Gods House was Whittled Away

Whittled Away

Have you ever wondered why the church is attacked and whittled away like an old carving or a pencil spent of all its lead? This spiritual attack is not new. In the first century, Paul witnessed this as converted Hebrews were persecuted and attacked for their faith in Christ. Christians then as they are now are being whittled away; ridiculed, attacked, accused, and even jailed for their faith.

God wants to reassure every faithful Christian today, as well as in Paul’s day, to be confident in their faith and to remind them that God’s got this.

 Hebrews 3 (NKJV)

(v. 1) “Therefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our confession, Christ Jesus, (v.2)  who was faithful to Him who appointed Him, as Moses also was faithful in all His house. (v.3)  For this One has been counted worthy of more glory than Moses, inasmuch as He who built the house has more honor than the house. (v.4)  For every house is built by someone, but He who built all things is God. (v.5)  And Moses indeed was faithful in all His house as a servant, for a testimony of those things which would be spoken afterward, (v.6) but Christ as a Son over His own house, whose house we are if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm to the end.”

Gods House

The powers that be, the Jewish leadership of the day, felt threatened by Jesus. The Son of God shook their power base, their “house.” They put their lineage to Moses and their adherence to “The Law.” as the ultimate service to God. Now please understand, following God’s commandments are essential. However, man will corrupt the law simply to retain a sense of status or power. God built the “house” they ruled. The rulers failed to realize who was the ultimate authority; Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

God made this universe, God made this earth, God made this house, and God gave this house to Jesus, God in the flesh. In the end, Jesus will hold the corrupt accountable for the actions and crimes they commit.    (Psalm 2).

What is Essential?

The church today has recently come under fire, again, from people who feel God is not worthy of their respect. Power has corrupted them. These rulers who oppress the faithful have forgotten who allowed them to achieve this power. The worship of Jesus Christ somehow is now medically dangerous while we sit 6 feet apart from one another and wear our masks while praising our Lord and Savior. I hope our church is not closed, and our pastor is not arrested for exercising our first amendment rights guaranteed by the United States constitution.  Now I also need to point out other establishments, liquor stores, for example, don’t receive a single second of attention from the officials who deem this “essential.”

The enemy of this world, the enemy of Jesus, is attacking our churches, attacking our souls, and will do anything to harm and stand in the way of the love and joy of Jesus Christ, our Lord, and Saviour.

The Church is…

The church is not a building that can be whittled away. The church does not reside on a specific alter or pedestal. The church is its people. The church is the body of Christ reborn in Jesus’ name and filled with the Holy Spirit that empowers us with the love of God. Do not allow the enemy of God to use psychological warfare on our faith.

The Sword of God

Paul wrote (by the Holy Spirit’s direction) the book of Hebrews to address what appeared to be a great falling away of believers. The traditional leaders persecuted fellow Jews who were new in Christ. Please hold fast to your faith, do not allow the darts of Satan to penetrate the shield of armor Jesus has given you. Put on the armor of God and fight back the Devil’s attack the same way Jesus did in the wilderness using the sword of God, which is the very word of God! The truth of God the Father, God the Son Jesus Christ, and God the Holy Spirit will triumph over evil.

We may be quarantined in our homes, muzzled with face masks, and divided by plastic barriers. Still, please remember, the Apostle Paul wrote this letter to the Hebrews as he sat in a Roman jail awaiting his execution. Pauls’s faith was not whittled away but strengthened by Jesus Christ. As a people, we, as the body of Christ, will endure through this darkness known as covid-19.

“For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor principalities, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:38-39 BSB

All is Finished

Stand strong in your faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. Follow the word of God in the Bible, use it as a refuge for His peace and His love.

You may not see it, but there is a light at the end of this tunnel. This turmoil will pass. The light is the light of Christ. Regardless of the political strife, a weaponized pathogen, and an extremely divided country, we must seek peace in our faith. God can never be whittled away. When all is finished, Jesus is all that matters.