders, the army commanders, and the government officials voluntarily gave gifts for the temple. .....The people rejoiced at the willing response of their leaders, for they had given freely and wholeheartedly to the LORD. David the king also rejoiced greatly. ”
When I was a kid there was a community pool named Blakely’s. Blakely’s boasted of diving platform that - to my pre-teen eyes - reached half-way to the moon. There was always a line of people at the stairs waiting to take the death-defying plunge. I was never in that line. One day I was teased mercilessly by my friends until finally I agreed to jump off of that diving platform. As I waited in line, my stomach kept getting queasier and queasier. I felt light-headed. I made it up the stairs, walked to the end of the platform and looked down at the tiny swimming pool miles below me and knew that there was no way I could jump. I retreated to a corner and started motioning other kids to come up and jump. It was about 45 minutes before a lifeguard realized what was going on. He climbed the tower and tried to convince me to jump - but in tears, I refused. Finally he let me climb down the stairs. Even though nobody had ever been hurt jumping off that platform, even though I seen people jumping safely off of it, I did not have faith that I would land safely in the water.
When God called the Israelites out of Egypt it represented a change in how God was going to deal with people. From Adam & Eve to Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and Joseph, God interacted with people on an individual basis. But from Moses on there is a switch as God now interacts with a group of people - those called to serve Him. The individual interactions were still most important - but now they were also seen in the context of God’s interaction with His people. In the Older Testament that group of people were the Israelites. The judges who rescued Israel from oppression, the kings who ruled over them, the prophets who called Israel back to her God. In the Newer Testament they were the Church, the Apostles who built the church, Paul who brought Jesus to the Gentiles. This continues even today. My relationship with God is very individual and yet it is also very much in the context of my place in His Church.
The other change was that made with the Israelites was that for the first time God wanted a specific place within the community where He could meet with His people. He told Moses how it was to be built and promised that once it was built He would dwell within it. Moses asked the people to give what they could towards the building of the house of God. And the people gave freely and wholeheartedly. They gave so much that the workers had to go to Moses and say that they had enough to complete the work - please stop the people from giving anymore.
The next House of God that we read about was the permanent temple in Jerusalem. God had told king David that he would not be the one to build the temple. David then determined that if he couldn’t build it - he would get the materials together. He went in front of the people and appealed for help. The response from the leaders of the nation of Israel was overwhelming and the people rejoiced at their response as did the king, as did the King of kings. Synagogues quickly appeared in all Jewish communities as God continued to meet with His people individually and corporately.
When the Church was first born in Jerusalem, she met in the temple. But when she continued to spread through the world the first Christian Houses of God started being built. And we have been building Houses of God ever since.
It isn’t something to be taken lightly - building a house for God to dwell. It takes commitment, it takes sacrifice and it takes faith. It took all three when the desert house of God was built. It took all three when the Jerusalem house of God was built. It takes all three today.
It isn’t easy though. These days just to renovate an existing house of God can take several million dollars - to build a new one - even more. To make a several million dollar commitment guarantees that there is going to be a sacrifice on your part. You are going to have to give more than your weekly offering and that may affect your lifestyle. To make the commitment is to make the sacrifice and to have faith that God will supply all that you need. To have the faith to make the commitment to willingly sacrifice is a huge step - sort of like taking a jump off of a diving platform. We are part of a history that began with Moses in the desert and continues through today. A history of God providing for his house being built through His people and providing for His people who make the commitment and sacrifice. We have seen it is the history of the Bible, we have seen it in the history of the Church and we have seen it in the history of Fresno First Baptist Church. We are part of a legacy that began with Moses in the desert and will continue long after we have gone home to Father. All we need to do is make the commitment, be willing to sacrifice and take the leap of faith in Him.
The teasing when I got down off that platform was worse than before. They kept it up long after we had left Blakelys. The next time we were there I went up that diving platform again. I was still queasy, lightheaded - but I was determined. When I looked down I almost turned back - but then I stepped off. The fall was forever, the water was cool as I arrowed deep into it. The first gasp of breath as I broke the surface was exhilarating. What a rush! I climbed out of the pool and got in line to do it again. And again.
Are you standing on that diving platform of faith? You know what commitment Father wants you to make, you know what the sacrifice is going to take, but the water looks really far away - and you are afraid to take that leap of faith. Are you about to turn back? Don’t! Remember our history with God and all the times we have seen Him work though our commitment, sacrifice and faith. Jump and feel the rush! It is like nothing you have ever experienced before.
Father, I know the commitment You want me to make and it scares me. But I see Your hand of provision throughout history and so I will take this leap of faith - knowing that You will catch me and I will land safely.
Posted by Valerie at August 27, 2005 08:17 PM